Ask a Beauty Editor: How to Bring a Pimple to a Head ASAP

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Reader question: How do you get a pimple to come to a head quickly? —@opposumpooka

Ever get a deep-rooted pimple that has no head but feels like an immovable mountain? They linger just under the surface of your skin so you can't use your conventional acne routine or pimple popping methods.

This weed-like nuisance is actually called a "blind pimple," a misleading name that doesn't sound too bad but is actually the worst kind. Unlike your average whitehead (which is non-inflammatory and relatively easy to treat with spot treatments), it's deep, painful, and near impossible to treat since the pus is burrowing underneath your skin. FYI: These guys are caused by oil getting trapped beneath the skin, which is why you might notice them before your period when oil production is at its highest.

If you know anything about treating pimples, you know that it's much easier to do when it comes to a head. A blind pimple is classified as a "papule," i.e., a superficial raised red lump. At this point, your skin gland is engorged, swollen, and hardened by oil clogging. The pus (I know, ew) also creates a pressure buildup that triggers your skin's sensory nerves, which is why you might feel some pain.

The goal is to turn that thing into a "pustule," which is exactly as it sounds (it contains pus and can be squeezed). First, NEVER pop any pimple that doesn't have a visible whitehead as it will make the inflammation way, way worse and could lead to scarring. Your approach should be gently coaxing all that gunk and bacteria to the surface.

Unfortunately, there's no magic trick to making a blind pimple disappear in a few minutes. However, there are a few ways to expedite the pimple's lifespan so it goes away faster (and no, suffocating it in toothpaste is not one of them). These are the only safe and effective methods to bring a pimple to a head—and yes, we made sure to get dermatologist approval.