Ahead, find our full guide to inflammatory acne, including how to I.D. the blemish and the best ways to treat it. However, a few types of pimples are more puffy and angry than others—those are what we classify as “inflammatory,” as they aesthetically align with what you might imagine an inflamed zit to look like: red, swollen, and tender to the touch. Tea tree oil deserves honorable mention, too: The essential oil boasts some antimicrobial properties and is capable of lowering levels of acne-causing bacteria on the skin when applied to acne lesions. One double-blind placebo-controlled study even found that a 5% tea tree oil gel blend was an effective treatment for mild to moderate acne2. It also simultaneously soothes the skin with its anti-inflammatory properties—which is just as important when treating angry, tender acne. Just make sure to always dilute straight tea tree oil with a carrier, as you never want to apply essential oils directly on the skin. You can also cover up spots with an acne patch, if you choose. These are made of hydrocolloid, a medical dressing that absorbs excess fluid (like oil and pus) without drying out the skin. They’re especially helpful on pustules (those have the white, pus-filled bumps, remember?) as the patch can suck out all the gunk without ripping the skin. We have a whole guide to treating acne scars here, but derms often recommend brightening ingredients (like vitamin C or arbutin) to help fade those marks over time, as well as retinoids. In addition to exfoliating dead skin cells and keeping breakouts at bay, retinoids block the activity of enzymes3 behind melanin synthesis, resulting in a more even skin tone. Now, I’m not going to hide behind my keyboard and tell you that tending to these lifestyle factors is easy (it’s definitely not!), but understanding the role sleep, stress, and diet play in your skin health is the first step to ultimately managing it. And if you’re unsure where to start, we have a handy guide to help.
