Ever had a huge, deep, painful pimple under the skin’s surface that feels more like a tumor than a zit?
The one that makes part of your face look swollen, hurts like hell and is almost impossible to conceal.
A pimple turned into a hard lump under the skin?
Worse still, the one that takes forever to heal since the pore is clogged so deep below the skin surface that medication doesn’t work on it?
I got one of these stubborn monsters just above my lipline a couple of months back and couldn’t drain it because the pea-sized bump refused to develop a head.
A huge problem, especially since I had a major event to attend and did not enjoy going with a blind pimple that led to swollen, lopsided lips.
It was time to dig deep and wide, seeking remedies from board-certified dermatologists to the American Academy of Dermatology and ancient wisdom. Here’s everything I learned about bringing a pimple to a head and making it subside quickly, sans side effects like scarring or hyperpigmentation.
Bookmark if you have acne-prone skin!
Prid’s Drawing Salve
It’s black, greasy, and seriously stinky. Still, nothing destroys a pimple that’s lodged under the skin like this old homeopathic remedy.
Along with zit-busting and anti-inflammatory agents like Phenol and Ichthammol (which has a hefty dose of Sulphur), Prid’s Drawing Salve also contains Arnica for bruising, calendula for healing, and echinacea for its antiseptic qualities.
You dab it onto the bump at night and cover it with a Band-aid (hello, acne patch!). This “draws the poison” from the hair follicle, as they’d say in the old days.
I did this for just one night, and by morning the inflammation had gone down by about 60%, plus the blind pimple had formed a white head.
Seriously, all this in one night — after suffering for two months with a pimple that turned into a hard lump under the skin!
And it’s a steal at $5.23!
A warm compress will bring the pimple to a head
Another way how to bring a pimple to a head in minutes? According to Medical News Today, a warm compress will bring a pimple to a head faster than leaving it alone.
Dip a washcloth in water as hot as your skin can stand. Fold it up and apply the warm compress to the pimple. As the outer folds of the washcloth start to cool, refold it so the warmer inside layers are exposed and reapply.
After 10-15 minutes, when the washcloth has cooled off, run it under more hot water. Keep doing this for as long as needed, preferably several times a day.
The heat will draw acne-causing bacteria to the surface and soften the pore, relieving the blind pimple quickly.
That way, the next step to treat pimples — an over-the-counter spot treatment with 2% salicylic acid plus a pain reliever like menthol — can penetrate deep down and zap the infection of acne-causing bacteria faster than would happen naturally, allowing underlying tissues to heal sans a scar.
Hot-and-cold compresses to treat pimples
Alternate hot compresses (as hot as you can stand without hurting yourself) and icy cold compresses on your pimple every 5-10 minutes until it develops a white head or begins to harden.
The hot and cold compresses will expand and contract the spot, helping draw out the fluids and rapidly bring the pimple to a head without side effects.
Hot poultice for pimple turned into hard lump under skin
A friend of mine swears by this recipe handed down from her grandmother for that under-the-skin zit: Crush half a tablespoon each of onion, garlic, and ginger. Mix them and apply this poultice on the blind pimple, then cover it with a Band-Aid (that’s how the acne patch was born!).
This should bring even the deepest pimple to a head in a few hours.
(PS: I suggest doing a patch test before putting garlic on your face, especially for sensitive or acne-prone skin.)
Tea bag compress for clogged pores
A warm tea bag placed directly over the pimple doesn’t just help bring it to the surface. The tannins within — particularly in black tea — also help reduce inflammation, thereby deflating the zit and minimizing the chances of scarring.
Shoe polish (Not. Kidding.) for mammoth zits
Joey Green, the author of Amazing Kitchen Cures, recommends a Kiwi White Liquid Shoe Polish dab to bring the pimple to a head.
He also recommends dabbing on some Preparation H to shrink a spot under the skin’s surface.
Cortisone: The Hollywood method to treat acne
Suppose the pimple is super nasty and hasn’t formed a head? The American Academy of Dermatology recommends asking your dermatologist whether a cortisone shot is right for you.
It stings a little but is a surefire way to shrink even the most massive under-the-skin zit within 24 hours, sans major side effects like scarring and hyperpigmentation.
But what causes blind pimples in the first place?
