Can you get rid of a pimple overnight? I asked an expert

How to zap your zit.

From toothpaste and ice to lemon juice and tea tree oil, over the years, many solutions have been said to eliminate pesky pimples overnight. But is it actually possible? Could it be that easy to achieve a clear, acne-free complexion while you sleep? Well… the answer isn’t all that simple.

It all depends on a few factors, including the solution you choose and the severity of your pimple. Before jumping into what treatments do and don’t work to eliminate a pimple overnight, there are two main questions you should ask yourself. The first is am I using the correct treatment? And the second, how severe is my pimple?

We like nosy people. Don’t be shy, head to our Beauty section for more. 

The effectiveness of a treatment depends largely on the ingredients and your skin type. To find out more about the nitty gritty, I spoke to Dr Ambi Sud, a doctor at Software. “Look for topical treatments that contain ingredients such as salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide and ensure you apply your chosen product to cleansed skin. Be mindful, as well, that this may cause a little dryness and even peeling in the area you apply it, so it’s a good idea to have a nourishing moisturiser on hand for the next morning.

“My personal favourite way to deal with pimples is a patch. Many are infused with spot-fighting ingredients which will help calm the pimple down. You can use these during the day, or apply them overnight to work on the blemish as you sleep.” Regardless of the treatment you choose, make sure to cleanse your skin thoroughly to remove any makeup and grime from the day before applying.

The severity of your pimple

The type of pimple you’re dealing with can also affect how quickly it will disappear. As Dr Sud explains, “Blind, under-skin pimples (or cysts/nodules), are usually a bit more stubborn than your usual pimple, so a bit more patience is usually required with these. A regular blemish will usually respond well to… treatments and you may see a good reduction in how it looks in terms of size and redness with the appropriate treatment.” If you have a big event coming up and can see a dermatologist, consider getting a cortisone injection. This treatment can rapidly reduce the size of a cyst or larger spot.

Treatments that don’t work overnight

“There’s lots of DIY approaches on TikTok and social media. I would steer clear of household products like toothpaste and apple cider vinegar. These are not designed to be put on your skin and you risk causing a lot more irritation by applying them to your face… keep these for their actual purpose, not your skin!” says Dr Sud. Other treatments that are unlikely to deliver the results you’re looking for include:

• Lemon juice. It’s highly acidic and can cause skin irritation and even burns.
• Heavy oils. Ingredients like coconut oil can clog pores, worsening the breakout.
• Ice. Though applying ice on a pimple can help reduce inflammation, it doesn’t necessarily help clear up acne.

Something else Dr Sud recommends against is picking at your pimples. “It may feel satisfying at the time but in most instances, this is going to make the situation much worse. You risk aggravating the pimple – which may make it bigger and more inflamed – and increase the risk of scarring by picking at your skin. This is one of the reasons why my preferred choice of treatment is a pimple patch for patients that may be tempted to fiddle with their skin.”

Treating a pimple the right way

When dealing with a stubborn pimple that won’t disappear overnight, focus on treating it the right way. If you want to wear makeup (it’s better to not!), there are some tricks you can use to conceal a pimple. Start by using a green-tinted primer, as this helps neutralise the redness of a pimple. If you’re applying concealer, just dab it gently on the pimple and blend out the edges, not directly where the spot is. Set your face with powder, as this will keep your makeup in place throughout the day.

“To reduce the chance of pimples forming in the first place, consider using ingredients like retinoids and salicylic acid in your routine regularly to keep your skin clear by increasing cell turnover, unclogging pores and reducing the production of sebum,” Dr Sud says. For treatment, it’s important to continue your usual routine. Don’t skip steps and be sure to use products that suit your skin type. Apply a targeted spot treatment to remove excess oil, and keep your skin moisturised to avoid further irritation.

For more on stopping a pimple in its tracks, head here.