How to get rid of pimples overnightUpdated a year ago
We have a few tricks up our sleeve to help you get rid of pimples overnight. Most of these are not good long-term solutions, so save them for emergency situations like important job interviews or special events.
Safe relief with pimple patches
Pimple patches aren’t just for protecting pimples. Overnight, they can help minimize small, inflamed blemishes near the surface of the skin. After removal, the skin may be a little red but the blemish itself will likely be flatter, which will make it easier to hide with makeup.
If your pimple patch is thin enough, you can even leave it on your skin and apply concealer on top of it, which will often look better and last longer.
Emergency injection
Cortisone injections are the best option for immediately reducing large, persistent, and deep-seated cysts and nodules, especially if you’re experiencing a lot of pain.
Cortisone is a steroid that quickly brings down inflammation, and the injection ensures it reaches the site of the inflammation even if it’s deep below the skin. There is a risk of skin atrophy or hypopigmentation with steroid shots, so this treatment should only be carried out by a doctor or nurse practitioner.
Target redness and swelling with topical hydrocortisone
Hydrocortisone cream is an over-the-counter medication used to treat redness, swelling, or itchiness associated with rashes and bug bites. It comes with a long list of potential risks, especially if overused, and it‘s absolutely not an acne treatment. Using it for longer than a day or two could worsen your acne or damage your skin.
That said, in an emergency, cortisone cream could help you calm surface redness and swelling, leaving your skin looking clearer by morning. Consider it a one-off solution not to be carried out more than a few times a year.
Safe popping
We don’t recommend popping your pimples. If you have a pustule that looks ready to burst, using a pimple patch will often suffice to clear it.
That said, if you’re the kind of person who can’t resist the urge to pop, at least do it safely: Make sure your hands and skin are clean, use a diabetic lancet to gently pierce the surface of the pimple, and use the pads of your fingers or cotton swabs instead of your nails to expel the pus.
Once you’re done, take care of your popped pimple as you would any open wound by keeping it clean and moist.
Hide with makeup
Makeup is your best bet for hiding a pimple quickly, regardless of your gender. This isn’t an overnight solution — rather, it’s for the morning when you wake up and feel like your skin needs a little more help.
We recommend choosing a medium-to-full coverage foundation if you have a breakout over a larger area. A high-coverage, waterproof concealer and some setting powder will suffice if it’s just one or two pimples. If you find that your concealer or foundation refuses to “stick” to the pimple in question, apply a very small amount of setting powder first.
Brimonidine for short-term redness relief
If the intense redness or your pimples or breakouts is your key issue, brimonidine is a vasoconstrictor that can make your skin look clear and even-toned for a brief period. You can find this ingredient in “whitening” eye drops or in prescription medication.
The anti-redness effect will only last for a few hours, though, and you may experience a rebound with worse redness. That said, it’s a quick and easy option right before a job interview or big speech that doesn’t require dealing with makeup or using harsh topicals.