Don’t you hate when you wake up in the morning and see a gigantic pimple has sprung to life seemingly overnight, usually on the day you have an important work meeting or an even more important date? While it may seem like the pimple came out of nowhere, that’s not the case. “Acne is a function of how your skin cycles,” says Lance H. Brown, MD, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at New York University School of Medicine. “Healthy skin sloughs off every three months. When this doesn’t happen properly, your pores become clogged and the oil feeds off the bacteria, creating white heads, blackheads, and pimples.”

Follow these dos and don’ts if you want to get rid of pimples...


Don’t wash too much. Washing your face in the morning and the evening is sufficient to remove acne-causing bacteria. Any more and you risk stripping your skin of its natural, and helpful, oils — which will only cause more redness and irritation.

Don’t pick a pimple at home. Squeezing can lead to an infection if it’s not done correctly. You should never pick a cystic pimple (the hard kind under your skin). For a pustule or white head, see a dermatologist or an aesthetician, who can remove it carefully with sterile tools, advises Robb Akridge, PhD, creator of the Clarisonic.

If you can’t resist the urge, very, very gently, squeeze it yourself. Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and warm water to remove bacteria and germs first, then use a tissue and squeeze the white head until it bursts, and then stop immediately. Extra squeezing can damage skin, spread infection, and leave a mark. Finish with a light application of an anti-bacterial cream, like Neosporin.

Don’t overtreat. While sulfur, benzoyl peroxide, and retinol products are proven acne fighters, when overused, they can cause your skin to dry out. This will cause more irritation and make your breakouts worse.

Do try an at-home anti-acne device, such as the Zeno Heat Treat Blemish Clearing Device ($40). It gently warms skin to kill 99 percent of the bacteria without harming healthy skin cells.

Do wear sunscreen. Sunscreen is absolutely not a cause of acne and sun exposure can cause acne scars to get darker, making them harder to get rid of. On top of that, some acne medications make skin more photosensitive — meaning you’ll burn more easily. Look for a non-oily, non-comedogenic light lotion variety, advises Akridge.

A pimple is a swollen elevation on the skin caused by bacteria in a clogged pore. Some causes of clogging include sweat, makeup, and certain face creams. If you have the occasional pimple outbreak, you may want to know how to get rid of a pimple fast.

The first step to get rid of a pimple is to implement a skin-cleansing regimen. Wash your face every day with a simple bar of soap. Soaps like Ivory Soap Bars 3 Pack, $1.49, at Walgreens, are good facial-cleansing soaps. Wash your hands first, and then wash your face using your hands or a very soft cleansing cloth to keep from irritating the skin further. Rinse your skin with lukewarm water. Very hot or cold water just irritates the skin further. Pat your face dry with a clean towel.


Once you've implemented your skin regimen, pimples can still creep up on you. There are home remedies you can try before turning to over the counter or prescription medication for acne. Tea tree oil has antibacterial properties that may help to get rid of a pimple fast. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, in a study comparing the effectiveness of using tea tree oil versus a prescription medication, both groups experienced improvement in their acne. Simply dab a small amount of tea tree oil on the pimple and let the natural properties go to work. Some people experience mild irritation to full-strength tea tree oil, but you can dilute it with water before applying it to your skin.

Another natural remedy you can try to help get rid of a pimple is to apply a dot of plain white toothpaste to the area before going to bed. When you rinse off the toothpaste in the morning, you should see significantly less swelling.

Try to avoid popping the pimple, no matter how tempting it may be. Stubborn, continuous breakouts may need professional help. You should seek the advice of your dermatologist for the best course of action.