Those painful bumps under your skin, also known as blind pimples, are a form of cystic acne. This is the most severe form of acne and goes deep beneath the skin.
They’re caused by hair follicles getting blocked due to a mix of dead skin cells and an overproduction of sebum, your skin’s natural oil. Excessive sebum production is triggered by hormone levels going berserk, stirred by events like puberty, hormonal fluctuations, your monthly cycle, or even stress.
PS: These blocked hair follicles are clogged pores in everyday English.
And there’s more — these blocked hair follicles create a perfect breeding ground for a type of bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), which can heighten inflammation and worsen acne. The result? A pimple turned into hard lump under the skin.
Don’t fret, though! Proper skin care can help manage cystic acne. However, if these unwelcome guests persist or worsen, it’s time to enlist the help of a dermatologist. Consider them the skin’s bouncer, ready to help restore order and keep your skin healthy!
Have you ever had a blind pimple lodged under the skin? How long did it last?
Anubha Charan is a powerhouse in the luxury beauty industry, with over 15 years of expertise shaping the global beauty narrative. As the former Beauty Director at Marie Claire, she worked with the magazine's French headquarters to craft cutting-edge beauty content for international audiences.
Anubha's bylines have appeared in some of the world’s most prestigious publications, including Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Travel + Leisure, WebMD, and Architectural Digest. She is also the co-author of Paris Bath & Beauty, a Simon & Schuster book on French beauty rituals.
Sarah Catherine says
OMG I cannot BELIEVE you just posted this. Been suffering from one of these for almost two weeks until just yesterday–and I never get these–which almost made it worse because I was so incredibly lost on what the heck to do about it. Thanks for the tips! I should keep that salve around just in case it happens again.
anubha says
I now keep a tin of Prids in literally every place in the house. And car. And office!
Keera says
Where can you buy prids?
anubha says
I get mine off Amazon
Terrie says
I read this article and I had a quarter sized under the skin cyst. After reading about Prids I went to Walmart and bought a tin. I used it and over night it was almost completely gone. Unbelievable!!! I will never be without it and will buy one every time I visit Walmart. Thank you so much for the information.
m says
purchased prid from amazon two tin special never received second one. i used it for over a year with no success at all my breakout just continued to break out.
Loreena Macias says
You can buy it at walgrerns or cvs
Jane says
I bought mine at Walmart
Lori says
I got mine ata local drug store Walmart I k ow Carries it but where ever may b located in sute the drug stores around u should have it I got it at a min n pup pharmacy under 10 dollars A run if will last u a life time I will repost and let u know I have one on my face belie cheek bone it hurts and there’s heat coming from it And it’s deep n hard I just put prid on it covered it with bandaid as directed so we shall see
Sue Griffin says
Where can i buy Prids ?
Claudia says
The past week my chin would burn whenever I applied makeup and I thought oh no, it’s an inner pimple, the next thing I know my chin is swelling up in a shape like ball under my lip, I immediately Google! And find this article and I bought the Prid cream an hour later! I’m hoping the swelling goes down it’s gotten difficult to talk since it’s right in the middle of my bottom lip and center chin, and I’m not one to get pimples often so it’s very noticeable and embarrassing!!! I just applied the cream and covered it with a band-aid and hoping tomorrow morning the swelling has gone down to any size than what it is now.. I do feel as though the cream is working and so happy I came across this, I shall be checking up at other posts in this website 🙂 thank you!
Rachel says
I use tea tree oil. Put some on a cotton swab and apply it on the affected area. Repeat 8 hours later. The pimle will be at full white head 12 hours after first application, and will not return if you drain it. It will have a hard crust, so use a needle to puncture it if you do drain it, like I do.
Bharti Bhandari says
Hi, A few weeks ago there was an article about pimples location on the face and diagnosis of the cuase based on where the pimple was on hte face. Could please point me to hte article.
thank you
bharti
anubha says
Here you go: https://thebeautygypsy.com/what-is-your-acne-telling-you/
Nathalia says
So, I bought this drawing salve last week after reading this article, and somehow it is not quite working. Do you think it has to be one of those huge zits to make it work, or does a normal zit do? And how much of the stinky potion did you apply?
