How to Reduce the Appearance of a Zit Overnight

It's the easiest way to ruin your day--a zit pops up, just when you need it least. Whether tomorrow is the big meeting, your sister's wedding, your OWN wedding, or just a regular day at the grind, few people feel their best and most confident with a big old blemish glaring at them in the mirror. Short of medication, here is everything you can do to get rid of it.

Instructions

1. Thoroughly cleanse both hands and face before applying any of the following treatments. Remove the culprit that started it all--excess dirt and oil.

2. Apply heat. Zits form when dirt and oil get trapped in pores and fester, creating a bubble around them that prevents regular blood flow from dealing with the problem. Applying heat--in the form of a washcloth soaked in hot water--can help loosen that bubble and break up the nastiness.

3. Don't squeeze it! This is of paramount importance, especially if you want the zit to clear up the next morning. If you do, you are essentially creating an open wound on your face that then needs to scab over, scar and heal--a process that takes much longer than overnight, no matter what cream you use.

4. Apply salicylic acid. Look for products that contain at least 2 percent in an active ingredient. Apply liberally, but be careful not to spread it around too much--unless the product contains balancing hydrators. Salicylic acid can be very drying, and can actually create more blemishes later on.

5. Try witch hazel. Long considered to be a natural remedy, witch hazel is popping up in more products because, unlike salicylic acid, it has the same efficacy without the drying effect.

6. Try toothpaste--the white paste kind, not the gel. This, like witch hazel, has drying properties that won't flake your skin. This is a much more mild drying agent for sensitive skin. If you have no toothpaste around, mix a few tablespoons of baking soda with a few drops of water--enough to make a thick paste--and apply to your problem area.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember that the key to all of these treatments is drying out the pimple. Choose one, and don't double up. You'll damage your skin.

• Apply one treatment and leave it alone. Do not touch it, as doing so could deposit natural oils from your hands onto your face.