Cheapest pimple remedy: aspirin

Nowadays, you can easily buy acne treatment pens. You just apply them on the affected part and wait until they swell down. However, for some, buying a pimple control pen may not be that practical, especially when you rarely use it. Good thing there’s the good ole ASPIRIN.

Yes, aspirin. The ones you buy from the pharmacy to relieve pains and inflammation. It is made from acetylsalicylic acid,  similar chemical compound to that of salicylic acid - an effective anti-acne substance.

Salicylic acid is a substance obtained from the bark of a willow tree and is best known as a main ingredient for anti-acne products because it helps slough off dead skin, unclogging pores and neutralizing bacteria.

When I was younger, I had these little pimple breakouts before I get my period. It was relatively okay, but I got really irritated when once in a blue moon I got one of those large zits. Anyway, I could do nothing but cover it up with foundation or concealer (but what can you do if it's a large bump right?)…until I read in a beauty magazine that aspirin is actually very effective in dealing with pimples.

So I took out two aspirin tablets from our medicine box, crushed them and mixed the powder with water to create paste. I then applied the paste on the affected area. I left it there for less than an hour and when I rinsed it off the pimple had gone down to a negligent size. It not only cleansed my skin, it also sped up the recovery time, drying up the zit in just a few minutes. Works faster than a pimple control pen – and costs only a couple of pesos per use, as opposed to two hundred bucks or more for acne pens.

Recently, I learned that people have been using “healing aspirin face masks.” You just mix the powder (this time using more tablets) with water and apply the resulting cream on your clean face. If you have dry skin, it would be advisable to mix in a little bit of honey (honey also prevents the mask from flaking when it dries out) or jojoba oil. Those who have tried the mask say it really helps reduce pimples. However, if you have extremely dry, inflamed or sensitive skin, it would probably better to limit the use in pimple-affected areas only – or not at all. You might also want to apply moisturizer after rinsing your face. I suggest you use it sparingly because it will dry your skin.

Aspirin mask may also be used to rid yourself of ingrown hair (from waxing, shaving, etc.).

Wondering what other people are saying? Check out aspirin facial mask reviews at acne.org and steadyhealth.com.

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- K

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