How to get big pimples away fast

So it's the night before a big event, and look who's decide to show up uninvited and crash the party: a big ol' red pimple. We've all be there before, right? I'll never know why my good skin days never seem to align with major events in my life, but what I do know, having gone through it, is how to get rid of a pimple in an hour (or, fine, as quickly as possible). And because I've spent more than enough of my life Googling all the possible ways to get rid of acne, I'll now be sharing those tips, below, so you can stress less and focus on your upcoming event.

And though, sure, there's no magical way to zap a pimple off of your face in under a minute (dreams), there are products and tricks that help fight inflammation and speed up the healing process to make your zit much less noticeable. So stop stressing (cortisol will just make matters worse), and follow these dermatologist-approved tips for how to get rid of red pimples and swollen zits fast.

Meet the experts

• Neda Mehr, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Pure Dermatology Cosmetic and Hair Center in Newport Beach, CA. Dr. Mehr is also the creator of clean medical skincare line DermBx.
• Neal Schultz, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Park Avenue Skincare in New York, NY, and the founder of skincare line BeautyRx.
• Eric Schweiger, MD, is a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist and also the founding dermatologist and CEO of Schweiger Dermatology Group.
• Dendy Engelman, MD, is a board-certified dermatologic surgeon at Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue in New York, NY.
• Gervaise Gerstner, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Gerstner Dermatology in New York, NY.
• Rebecca Kazin, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Icon Dermatology and Aesthetics in North Bethesda, MD, and founder of Hairsanity, a shampoo and conditioner line developed to treat dandruff.
• Mona Gohara, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and associate clinical professor at Yale School of Medicine. Dr. Gohara has previously spoken to Cosmo about the topic of using toothpaste as a pimple spot treatment.

See? we really did speak to all of the experts to find out every single trick, hack, and product that'll help you get rid of a pimple as fast as possible. And to save you from trying some of the more-risky DIY advice you'll find on the interwebs, let's start with a question you've probably already Googled today:

Can toothpaste get rid of pimples?

No, toothpaste cannot get rid of your pimples, and shouldn't be your first (or even fifth) defense against breakouts. While yes, toothpaste contains skin-drying ingredients like alcohol, it's not a great option for quickly getting rid of a pimple—or for helping your skin at all.

As dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, has previously told Cosmo, “toothpaste can be an extreme irritant. Most formulas are filled with ingredients like alcohol, menthol, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide—all things that, yes, can maybe dry out a zit, but at the risk of hardcore irritating your skin barrier at the same time.” And, FYI, a compromised skin barrier is already a major factor in breakouts.

Why? Because when you dry out your skin, it'll try to overcorrect the problem and produce extra oil, which can lead to clogged pores, blackheads, and more. So what do you do when you wake up to a big, angry pimple and need to get rid of it fast? You skip the toothpaste tube and try the following dermatologist-approved remedies instead.

How do you get rid of a pimple in an hour?

If a small, red pimple (aka a papule) has just popped up before a big event and you need it gone in an hour...or, fine, right TF now, your best bet is to help minimize some of the swelling with some ice. Wrap the ice cube in a towel and hold it to the pimple for a few minutes, removing for 15-second breaks to “help bring down inflammation and reduce its size,” says board-certified dermatologist Neal Schultz, MD.

How do you make a pimple less noticeable?

Heavy foundation and cakey concealer can draw attention to your zits, as you’ve probably already figured out. Not only that, but Dr. Mehr also stresses the importance of using a water-based foundation (also water-based moisturizer and sunscreen, for that matter) rather than a silicone- or oil-based foundation that are more likely to clog the pores.

Cover the bump with your lightweight acne-clearing foundation or soothing BB cream and let the concealer do the work. Pinpoint the area with a tiny makeup brush or clean lip brush, dab concealer in the center of the pimple, let it sit for a full 5 to 10 minutes (seriously, don’t touch it while it dries), then gently blend and tap the edges to melt the concealer into your skin without wiping it all away.

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How do you make a pimple less swollen?

According to Dr. Schultz, gently holding a warm washcloth on top of the zit every hour for three minutes at a time can bring blood to the area and help the bump come to a head. “Warm compresses can reduce swelling and bring bacteria to the surface of the skin,” says Dr. Schultz. After each compress, treat the zit with a dab of salicylic acid, which helps break down the oil and dead skin cells that cause clogged pores. Follow it with a dab of 1 percent hydrocortisone cream (not ointment, which can also clog pores) to target inflammation.

Need that zit gone in under 24-72 hours? See a dermatologist for a cortisone shot, which involves injecting a dose of the anti-inflammatory steroid into your zit, says board-certified dermatologist Eric Schweiger, MD. If you have a blind pimple below the surface or are dealing with cystic acne, a cortisone injection will be your best option. Usually, insurance covers cortisone injections, but if not, you’re looking at about $100 for the shot.

How do you reduce the redness of a pimple?

If you're in a serious pinch and need to make a pimple less red, break out the Visine. Yep, the same way eye drops help take the redness out of your eyes, they also help take the redness out of pimples by constricting the blood vessels on the surface of your skin. Squeeze the drops onto a cotton round, then gently press it over your pimple. To further cancel out the redness of a pimple, color-correct the area with a thin layer of green concealer before applying your foundation.

The 4-step guide to reducing your zit's redness

Make Up For Ever Watertone Skin-Perfecting Tint Foundation

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Acne Spot Treatment

But if you actually want to treat the pimple to get rid of it for real, you'll want to use products actually designed to shrink a pimple, so keep reading.

How do you make a pimple smaller overnight?

Good news! Skin is especially receptive to active ingredients at night “because this is when the skin repairs itself,” says Dendy Engelman, MD, a board-certified dermatologic surgeon. Although it might not be possible to totally get rid of a pimple overnight, take advantage of this time by treating your pimple while you sleep.

Dr. Mehr says the reason why the pimple is red is because there's bacteria in there, and the reason it's big is because it has no exit. Products that'll address both those things are good places to start:

1. First, cleanse your skin with an acne-treating face wash, says board-certified dermatologist Gervaise Gerstner, MD. If you’ve got irritated, inflamed skin (and if you have acne, chances are you do), stick with a gentle cleanser instead of a wash full of sulfates and strong active ingredients, unless otherwise specified by your dermatologist.
2. Then, follow with an exfoliating pad or serum. “Your acne products will work better if they’re not sitting on top of dead skin cells and face oils,” Dr. Gerstner says. Finally, use a bacteria-killing benzoyl peroxide spot treatment only on the pimple (read: not all over your face).

How do you get clear skin?

A week may be enough time to eradicate a single breakout if you use a multilayered system. Buuuut if you know there’s no way you’re sticking to an extensive routine on your own, try a streamlined acne routine instead (my faves: Curology and Renée Rouleau Rapid Response Detox Kit) and stay consistent with it. A few products, all in one place, are manageable for most people, and consistently applying something is half the battle, says Rebecca Kazin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist.

Still, if you’re dealing with more, um, persistent acne that refuses to GTFO, don’t try to treat it on your own. Just make a dermatologist appointment and get legit help from someone who devotes their entire freakin’ life to helping people get clear skin. K? K.

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