Back in the dark ages before skincare blogs and social media, we relied on primitive, ineffective methods for quickly shrinking pimples. Some of us carry vivid memories of dabbing our faces with toothpaste in a futile effort to make a zit go away. These days, we know better. Read on to learn what to do when an unwelcome visit appears on your skin!
1. Bring it to a head (if needed)
Take a look at your zit. Has it come to a head? If yes, you can skip this step. If it hasn’t, and you’re looking at the smooth, closed surface of a blind pimple, it’s time to purge it out.
To bring the zit to a head, you’ll need a washcloth and a strong exfoliant. We recommend a peel-strength alpha hydroxy acid. Look for something with at least 20% of glycolic or lactic acid. We like The Ordinary’s AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution.
Image: The Ordinary
Use the washcloth and hot water to make a warm compress. Hold it on the zit for a few minutes. This will soften the skin and allow the exfoliant to penetrate more effectively.
After removing the warm compress, immediately dab your AHA peel only on the pimple. Leave it on for the maximum amount of time indicated in the product instructions. Once time is up, rinse the area with lukewarm water.
Depending on the depth of the clog, one round of your peel may be enough to bring the clog to the surface or close to the surface. If so, proceed to the next step. If not, repeat this process once daily until it comes to a head.
2. Draw out the fluids
Once you’ve brought the zit to a head, you can surface the clog and the surrounding pus. This way, you can clear them out. This will allow the inflammation to subside and the skin to heal.
The safest way to do this is overnight, using a hydrocolloid pimple patch. These are made of the same material as blister bandages. They work by drawing fluids out and absorbing them. They work the same on zits as they do on blisters. We like COSRX’s Acne Pimple Master Patch, but any pimple patches should do. Clean and dry the pimple and apply the zit sticker over it. Press firmly to make sure it sticks. Then leave it alone. When you take it off the next day, it will most likely have sucked the goo from the zit. The zit will be much flatter. Apply a new one if you feel it hasn’t gotten everything out.
Image: COSRX
3. Reduce inflammation and jump-start healing
Once you’ve purged out the pimple, it’s time to take care of the surrounding skin. Inflammation causes redness and swelling. That’s why zits look so red and angry.
To quickly take down the majority of the redness and swelling, first treat the area with a cold compress. This can be as simple as a washcloth soaked in ice water, but you can also use an ice pack as long as you wrap it with a cloth to prevent direct contact with your skin. Use your cold compress on the pimple for as long as you want.
Afterwards, you’ll want to help your skin heal up. Now’s the time to bring out your gentle, reparative products. What you use will depend on your individual preferences. Now isn’t the time to try a new product, since you don’t know if it will break you out again or not. But to give you some ideas, here’s a list of ingredients with research to support their ability to support the wound healing process:
- Honey, propolis, and/or royal jelly
- Snail mucin
- “Cica”: centella asiatica and its derivatives (madecassoside, asiaticoside, and asiatic acid)
- Peptides
Photo by Pixabay
Of course, shrinking one zit doesn’t mean the battle is over. If you break out frequently, you’ll want to figure out what’s causing your breakouts so that you can stop them at the source. Check back for our follow-up. We’ll discuss some common causes and how you can address them!
