How to treat a single pimple

First, what kind of pimple is it?

• Whitehead or blackhead: a clogged pore, flat or slightly raised, not sore.
• Red bump (papule): tender and red, with no visible head.
• Pus-filled spot (pustule): a red base with a white or yellow top.
• Deep lump (nodule or cyst): sits under the skin, hurts and lasts for weeks.

What to put on it

Benzoyl peroxide suits red and pus-filled spots; a low strength works as well as a high one and stings less. Salicylic acid suits clogged pores. A hydrocolloid patch on a spot that has come to a head absorbs fluid and stops you picking. Adapalene is the exception: it prevents new pimples, so it goes on the whole area, not on one spot. To compare these products side by side, see the best acne spot treatment for each kind of pimple.

Why popping backfires

Squeezing pushes bacteria and pus deeper, which means more swelling, a longer-lasting spot and a higher risk of a scar or dark mark. The American Academy of Dermatology advises leaving pimples alone, even the ones with a white head.

A deep, painful pimple

For a deep spot, the AAD suggests ice wrapped in a cloth for a few minutes to ease swelling and pain, and a warm compress once a head starts to form. A dermatologist can inject a large, painful cyst with a corticosteroid, which often flattens it within a day or two.

What not to put on a pimple

Toothpaste, lemon juice, rubbing alcohol and baking soda are popular quick fixes, and all of them can dry out and irritate the skin around the spot. Irritated skin turns redder and can leave a darker mark once the pimple is gone. Harsh scrubs do the same. Stick to one tested ingredient and leave the rest of the skin alone.

How long a pimple lasts

A small whitehead or red bump usually settles within days, especially when it is left alone. Deep lumps under the skin can last for weeks, and squeezing them makes them last longer. A flat red or brown mark can stay for weeks or months after the spot itself has gone; sunscreen helps it fade, because sunlight darkens it.

Using a pimple patch well

A hydrocolloid patch works best on a pimple that has come to a head or is already open. Clean and dry the skin, put the patch on, and leave it overnight or until it turns white from the fluid it absorbs. On a deep lump with no head it does little, because there is nothing at the surface to draw out. Its biggest benefit is simple: it stops you touching the spot.

Preventing the next one

Single pimples that keep turning up in the same place often point to something that touches that spot: a phone, a hand that rests on the chin, a hat band or a hair product. Change that first. Wash twice a day with a mild cleanser, choose products labeled non-comedogenic, and change pillowcases often.

When a spot treatment isn't enough

If new pimples keep appearing, treating them one at a time won't keep up. That calls for a daily routine on the whole area, and a dermatologist if nothing improves after a few months.

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