Using cold stuff to reduce inflammation

Mustangsally82 · 09-23-2007, 09:32 PM

I hope the title isn't too confusing, didn't really know how to say it!

I often forget about this remedy, but when I feel a particularly painful blemish coming on I go to the freezer and get one of those cheap frozen popsicles (that come in a big box and are basically just colorful liquid in a plastic bag) and put that on the area for a minute or two as many times a day as I can.

If you don't have popsicles, get an aluminum can out of the fridge and use the bottom edge. It's pretty cold since it's metal, and it'll make it feel better.

Many times I've shortened the life of blemishes, and when they do appear they're not as big and inflamed as they would have been if I'd just left them alone. It really helps take away the pain, 'cause I hate that more than having a blemish: the pain when it's still under your skin and it hurts so bad, especially when you move your face.

Hope this helps someone: has anyone else used cold things to reduce the inflammation? Maybe somoene has a better idea than mine. I can't really do it if I'm not at home, so it's not always the best, unless I get a can out of a drink machine. I'd like to have something more portable, but popsicles tend to melt.

molliemamato3 · 09-26-2007, 02:30 PM

Cold does help with the inflammation, but a lot of times you can draw the yucky out of a zit with a hot compress. So one or the other seems to work for different kinds of zits.

I have also heard on acne.org of people having success with aleve and ibuprofin to help with inflamation. These people are taking one or two of these pills a day for the time around when they break out the worst - before period usually. Or when they feel/see a big one coming on. They said that it usually never gets as bad! You have to be careful with NSAIDs tho because if you take them long term, you can have liver/kidney damage. This method is only meant to be used short term for a couple of days.