Dazzle While FrazzledThrifty DIY home decor and easy crafts

DIY Holidays & Seasons

DIY USA Patriotic Banner

A red, white and blue pennant banner for the Fourth of July, Memorial Day or just a summer porch. Cut it from cardstock or fabric scraps, and it folds flat to store for next year.

  • Time About 1 hour
  • Skill Easy, good with kids

Before you start. Measure the spot where the banner will hang before you cut anything. A 6 inch pennant with about 2 inches of space between each one covers roughly 8 inches of twine, so a 6 foot porch rail takes about nine pennants. Cut a few spares in each color in case a cut goes crooked, and leave a foot of extra twine at each end for tying.

Drawing of a string banner of triangle pennants in red, white with red stripes, and blue with white stars.
Red, striped white and starry blue, repeated.

What you'll need

  • Red, white and blue cardstock or fabric scraps
  • A triangle template cut from a cereal box, 6 inches wide and 8 inches tall
  • A star stencil or star punch
  • White paint or white cardstock for stars
  • Red washi tape
  • Jute twine or cotton cord
  • A hole punch

How to make it

  1. Make the template. Cut the triangle template from cereal box cardboard.
  2. Cut the pennants. Trace and cut nine pennants, three of each color.
  3. Decorate. Add a white star to each blue pennant. Add two strips of red washi tape across each white one.
  4. Punch and thread. Punch a hole in each top corner and thread the twine through, alternating red, white and blue.
  5. Hang it. Space the pennants evenly and tie the banner to a porch rail, mantel or fence.

Make it your own

  • Spell out a short word, like USA or a family name, one letter per pennant.
  • Use burlap pennants with fabric stars for a rustic look.
  • Make a mini banner on baker's twine for a cake or a window.

Care and storage. Cardstock banners belong indoors or on a covered porch. Fabric ones can go outside on a dry day; bring them in at night.

Summer holidays, sunscreen and skin

Summer holidays mean cookouts, parades and long hours in the sun. The pimples guide says tanning damages skin and can worsen acne, and suggests a non-comedogenic SPF 30+ sunscreen. Before the parade, read the full pimple guide.

The full guide, from howtogetridofpimples.org

How to get rid of pimples, whiteheads, blackheads and acne cysts

How to get rid of pimples depends on the kind: adapalene for clogged pores, benzoyl peroxide for red bumps, a warm compress then a dermatologist for deep lumps. Per the AAD, one product needs 6 to 8 weeks.

Last reviewed · based on 5 dermatology sources

How to get rid of pimples, step by step

  • Whitehead
  • Blackhead
  • Papule
  • Pustule
  • Nodule
  • Cyst

    1. Wash gently

      Wash your face up to twice a day and after sweating, using your fingertips and a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser. Scrubbing irritates the skin. After sports, wash as soon as you can.

    2. Treat the whole area

      Spread a thin layer of one product over all acne-prone skin, not just the spot: benzoyl peroxide, adapalene or salicylic acid. For adapalene, a pea-sized amount covers your whole face, every other night at first.

    3. Cover it

      Put a hydrocolloid pimple patch on an open pimple. Worn overnight, it can speed up healing and calm irritation.

    1. Hands off

      Don't pick, pop or squeeze. It makes acne take longer to clear and raises the risk of scars and dark spots. If you're asking yourself should you pop pimples, dermatologists say no.

    2. Deep, painful pimple

      Hold a clean, warm, damp washcloth on it for 10 to 15 minutes, three times a day, to bring it to the surface. Then use a thin layer of one acne product. If it won't go, a dermatologist can treat it, for example with a steroid injection.

    1. Be patient

      Give one product 6 to 8 weeks. If it works, you should see some improvement in 4 to 6 weeks; clearing can take 2 to 3 months. No change after 6 to 8 weeks? See a dermatologist.

      Once it clears, keep using it. Staying on it is how to get rid of pimples that keep coming back.

What to put on a pimple

An over-the-counter pimple treatment is an acne product you can buy without a prescription. It means you can start tonight with one active ingredient. The strength of each product is printed on the label; use it as often as the label says, since too much dries skin out.

