This article was medically reviewed by Paul Friedman, MD. Paul Friedman, MD, is a Board-Certified Dermatologist, and the Director and Founder of the Dermatology & Laser Surgery Center in Houston, Texas. He has over 25 years of experience and specializes in Mohs micrographic surgery, dermatologic laser surgery, and cosmetic dermatology. Dr. Friedman is the current President of the American Society for Laser Medicine & Surgery and was named by Newsweek Magazine as one of the Best Dermatologists in America for Laser Treatments. His awards include the Husk Prize for his research in dermatologic surgery and the Young Investigator's Writing Competition Award of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. Dr. Friedman completed his dermatology residency at the New York University School of Medicine and received his medical degree with the highest honors from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of Medicine.
There are 28 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Pimples are a part of life, but they don't have to stick around for months as swollen red monsters. Ice is a simple way to keep the swelling down in the short term, and there are a lot of other household remedies that you can try right away.
Here are 13 effective ways to get rid of swollen, red pimples fast.
Steps
Video
Expert Q&A
Reader Videos
Tips
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Once a whitehead forms, a warm (not super hot) washcloth will help it heal faster (but can temporarily make the pimple redder). Hold the cloth against the pimple for 10 or 15 minutes at a time.[25]Thanks
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Don't touch your face with your hands or fingers. Your skin naturally produces oil, so touching your face could transfer the oil and clog your pores.Thanks
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Most people get acne at some point, so don't panic about something that happens to everybody.Thanks
Warnings
- Toothpaste is not a great choice for treating pimples. Yes, it can kill off bacteria, but it also has ingredients that can damage your skin. Your doctor can prescribe a much better treatment if over-the-counter drugs aren't working.[26]Thanks
- Avoid exfoliants while you have acne. These irritate your skin and can make a breakout worse.[27]Thanks
- Serratiopeptidase, which is sometimes marketed as an anti-inflammatory acne treatment, is not approved by the US FDA, and there is no good evidence that it works.[28] The Thailand FDA recalled this product from the market over these doubts.[29]Thanks
- Anti-redness eye drops like Visine aren't designed for skin, and could be dangerous if used near the mouth and accidentally swallowed. It's best not to experiment with these as acne treatments.[30]Thanks
References
- ↑ https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2018/09/11/1569374/0/en/How-to-Treat-Deep-Painful-Pimples-American-Academy-of-Dermatology.html
- ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/pimple-patches-hydrocolloid-darts-acne-stickers/2021/07/26/3f7eb12a-ee2b-11eb-bf80-e3877d9c5f06_story.html
- ↑ https://www.self.com/story/how-to-conceal-pimple
- ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32812270/
- ↑ https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(15)02614-6/fulltext/
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/injured-skin/burns/face-mask-skin-problems-treatment
- ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2145499/
- ↑ https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/how-do-i-choose-and-use-essential-oils
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5796020/
- ↑ https://www.mdpi.com/2218-0532/85/2/19
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3609166/
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7036894/
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/acne/in-depth/acne-products/art-20045814
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/do-face-masks-actually-work-or-are-they-just-a-fad/
- ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22585103/
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/acne/derm-treat/treat
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/benzoyl-peroxide/
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/acne/skin-care/tips
- ↑ Paul Friedman, MD. Board Certified Dermatologist, American Board of Dermatology. Expert Interview. 8 April 2020.
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/acne/skin-care/moisturizer
- ↑ https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(15)02614-6/fulltext#secsectitle0085
- ↑ https://dermnetnz.org/topics/contact-reactions-to-cosmetics/
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/acne/skin-care/habits-stop
- ↑ Paul Friedman, MD. Board Certified Dermatologist, American Board of Dermatology. Expert Interview. 8 April 2020.
- ↑ https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2018/09/11/1569374/0/en/How-to-Treat-Deep-Painful-Pimples-American-Academy-of-Dermatology.html
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/acne/treatment/
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/acne/skin-care/tips
- ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1743919113000265
- ↑ https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1528438/fda-expands-drug-recall
- ↑ https://thebeautybrains.com/2008/01/is-visine-good-for-skin-spots/
- Videos provided by Jennifer Chiu
About This Article
To reduce swollen and red pimples, hold an ice cube over them for a few minutes, which will contract the blood vessels under your skin so the pimples aren't as red and swollen. You can also try holding a steeped tea bag over the pimples since tea has anti-inflammatory tannins in it that can help reduce swelling. If you have some aspirin on hand, crush it up, mix it with water, and apply the paste to your pimples. After a few hours, rinse the paste off and your pimples should be less red and swollen! To learn how to prevent red and swollen pimples from forming in the first place, scroll down!
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