There's nothing worse than a massive red spot taking center stage on your face, just before your wedding.

However, fear not! We're here to help with this mini guide to tackling acne on the run up to your special day so you can ensure you look and feel your best before walking down the aisle.

So, without further ado let's dive on in!

1. Do NOT Pick Your Spot

As tempting as it is to pick or squeeze your spots, don't. Once you've aggravated it, it'll take longer to heal and is more likely to scar.

Instead, place either a cold compress or an ice cube on the blemish. This is one of the most effective ways of calming the swelling and easing the redness, making it less noticeable.

Additionally, ice is excellent for increasing blood flow to the spot and making your pores appear smaller. It helps to remove any dirt and oil that's aiding the growth of a pimple on your skin.

You can use either ice cubes or crushed ice, whichever you prefer.

2. Wash your face every day

Now I know this sounds super patronizing, but it's essential you wash your face at least once a day. Especially on the run up to your wedding.

The oil glands on your face are active 24/7, and when it comes into contact with makeup, sweat, and dirt, it creates a haven for acne.

The only way to lessen these effects is by washing your face with clean water (not with fragranced soaps, as this can aggravate the skin, and have the opposite effect!)

3. Always take your makeup off

It goes without saying, always take your makeup off before going to bed. However, you need to make sure you're using the right makeup removal products- otherwise, you could be aiding the spread of acne.

First things first, does your skin ever feel tight or irritated after using your cleanser? If so, chances are these products are too severe for your skin type.

So, we recommend sticking them in the bin and trying cleansers designed for sensitive skin. We recommend using something that contains either glycolic or salicylic acid in it.

You can typically get these products over the counter. If you suffer from frequent acne breakouts, this will help combat the oiliness in your skin, and hopefully, decrease the chances of further spots forming.

Additionally, it's essential you use a moisturizer that's appropriate for your skin type. Then, once you've done all of that, you can apply your prescribed spot cream to your problem areas.

4. Prepare in advance

When it comes to your wedding, you don't want to leave anything to chance, especially, if you know your skin's prone to acne.

If this sounds like you, be sure to visit your dermatologist in advance. Naturally, you won't have the time to wait around and see if the spot goes away on its own.

Some dermatologists can give you an 'overnight cure' in the form of a cortisone injection. This drug has anti-inflammatory properties so it'll target any inflamed or aggravated pimples, flatten them out, and in most cases, the wound won't scar.

If you think you're a candidate for this treatment, speak to your physician in advance because you won't be allowed to administer the shot yourself.

5. Skip the homemade recipes.

Chances are you've come across the following homemade 'remedies';

• Toothpaste
• Lemon juice
• Windex (NEVER put window cleaner on your face!)
• Tea tree oil (out of all of these, this is probably the most effective)

However, we don't recommend using any of these treatments because all of them have the potential to overly dry your skin, causing irritation and further breakouts.

6. Go light on your makeup.

We suggest applying a lighter layer of makeup on the run up to your wedding. We know this can be tough, especially if you suffer from frequent outbreaks of acne.

However, makeup only visually conceals the blemishes; it won't aid them to disappear. In fact, if you're using oil based cover up. This actually increases the likelihood of more spots forming!

If you're guilty of using oil-based products, we advise sticking them in the trash and opting for mineral-based cover up. Or even better, try not to wear makeup the week before your wedding. This will undoubtedly help to clear your skin.

7. Steam

If you're sporting a massive pimple, we recommend steaming your face. This is perfect for naturally getting rid of the oil and dirt trapped in your pores. If you don't own a steamer, not to worry, you can do the following;

1. Grab a large container
2. Fill it with water boiled from the kettle, then put your face over the steam for a few minutes.
3. Now, rinse your face with clean water and pat dry with a fresh towel, and apply an oil-free moisturizer.

We then recommend putting ice on the spot after this treatment (as previously explained earlier in the article).

8. Make sure you get enough sleep

On the run up to your wedding, it's common to miss out on beauty sleep because you've so much on your mind! However, we encourage you to get a good nights sleep, because it'll decrease the likelihood of spots occurring. When you're tired, your body experiences an influx of cortisol (a stress hormone) which encourages acne breakouts. So, if you're suffering from insomnia, try to practice mindfulness techniques to help put your anxieties at ease. You could also do a Google search for tips on how to get to sleep.  

Did this article on how to get rid of acne help you out?

We hope that these tips on getting rid of acne help you to look and feel your best for your wedding day. Please feel free to let us know in the comments if you've any further advice for our brides to be; we'd love to hear from you! Also, if you enjoyed this article we're confident you'll love this feature we published a few months ago; Bride’s Beauty Timeline. Enjoy! Rosie Greaves- Freelance writer, and wedding and relationships expert.