Acne is a fact of life for most teenagers, and some people suffer from pimples long after puberty has passed. The first concern is usually getting rid of the zit as fast as you can, but trying to "pop" or squeeze pimples can just make the situation worse, and will often leave scars that stick around long after the pimple has disappeared. Instead, choose the right topical treatments can help clear your skin, or visit your dermatologist to banish a zit in an emergency. If over-the-counter treatments don't do the trick, prescription options are available to clear your skin.
Step 1
Wash your hands before touching your face. According to Kid's Health.org, touching your face with dirty hands can spread the bacteria that causes acne, which will only make the situation worse.
Step 2
Apply a topical treatment to the pimple once or twice a day. Loma Linda University Children's Hospital recommends using a 5% benzoyl peroxide gel or cream, which is available without a prescription at your local drug store. Read and follow the instructions on the package before you use the product the first time. Apply the gel or cream to clean skin before putting any makeup or cover-up on your pimple.
Step 3
Wash your hands again when you finish applying the medicine. Washing the bacteria from the pimple off your fingers will help prevent spreading acne to other parts of your body.
Tips and Warnings
- See your dermatologist if you don't have the time to let the pimple heal on its own. Allowing a pimple to heal without any scarring will take a few days, even with quality medicine and treatments, but if it is an emergency your dermatologist can help. Call ahead to see what kind of fees your doctor charges for injecting a small amount of cortisone into the pimple, which will make it disappear much faster, or for extracting the pimple under sterile conditions. You can also ask about prescription topical treatments, which may be more effective for cystic acne that is deep under the skin, or particularly stubborn zits.
- Leave your skin alone while it heals. Do not touch, rub, scratch, squeeze or pick at your zit at any stage of the healing process. Not only can disturbing your pimple push the bacteria farther into the pore, making the zit last longer, it can also cause scarring and crater-like marks that may never disappear. It can be frustrating to be patient while your acne heals, but it is well worth it.
Things You'll Need
- 5% benzoyl peroxide gel or cream
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