Pimple treatments you can buy without a prescription
IngredientWhat it doesBest forStrengthHow long
Benzoyl peroxideKills acne-causing bacteria and reduces inflammationRed, inflamed pimplesWashes and creams6 to 8 weeks
Salicylic acidRemoves dead skin cells, cuts oil, unclogs poresPapules and pustulesWashes and leave-on products; follow the label6 to 8 weeks
AdapaleneA retinoid: unclogs pores and reduces oilinessBlackheads and whiteheadsGel without a prescription; stronger with oneA few months before trying stronger
Azelaic acidOne of four acne-fighting ingredients dermatologists nameA deep pimple once it surfacesSold without a prescription6 to 8 weeks

Using more than one or two products at once can irritate your skin. For a single spot, an acne spot treatment dabbed only on that pimple keeps the rest of your face calm.

How to get rid of pimples by type

A pimple type is the kind of acne blemish you see, from a clogged pore to a deep cyst. It means each type needs a different treatment, so knowing yours tells you how to get rid of pimples of that kind. The depth of a pimple decides whether you can treat it at home, and a full guide to the types of pimples goes deeper on each one.

Whiteheads
Closed, clogged pore
A pore clogged with oil, bacteria and dead skin cells that closed up: a tiny white or flesh-colored bump.Adapalene plus a benzoyl peroxide wash.
Blackheads
Open, clogged pore
A clogged pore that stays open. The dark dot isn't dirt, so don't scrub it.Adapalene plus a benzoyl peroxide wash.
Papules
Small, red, hard bump
Small, red bumps that feel hard. Lots of them can feel like sandpaper.Wash twice a day with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.
Pustules
Red bump, white center
Like papules, but with a white or yellow center.Benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid wash; don't pop.
Nodules
Deep, hard, painful lump
Deep under the skin. They often leave scars.A warm compress, then a dermatologist.
Cysts
Deep, filled sac
Deep, painful lumps you may feel more than see. They often scar.See a dermatologist early: fewer scars.

What to skip

  • ScrubbingWashcloths, sponges and scrubs irritate acne-prone skin and make acne worse.
  • PoppingIt slows healing and raises the risk of scars and dark spots.
  • Toners and astringentsThey can dry your skin and make acne look worse. Look for "alcohol-free" on the label.
  • Switching every few daysNew products too often irritate your skin and cause breakouts.
  • TanningTanning damages skin and can worsen acne. Use a non-comedogenic SPF 30+ sunscreen.

When to see a dermatologist

A dermatologist is a doctor who treats skin, including acne that home care can't clear. It means you get prescription treatment, such as tretinoin, and procedures like chemical peels, light therapy or steroid injections. Go if you have:

  • Painful lumps under the skin (nodules or cysts)
  • Scarring
  • No change after 6 to 8 weeks of products you bought yourself
  • Acne that hurts your mood or confidence

Your questions, answered

Straight answers to what people search for most.

How do you get rid of a pimple overnight?

You can't make one disappear by tomorrow. Nothing works that fast. What helps tonight: a pimple patch on an open pimple, worn overnight, and keeping your hands off it.

Do pimples heal faster popped or unpopped?

Unpopped. Popping makes acne take longer to clear and raises your risk of scars and dark spots.

Do pimple patches really work?

On an open pimple, yes. The hydrocolloid in them absorbs fluid and forms a protective gel. Worn overnight, they can speed up healing and calm irritation.

What kills pimples best?

There's no single winner. Benzoyl peroxide kills acne-causing bacteria, adapalene unclogs pores, and salicylic acid unclogs pores and eases inflammation. The best one is the one that fits your pimple type.

What is the #1 cause of acne?

Clogged pores. Extra oil and dead skin cells block a pore, and bacteria grow in it. Hormones, genes and things around you play a part too.

Sources

  1. American Academy of Dermatology. 6 skin care habits that can clear acne. aad.org/public/diseases/acne/skin-care/tips
  2. American Academy of Dermatology. Treating deep, painful pimples.
  3. American Academy of Dermatology. Acne: types of breakouts.
  4. American Academy of Dermatology. Acne: tips for clearer skin.
  5. MedlinePlus. Salicylic acid topical. medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a607072.html

Last reviewed

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. See a dermatologist if you have painful lumps (nodules or cysts), scarring, no change after 6 to 8 weeks, or if acne affects your mood.