Acne lesions like cysts, large pustules, papules and nodules notoriously leave behind indentations in the skin to mark their previous home. Much of the skin damage created by large acne lesions results from inflammation and skin expansion that accompanies the acne healing process.

However, in three steps, you can control the inflammation and swelling that characterizes enlarged acne lesions and save your skin from deep acne scars.

Step 1: Displace swelling fluids

The easiest way to shrink a growing pimple is to displace the antibacterial fluids that the body creates in response to an acne lesion. You can help reduce the swelling resulting from inflammation by applying wet heat to the acne lesion.

To do this, place a damp wash cloth in the microwave for 60 seconds. Let the cloth cool for 10 seconds and then apply it to the pimple for one to two minutes. Repeat this heat treatment three times to help reduce the swelling of the acne lesion.

Another way to remove antibacterial fluids from a pimple is to apply tea tree oil to the inflamed lesion at night time. Throughout the night, the oil will seep into the skin and displace the antibacterial fluids surrounding the inflamed pimple. In the morning, the pimple should be smaller.

Step 2: Speed up the healing time with a mask

The longer an acne lesion remains in the skin, the more cosmetic damage it can inflict. To hasten a zits healing time, increase blood flow to the acne lesion. This increased blood flow transits a therapeutic envoy that includes skin cells, vitamins, enzymes and antimicrobial agents to the site of an inflamed zit.

Applying a clay mask to the acne lesion increases blow flow to the sore as a the clay dries. Furthermore, the mask will draw away excess, inflammation-aggravating oils from the acne lesion, further reducing the papule's size.

Step 3: Icing the swelling and reducing the pain

The intense pain an enlarged acne lesion incites serves as an indirect source of acne scarring. This excruciating pain increases an acne sufferer's desire for immediate relief. You can soothe acne induced pain by icing your lesion. Just take an ice-cube from the freezer, and then wrap five sides of the cube with a paper towel. Massage the unwrapped side of the ice cube over the acne lesion for 30-60 seconds using circular movements.

Avoiding the temptation to extract a pimple when it has not yet reached a head- an exposed tip where all of the post-inflammation cellular waste resides- will help a pustule heal faster without leaving a deep scar. When the acne lesion does rise to a head, you can use a sterilized needle to puncture the head and release the debris inside the acne lesion.

Cleanse the area with a sanitizing wash afterwards. (Note: In some instances, embedded and long-term cysts should only be removed under medical supervision to avoid harmful side-effects.)

In short, whatever you can safely do to speed the healing time of an inflamed acne lesion reduces your chances of experiencing deep scars.

Copyright (c) 2007 Naweko Nicole Dial