So, you have a big day tomorrow and you plan to look your best.
There’s just one problem…the red, inflamed pimple on your face. What do you do? How to shrink a pimple overnight?
Because the sooner you find a way to clear up that zit the better.
Well, you can panic, or you can find out how to shrink that pimple overnight so you can go ahead and enjoy your day to the fullest.
And as tempting as it is to pop that sucker, don’t do it.
That’s not the way to go!
Popping a pimple will only make it worse and possibly lead to scarring which can really take a toll on your confidence.
So don’t do it.
Besides, there are plenty of other things you can do to get rid of a pimple that is much less painful.
And most of these can be done overnight.
Overnight is one of the best times to treat acne because during this period your skin has the chance to regenerate and recharge.
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So how do you shrink a pimple overnight?
These are just a few ways to shrink and get rid of that pimple fast!
Tip #1
Wear hydrocolloid bandages
A hydrocolloid bandage, otherwise known as a pimple patch, works by absorbing all the pus and oil inside your pimple, all without drying your skin.
This process helps a lot with reducing the appearance of the pimple and promotes faster healing.
After a few hours, you peel it off to reveal flat, pimple-free skin.
They also have the added benefit of blocking you from picking/popping/squeezing the pimple.
As I said earlier is a big no-no. Just put the pimple patch on and live your life.
No picking! If you absolutely can’t resist and just have to pick, just know that it can slow down the healing process.
And that’s not what you want.
These patches can be worn overnight, but for no more than 12 hours.
Yes, you could wear it longer, but over time the adhesive on the patch could potentially irritate your skin.
So don’t.
And if you don’t wash your face beforehand bacteria can fester, making the issue worse.
You also want to avoid putting any cream/lotion/oil directly underneath the patch because it can also irritate.
COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch
from: YesStyle.com
Rohto Mentholatum Acnes Medicated Anti-Bacteria Spot Dressing | YesStyle
from: YesStyle.com
Tip #2
Do a cold compress with green tea
Love it or hate it, using green tea for skincare is a thing.
Whether you’re a lover of this popular tea or not, there’s no doubt that there are some benefits to using green tea to help fight mild acne.
Thanks to its anti-inflammatory capabilities, the polyphenols (which are potent antioxidants) that help reduce acne, and its ability to inhibit the growth of acne-causing bacteria, green tea can help to shrink your pimple overnight.
Green tea is especially rich in epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a polyphenol that has great anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties and can improve acne and oily skin.
So for a quick overnight fix, boil some tea, remove the teabag, hold it on your pimple and rub gently in a circular motion.
You want to do this on a clean face to avoid pushing even more bacteria further into your pores.
Tip #3
Use an over-the-counter spot treatment
Some of the best over-the-counter acne treatments contain either salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.
Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are two ingredients that are usually very effective at getting rid of pimples fast.
Both of these ingredients can work wonders on your skin!
They work by drying out the pimple (unlike hydrocolloid bandages that absorb the gunk from the pimple all while retaining moisture).
Yes, you can use both at the same time but proceed with caution because when used together they can be very drying.
For the best results, take a cotton swab, dip it in the product, that apply over and around the pimple.
You’ll definitely see results in the morning and will notice that if the pimple hasn’t disappeared entirely it’s a lot less noticeable.
Tip #4
Apply diluted tea tree oil
In addition to over-the-counter spot treatments, hydrocolloid bandages, and green tea, there are still a handful of other natural ingredients you can use to shrink a pimple.
Tea tree oil is one of the most common.
Tea tree oil can be very effective at treating acne if you use the right concentration.
It has both anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties which can be useful when you want to help treat inflamed acne lesions, like pimples.
Just don’t use 100% pure tea tree oil on your skin because it can be very irritating!
Instead, dilute 1 part tea tree oil with 3 parts oil of your choice.
Some great non-comedogenic oils (oils that won’t clog your pores) to use are sunflower, hemp, safflower, grapeseed, hazelnut and jojoba oil.
If you do decide to try tea tree oil, please proceed with caution and stop using it if you see signs of irritation.
Last resort
Tip #5
Consult a dermatologist for a cortisone injection
This is an absolute last resort.
This option is for when a monstrous pimple is threatening to ruin a major event like your wedding day or a photoshoot or something.
If you need that thing gone NOW, then you can see a dermatologist for an injection of dilute cortisone medication.
A cortisone shot is supposed to reduce inflammation, pain, and swelling and help the pimple heal faster.
Now keep in mind that you don’t want to do this for every pimple, and if your dermatologist is a good one they won’t recommend that either.
It’s a fairly simple procedure but does have some risks.
A few hours later the pimple will start to go down and within 24 hours usually disappear completely.
Final thoughts
Having a monstrous pimple on your face is never fun.
But it’s even worse when one pops up the night before a major event where all eyes will be on you, like a work presentation or your wedding.
Yikes!
So the best bet is to use one of the methods above to get rid of that sucker before morning.
To recap, some of the best ways to shrink a pimple overnight are by wearing a hydrocolloid bandage which will suck the gunk right out of that pimple.
By using the soothing and anti-inflammatory properties of green tea, running out for an over the counter spot treatment or if you’re really desperate making a call to see a dermatologist for a cortisone injection.
These are all proven ways to tackle that sneaky zit, but whatever you do just don’t pop it.
