Heal a Pimple

Pimples can pop up at any time and for a variety of reasons. Once you've discovered one, the first thing that “pops” into your mind is to pop it. Maybe you stopped yourself and decided to consult the internet first and that’s how you found this page. Good for you! You’ve come to the right place.

Steps

Treating the Pimple

1. Determine whether or not to pop your pimple. Don't pop your pimple unless it has come to a firm white head. If you try to pop it too soon, it could further damage your skin.
   • If it appears your pimple is about to burst and you've decided to pop it, take the necessary precautions. Wrap your fingers in toilet paper. Get a cotton ball and put some rubbing alcohol on it. Now squeeze around the edges of the pimple, not on the white head itself. If the pimple does not pop easily, don't force it. If it does pop, then wipe up the puss with an alcohol covered cotton ball. The rubbing alcohol will sterilize the pimple, stopping other bacteria from getting into the open pimple and causing further inflammation. Once the white head is removed, do not keep squeezing the pimple.
2. Try a pimple cream. There are many pimple creams on the market, but make sure to find one with either benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Both ingredients kill acne causing bacteria in your skin. Both have the added benefit of stripping off layers of skin, which may have built up because of the pimple, leaving a smoother layer of skin behind.
   • Be careful with benzoyl peroxide. It may bleach clothing, if left in contact for extended periods of time.
3. Take a hot cloth and press it against the pimple. Do this for approximately 1-2 minutes. Do not make the cloth too hot. You don’t want to scald yourself. This will increase the blood flow to the spot, which will speed up the healing process.
4. Put some aloe vera gel on the spot before bed. Aloe vera is antibacterial as well as an anti-inflammatory. It will help your skin heal faster. 
5. Put toothpaste on your pimple. Many dermatologists agree that it can help. Make sure to use toothpaste with no whitening agents or harsh dyes. If you do use them, you could end up dying your pimple a funny color. The baking soda in the toothpaste is a natural drying agent and will absorb much of the moisture from the pimple if used overnight.
   • You can just use baking soda mixed with a little water instead of toothpaste. Mix until you have a paste and then apply with a Q-Tip.
   • There is some debate over how well toothpaste works on pimples.
6. Apply a mixture of sea salt and water to your pimple. Half the battle is reducing the size of your pimple. To do this you need to remove as much of the oil as possible. Take a tablespoon of sea salt and add a couple drops of warm water. Mix and apply immediately to problem area. Leave overnight.
7. Use tea tree oils. These oils have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which will help kill the bacteria causing your pimple and reduce redness.
8. Use an astringent. Astringents are designed to reduce the size of your pores and many store-bought astringents have anti-bactierial agents to help fight the pimple-causing germs.
   • There are several natural astringents you can use. Most are made with acidic fruits like lemons or oranges. Others use witch hazel, vinegar, or green tea.
9. Get treatment from a dermatologist. The fastest way to heal a pimple overnight is to get to a dermatologist and have them inject the pimple with cortisone. This reduces the inflammation. However, this is a rather extreme measure because there's a possibility it will cause the spot to cave inwards looking like a reverse pimple.
   • Follow the dermatologist's orders. Most likely, a dermatologist will prescribe cremes, antibiotics, and soaps for your skin type. Follow their instructions exactly. Do not use more than what the doctor prescribes. Once the medication has cleared up your acne, don’t stop taking it abruptly. Give your skin time to get used to life without medications.

Getting Rid of Redness

1. Cover your pimple with makeup. Many makeup companies sell products designed to cover up redness and attack pimple causing germs.
   • Use makeups wisely. If you wear makeup, pay attention to the date you started using it. You might want to stop using it when it gets past expiration date or if it causes your skin to break out. Make sure that you wash off all of your makeup at the end the day too.
2. Put ice on your pimple. Your pimple is swollen with blood. Ice will reduce the blood flow to the pimple and will reduce its redness. Not only will ice help the redness of a pimple, but it can also make the pimple less painful.
3. Use eye-drops to fight redness. Eye-drops are often used to fight eye redness caused by general dryness and bacteria, but they work on pimples too. Apply with a Q-Tip.
4. Try antihistamines. Take the recommended dosage of Benadryl to reduce redness. Just like hives or inflammations caused by insect bites, Benadryl can be used to fight redness associated with pimples. There are a number of natural antihistamines that you might consider. Quercetin is a great example and can be found in apples, onions, grapefruit juice, green tea, and red grapes.

Stopping Further Breakouts

1. Develop a routine to heal skin and avoid further breakouts. Rarely will pimples completely disappear overnight, but if you stick to a strict cleaning routine, that pimple will disappear faster and your general acne will improve.
2. Wash your face regularly. When you wake up in the morning and before you go to bed, splash your face with warm water to open your pores. Wash, don’t scrub, your face with soap meant for acne-prone skin. Then rinse off all the soap with cool water to shrink your pores.
   • Don’t over wash. Pimples are not caused by dirt. If they were, you’d probably have acne all over your feet. Excessive washing can actually strip your skin of its natural protections, irritating the skin further, and leading to prolonged inflammation.
   • Use soaps that won't cause acne flare-ups. Not all skin products are ideal for acne-prone skin. Use products that don’t have isopropyl palmitate, isopropyl myristate, butyl stearate, isopropyl isostearate, decyl oleate, isostearyl neopentanoate, isocetyl stearate, myristol myristate, cocoa butter, acetylated lanolin, D & C red dyes, or other oils. These ingredients may get into your pores, clog them up, and lead to further breakouts.
3. Wash your hands and clean your hair. Your hands and hair are two sources of grease. If you constantly touch your face or your hair rests against your face, this will lead to more breakouts.
4. Change your pillowcases regularly. You want to keep oils and dry skin away from your face. Your pillowcase collects oils and skin flakes while you sleep night-after-night.
5. Adjust your diet. Fatty, sugary foods can increase the likelihood of breakouts. Avoid milks, sodas, chocolates, candy bars, ice creams, and other similar products. Instead, eat more fruits and vegetables. Drink more water. By drinking more water, your body will be able to flush out those agents that lead to acne.
6. Take vitamins. Vitamin B3 increases hydration to your skin and reduces redness, while vitamin E fights dryness and increases your protection against UV radiation.
7. Exercise and sweat. When pores become clogged, you can help to unclog them through intense exercise. Just be sure to shower immediately after.
8. Chill out. Some studies have shown that acne can be caused by stress. So don’t stress out about that zit, because it might make it worse.

Related Articles

• Prevent Acne
• Get Rid of Acne
• Manage Pimples and Still Be Beautiful
• Use Household Pantry and Bathroom Items to Remove Acne
• Attain Flawless Skin

Sources and Citations

See also

• Care for Your Face (Males)
• Heal Raw Skin
• Use a Glycolic Acid Peel
• Know if Sunscreen Has Expired
• Heal over Exfoliated Skin
• Wear a Face Shield
• Stop Hard Water from Ruining Your Skin
• Choose a Natural Sunscreen
• Wear Makeup when You Have Eczema
• Make a Charcoal Peel‐Off Facial Mask

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