This Super-Effective Zit Treatment Is Not What You Expect - Refinery29

Skip navigation!ADVERTISEMENTStory from BeautyThis Super-Effective Zit Treatment Is Not What You ExpectCaitlin KiernanLast Updated September 11, 2017, 1:50 PM ADVERTISEMENTSee All SlidesBegin SlideshowThere’s nothing worse than when a monster zit starts to take over your face. And, that always seems to happen at the worst times — a first date, the morning of your dream-job interview, your wedding day. While most people believe the best way to get rid of a blemish is to dry it out, that could be the worst thing you could do. In fact, that’s exactly why it’s bad to overload your skin with alcohol, salicylic acid, and benzoyl peroxide — the active ingredients in modern-day acne treatments. Stripping the skin of moisture to the point that it cracks can cause bacteria to spread and the infection to get worse.So, what does work? Salves. “They’re old-school, but they work to help balance the skin,” says Doris Day, MD, dermatologist and founder of Day Dermatology & Aesthetics in NYC. We know what you’re thinking: You want me to use something that feels like sap on my  blemish-prone skin?! While it might seem that something so thick and tacky would clog pores more and make matters worse, salves actually help soothe the skin, protect wounds, and draw out any infections lurking within.“The ingredients vary from one salve to the next, but basically it creates an environment locally where the skin has to give something up to maintain its pH balance,” Dr. Day says. “For example, charcoal, sulfur, clay — ingredients that are often used in drawing salves — are drier than the skin, so the pimple will give up the moisture and draw out the infection to create that balance.”So, what types of breakouts are these balms best for? “Everything but blackheads,” Dr. Day says. “In fact, they are great for cystic acne, because they draw out the excess moisture and calm the skin without irritating it.” Keep clicking for five salves that will zap your zits in no time.Read More:This Serum Seriously Reduces Acne & Acne Scars21 Million People Have Watched This Blackhead Removal VideoI Drank A Gallon Of Water A Day For Better Skin & Here's What HappenedBegin Slideshow ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT Beauty5 New Skincare Trends That’ll Be Everywhere In 2026All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. 2025 was a standout year foby Jacqueline KilikitaBeautyI’ve Been Using Shark’s LED Mask For Months — & It...All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. LED face masks are everywheby Karina HoshikawaBeauty10 Of The Best Beauty Tools To Gift Skincare Obsessives, From $18by Jacqueline KilikitaBeautyA Dermatologist Told Me To Make These 7 Skincare Resolutions In 2026All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. Every January, I set big inby Jacqueline KilikitaSkin CareMedik8 Is Having A Huge Sale — Here’s What A Beauty Editor Would BuyAll linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. This Black Friday and Cyberby Venus WongSkin CareI Tried $173 Worth Of Hand Creams & Only One Totally Eradicated M...All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. When I was an eager intern,by Jacqueline KilikitaSkin CareThis Luxe Overnight Serum Is Beauty Sleep In A BottleAll linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. When you think of “beby Karina HoshikawaMercadoThe At-Home Facial Routine That’ll Make You Cancel Your Spa Membe...by Raquel ReichardBeautyRhode’s New Peptide-Infused Patches Are Heaven For Tired EyesAll linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. POV: You slept just okay, aby Karina HoshikawaSkin CareGlow Recipe’s New Serum Is a Cactus-Powered Take on Snail MucinAll linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. From boosting hydration to by Karina HoshikawaSun BlockedAre We Finally About To Get Better Sunscreen?The last time a new sunscreen active ingredient — you know, the good stuff that protects skin from the sun’s aging and cancer-causing rays — was apprby Carli WhitwellSun BlockedThose Red Light Tanning Beds? Yeah, They’re A ScamWelcome to Sun Blocked, Refinery29’s global call to action to wake up to the serious dangers of tanning. No lectures or shaming, we promise. Instead, ourby Lucy AbbersteenADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT