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 BeautyI Tried $320 Of Medicube Korean Skincare — & Now I Get The HypeAll linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. After more than 10 years&nbby Jacqueline KilikitaBeautyI Didn’t Love Tatcha’s Longevity Cream Moisturizer At First — Now...All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. There are some brby Karina HoshikawaBeauty7 Skin Tips I Got From The Esthetician Behind The BAFTAs’ Most Ic...All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. Keren Bartov has magic handby Jacqueline KilikitaSkin Care14 Niacinamide Skincare Products To Try For Clearer, Brighter Skinby Karina HoshikawaBeautyEverything You Ever Wanted To Know About LED Skin Wands — & The B...All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. If, like me, your skincareby Jacqueline KilikitaBeautyThe Little-Known Side Effect Of Masseter Botox I Didn’t ExpectI can pinpoint the exact moment I knew I had to do something about my jaw pain. It was my birthday, and a friend cracked a joke so good that half the by Jacqueline KilikitaMercadoThe Milk & Rose Bath Collection We’re Buying Ourselves This Valen...Whether you’re in a relationship, single, or figuring out wth to do with that situationship, Valentine’s Day invites us to reflect on how we’ve been by Raquel ReichardBeautyThe Ordinary’s New Milky Moisturizer Is For Everyone, But My Dry ...All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. Having combination skiby Jacqueline KilikitaSkin CareThe Best Moisturizers To Quench Thirsty Dry Skinby Rachel KrauseBeauty StudioEvery Dermatologist I Know Swears By La Roche-Posay, Namely These...All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. I’m very lucky to have acby Venus WongBeautyWhy Your Skin Looks Dull — & What Will Actually Help, According T...All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. One thing that comes with tby Jacqueline KilikitaSkin CareI Tried 8 Peptide Lip Treatments — & The Cheapest Was The WinnerAll linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. Take a closer look at some by Venus WongADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT