Overview

While there's no fast way to get rid of an acne blemish, you can speed up the process by employing a few specific strategies. It's important to recognize that acne comes in many types, so while a mild form might respond well to over-the-counter treatment, more severe forms like cysts might not. Recognizing when you need to see a dermatologist can also help you find a treatment that works faster and prevents scarring.

Step 1

Wash your face every morning and night. Wet your skin with warm water, then work a gentle cleanser into a lather before massaging onto your face in a circular motion. Rinse well with warm water. This will remove surface dirt and oil and prevent your pores from clogging and creating new pimples.

Step 2

Keep your hands off your pimple. As tempting as it may be to pick at or squeeze, don't. You could cause scarring, plus you have a much better shot at your skin clearing up by keeping your dirty fingers away from it.

Step 3

Use a spot treatment. Find an over-the-counter acne treatment that contains benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid and apply it directly to your pimple each morning and night after cleansing. If your skin dries out or gets red and irritated, apply the cream only once per day or every other day.

Step 4

Wear sunscreen every day when going outside. Use a brand that is at least SPF 30 and apply to all exposed areas. This will protect your bad acne pimple from too much sun exposure, which can worsen the acne or cause new pimples to form. Likewise, many acne treatments leave your skin sensitive to the sun.

Step 5

See a dermatologist to have the pimple extracted. So long as the blemish isn't inflamed, you can have it removed. Your dermatologist will use a small tool to push the material, whether hard or liquid, from the middle of your pimple. A topical medication is then often applied to apply the pimple to heal.