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Big pimple before an event? We've got you covered

 

We’ve all been there. You wake up for the big day, whether it’s a job interview, first date, graduation, or even your wedding, and there it is: a glaring pimple smack dab in the middle of your chin or cheek for all the world to see.

Aside from stressing out and swearing, what’s a person to do?

Whatever you do, resist the urge to pop it.

“Do not squeeze it,” emphasizes Nikki Maucieri, cosmetic nurse at Calgary’s Total Skin Care Centre. “This causes more inflammation in the tissue and can leave scarring, as well as post-inflammatory pigmentation in certain skin types. Makeup is your best option to hide a blemish."

Whether it's a week before a big event or the day before, here's how to combat (and prevent) an annoying blemish.

A week before

In the week leading up to an important event, there are several strategies to keep skin looking fresh and to diminish the chance of a breakout.

“Using skincare products specifically for your skin type and needs is the most important thing you can do,” Maucieri says. “In addition, a healthy lifestyle, lots of rest, and little stress are all beneficial.”

There may indeed be a link between stress and pimples. A 2003 study published in the Archives of Dermatology found that college students had acne flare-ups during exams, a period in which they reported more stress, compared to other times of the academic year. Acne severity correlated highly with mounting stress, the researchers found.

And it’s well known that lack of sleep exacerbates stress, meaning that the more zzzs you can get the better your chance of avoiding pimples.

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A few days before

If it’s three days before an important event, cortisone injections are one possible treatment, provided you’re willing to pay for them and know a reputable and qualified medical professional to administer them. “This works by reducing the inflammation in the pimple quickly,” Maucieri says.

Manhattan dermatologist Rebecca Baxt of Baxt Cosmedical describes this approach as one used by many actors and supermodels.

“When we discuss treating acne with cortisone or steroid shots, we are referring to the process of gently placing a very dilute quantity of a glucocorticoid steroid into the cyst,” Baxt says, referring to cases of cystic acne, in which lesions are deeply embedded in the skin tissue. “They can also be injected directly into local areas of inflammation such as in arthritic joints and inflamed acne cysts. Within one or two days of injection into a cyst, the steroid will shrink the inflammation producing relief of pain and almost immediate cosmetic improvement.”

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The day before

Let’s say it’s one day before an important event; is there anything you can do to make that sucker disappear quickly? What about using tricks that circulate online, like dabbing tea-tree oil or freshly squeezed lemon juice on it?

Sadly not.

“There is no at-home therapy that will clear a pimple overnight,” Maucieri says. “Pimples are caused by an inflammatory process, and nothing you can put on it at home—whether it’s toothpaste, honey, baking soda, cannabis oil, coconut oil, and so on—will reduce this inflammation and may actually prolong the pimple’s duration and cause further irritation to the skin.”

(New research has emerged in recent years supporting the role of inflammation in the development of acne, challenging the conventional view that the skin condition is strictly the result of hair follicles becoming plugged with oil and dead skin cells.)

So, what's the best solution? Covering it up. According to Brittany Gray of Fancy Face Inc., the biggest reason a pimple sticks out is because it's a different texture than the rest of your skin. The makeup artist suggests applying pressed powder to the pimple before applying your foundation, and then going back over the problem area with another dab of powder. Watch her full instructions below:

Other tips

  • Wash twice a day and after sweating, the American Academy of Dermatology suggests.

  • Avoid scrubbing your skin, which can make acne worse. Gentle exfoliation, meanwhile, is recommended.

  • “While face washes are good at removing oil and dirt, they lack the grit necessary to remove dead cell debris as well as the dirt clogged in pores,” says Beverly Hills skin-care expert Sonya Dakar on her website. “Exfoliating will help remove the dead cells and decongest your pores, minimizing breakouts and aiding in the skin renewal process."Avoid the sun and tanning beds. Although the sun’s rays may temporarily diminish the appearance of acne, tanning can damage the skin and increases the risk of skin cancer, notes the Canadian Dermatology Association.

  • Nourish the skin. “Maintaining a balanced moisture level will keep the skin healthy,” Dakar says. “Drying it out will further stimulate the oil glands to produce more oil to compensate for the loss. Use a hydrating serum, rich in nourishing omega 3, 6, and 9 before applying your moisturizer.”