When a pimple does erupt, there's a simple, free, home-remedy you can use to help diminish the spot – ice.

Icing down a pimple can help in the following ways:

Size – like any inflammation, a few minutes of ice on a pimple can help reduce the swelling, markedly shrinking your spot.

Longevity – by reducing the size of the pimple, you’ll also reduce its lifespan.

Redness – while using ice may temporarily redden the skin, the long-term effects will not only shrink the size of a spot, but the redness as well.

Pain – for large, painful cysts, a minute of ice can help reduce the pain those swollen spots can cause.

When icing a pimple, follow these simple steps:

  1. Make sure your skin is clean and freshly washed
  2. Wrap an ice cube in a thin washcloth – never apply ice directly to your skin!
  3. Place the wrapped cubed directly on top of the pimple
  4. Hold in place for 1 minute - no longer, as you don’t want to harm the surrounding skin
  5. Remove ice, wait 5 minutes. Reapply for 1 more minute, if needed
  6. Follow up with a targeted acne product, like Ain't Misbehavin' Medicated Acne Control Serum

By Jen Mathews
DERMAdoctor Staff Writer

This content is sponsored by DERMAdoctor. The author receives compensation for its creation. All content is the legal copyright of DERMAdoctor, Inc, and it may not be used, reprinted, or published without written consent. The information provided is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended to provide medical, legal or other professional advice.