Here’s a weird gadget I lately came across: Zeno Zit Zapper. According to the marketing material the device uses heat to kill acne causing bacteria and makes pimples disappear faster.

In theory Zeno makes sense

Theory behind Zeno does make sense. Heat does kill bacteria. So applying heat on a pimple should kill the bacteria inside it and thus reduce the pimple faster.

Whether it actually works outside academic papers and contemplation is another matter.

I haven’t used it, but I did some research on various acne forums and (as usual) opinions vary quite a bit.

Though it seems that people agree, that if you can catch a pimple early on (before it has formed to a whitehead) it’s possible to stop it and reduce it faster.

However for inflamed zits Zeno doesn’t work.

Whether Zeno is more effective in killing acne-causing bacteria than benzoyl peroxide is – I don’t know. One good thing with Zeno Zit Zapper is that you don’t have to apply toxic chemicals on your skin. Though those chemical (like benzoyl peroxide) kill bacteria they also eventually end up stressing your liver and further aggravate the conditions that caused acne in the first place.

Is Zeno worth the price?

Like Proactiv and other topical treatments Zeno Zit Zapper falls to the ‘lets try to cure acne by killing bacteria’ category. You may get good result, but at best it’s a temporary solution.

The only real cure for acne is to remove the internal conditions that caused acne. For that Zeno is useless.

If you are OK with that, I can think of one situation where Zeno could be a life-saver.

Picture this.

It’s morning, you’ve just woken up and feel fantastic. You just can’t stop smiling when you think of that hot date/important job interview/(insert your big event here) that you have tomorrow.

Glowing with happiness like a child waiting for a birthday you make your way to the bathroom.

Then, something in the mirror catches your eye.

Until it hits you…

NOOOOO…..

As the panic sets in it feels like a giant hand squeezing your heart.

That innocent looking, little red dot is a pimple ready to blossom. And it will be in full flower tomorrow. Ready to wreck your hot date/important job interview.

Of all the days why today?

Zeno Zit Zapper, like a knight in a shining armor, to the rescue! OK, sorry, couldn’t resist that cheesy simile.

You wield it like a sword and zap the living daylight out of the bugger.

Job done! Feeling rather good about yourself you go on your day, and by the evening the ugly pimple has vanished.

Whether that’s worth the investment is up to you.

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