redness & inflammation from acne

Acne inflammation can be painful and visibly literally an eye sore.  We know how frustrating acne can be, especially when it leaves behind visible evidence that lingers for days. Whether you're dealing with occasional flare-ups or more chronic breakouts, these methods can help calm the skin and reduce inflammation effectively and sometimes pretty immediately.

 1. Apply a Cold Compress

Cold reduces swelling and redness by constricting blood vessels. Sometimes this is our “duh” or no brainer solution for people. We use ice all the time to help with injuries to reduce inflammation so why can’t we use it for an injury to our skin as well? The answer is WE CAN!

How to use:

• Wrap ice in a clean cloth (never apply directly to skin).

• Gently press on the inflamed area for 1–2 minutes at a time.

• Repeat 2–3 times a day as needed.

 2. Use Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients

Certain skincare ingredients help calm irritation and redness quickly.

Top calming ingredients:

• Niacinamide – reduces redness, regulates oil, and supports skin barrier.

• Green tea extract – antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

• Centella Asiatica (Cica) – speeds healing and soothes skin.

• Aloe vera – hydrates and cools inflamed skin.

• Colloidal oatmeal – great for calming inflamed, sensitive skin.

 3. Spot Treat With Salicylic Acid or Benzoyl Peroxide

These help reduce the size and redness of pimples by targeting the root cause: bacteria and clogged pores.

• Salicylic acid (0.5%–2%) – exfoliates inside the pore.

• Benzoyl peroxide (2.5%–5%) – kills acne-causing bacteria.

 4. Avoid Picking or Touching

Touching, squeezing, or picking at acne increases inflammation, spreads bacteria, and can worsen redness or cause scarring.

 5. Hydrate & Moisturize

Inflamed skin needs support—not dryness. Use a lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer to keep the skin barrier strong.

Look for:

• Hyaluronic acid

• Ceramides

• Glycerin

• Squalane

 6. Apply a Calming Face Mask

Use once or twice a week to reset inflamed skin.

Good mask options:

• Clay masks (with kaolin or bentonite) for oily skin

• Sulfur mask (reduces sebum production and calms irritation)

• Sheet masks with niacinamide or aloe

7. BBL spot treatments

We can treat acne with our BBL machine as often as every two weeks.  If you have an angry spot/spots sometimes a couple zaps can help reduce redness and inflammation pretty quickly, especially if you have an event coming up!  This provides a fairly quick result and little to no downtime as well!

9. Lifestyle Tips That Help

• Avoid spicy food, alcohol, and excessive caffeine – they can dilate blood vessels and increase redness.

• Manage stress – stress hormones can trigger breakouts. We know this is easier said than done but this one is huge!

• Clean pillowcases and phone screens regularly to avoid bacterial buildup.

 10. Consider Professional Treatments

If the more topical/ skincare options aren’t cutting it then coming to our med spa might be the answer for you, we can provide a couple different treatments that you can’t necessarily do at home”

• LED Light Therapy (Blue and red light, blue is to kill bacteria, red helps reduce the inflammation itself)

• Chemical Peels (Salicylic acid, mandelic acid)

• Microneedling (for post-acne redness, a little more downtime with this treatment)

• Laser Treatments (for persistent erythema or scarring, like we said above the BBL is great for acne)

Reducing acne redness and inflammation isn’t just about what you put on your skin—it’s also about how you treat your skin daily. Be gentle, stay consistent with your routine, and if needed, consult a skincare professional or visit your local medical spa for customized solutions.