Preparation

• When applying a treatment, be sure to wash your hands before starting. Dirt and bacteria can be easily spread from hands to the face. This can lead to potential outbreaks in a few days. Before applying any treatment on the face, do a small "patch test" to see if the skin has any reactions to the chemicals or ingredients. This is especially important for those with sensitive skin.
  
  

Common Ingredients

• Home remedy treatments are the safest and most cost-effective way to help treat acne. They are also convenient because no prescription is necessary. The ingredients used in home remedies are extremely common and cheap to purchase. These common ingredients used in home remedies range from oatmeal to garlic to aspirin tablets. Other ingredients include tomatoes, toothpaste, nutmeg, milk and honey.
  
  

Mask

• There are many different face masks one can make to help reduce the size of a pimple. It is often recommended to leave the mask on for 10 to 15 minutes. Some women like to sleep with them on; however, this can cause irritation for those with sensitive skin and may become messy.
  Ayurvedic-Medicine.com recommends a garlic face mask because garlic contains antibiotic properties. It is also safe to use in moderation on the skin. To make a mask, mash the garlic and apply the mashed garlic to the face. Let the mask remain on the face for ten minutes before washing it off.
  Aspirin contains BHA (beta hydroxy acid) which is a powerful exfoliate that unclogs pores. Grind an aspirin tablet and mix the resulting powder with water. This can be used as either a scrub or a mask.
  
  

Scrub

• Nutmeg mixed with milk can be an effective scrub to help reduce the size of a pimple. Simply grind the nutmeg, mix the powder with a very small amount of milk (enough to make a paste), and apply the paste to the face. With a clean washcloth, gently scrub the mixture onto the face before washing it off with warm water.
  In a small bowl, mix ¼ cup of uncooked plain oatmeal with warm milk and a few drops of honey. Mix the ingredients together and apply the mixture to your face. Let the mask sit for five minutes and rinse it off.
  
  

Spot Treatment

• Toothpaste and calamine lotion both have drying properties, and can be applied to a pimple to reduce swelling and inflammation. When using toothpaste, chose a paste that is white and has no additional flavoring (such as cinnamon or vanilla). Both toothpaste and calamine lotion can be left on overnight and washed off in the morning for an effective spot treatment.