Also, I bought the witch hazel today, and I am excited to try it out.
anubha says
It normally works best for under the skin cysts… do you have one of those or one with a head?
Lori says
Just got mine today will post again in a day or so to let everyone know if the prid works for me
visit this site says
It’s really a great and helpful piece of information. I am glad that you just shared this helpful information with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
julie says
Prids can be bought at Walgreens and also works on a deep splinter
Vickie Perez says
Thank u so much
Amanda says
Where can I find prid? I’ve never gotten one of these things, NOR heard of em so when I found it on my face and it swelled literally the whole left side of my face I started to FREAK!! I’ve gotten a boil on my hip and it was the most painful thing even, not to mention that it left an ugly scar. The thought of that happening to my face was just right ing. I came upon this and I feel so relieved! The description is on point and I’d really like to try this!
anubha says
Ouch… that sounds painful! Where do you live? I usually get my Prid’s off Amazon. Would that work for you??
Amanda says
I actually just googled it. I don’t know why I didn’t think of doing that before. Lol they had em at Walmart for about the price you mentioned and also at Walgreens for $6. Mine was literally the size of a quarter! The hard part at least, and the redness and swelling was my whole cheek. I applied the prid last night. The next morning the swelling was practically gone! Still there, just no where near as bad! By the time I was out of work the swelling was COMPLETELY gone, the hard part is smaller than a dime. I’ll probably apply it again tonight and I’m sure that should do the trick! Thank you so much for your advice!
anubha says
so glad to hear that 🙂
Lori says
So yours never. And to a head?
James says
I have bought it here at Walmart
corsica says
I’ve just started reading your blog and love love love it! As you can tell I am reading all your past articles because it’s so intriguing 🙂 In particular I love the organic, natural methods.
I wanted to share my own zit remedy that’s simpler than the Hot Poultice you posted:
After washing your face and drying, score a garlic tooth lengthwise, microwave for 12 seconds- careful, it will be hotter than you think! Open the garlic, and dab it directly onto the area. The garlic oil/juice will dry like a thin film sealing it in to disinfect. Now, you are ready to prep your face for the day or for bed.
I do this at the earliest twinge to prevent anything from sprouting 9takes 2-3 times) and when I forget to do it and it has already started to grow to pause the pimple. It also flakes off scars that are left sometimes. Give it two to three days to fully flake of scars from already started ones.
Keep up the awesome work! I am learning so much!
Jenny says
I just tried the mix of onion, garlic and ginger. I will never try that again. Whether that means I’m sensitive or not I don’t know. I don’t think I’m any more sensitive than an average person… Immediately after putting it on with the band-aids I could feel it stinging and throbbing immensely. I thought that meant it just worked really well. And in a way it did, my underlying pimples are now way smaller, they don’t protrude as much. BUT, and this is a big one… I have a huge rash now on my face. I woke up to awfully tomato-red skin and I specifically did this treatment because I wanted to look good in front of my boyfriend, which I will be seeing today. Suffice to say it made it ten times worse.
Immediately upon discovering this, I slathered on pure shea butter as it has healing properties. I really hope my skin will recover more or less in time, if 90% of the redness is gone by the time I’m meeting him, then there’s no big deal because my concealer can hide a slight redness. It can’t hide this though and it’s understandable! I plan on using an ice cube to reduce the redness even further, I have to plan my whole day around how to minimize the redness now… I’m not blaming the author, just saying, use caution! I’m not allergic to any of the ingredients, still it hurt like a bitch. I didn’t know what to expect.
RJ says
Did you honestly just say your not a sensitive person in regards to a skin treatment reacting adversely? lmfao. That is probably why the author specifically said to try and do a test patch somewhere OTHER THAN your face at first. To see how sensitive YOUR SKIN is and how it reacts.
Nour says
Happened to me before. You’re not supposed to leave garlic or onion, or even ginger, very long on you face. Garlic especially BURNS, literally, your skin.
Just do 5-8mn masks and it should be fine.
Beth says
Thank you so much for this advice! I have had these things all my life and never knew what to do about them. I currently had one for four weeks with no end in sight. I tried the Prid product last night and by today, it had softened and I was able to pop it. It is now half the size and it feels so much better! There is still some size to it; do you think I should do another treatment with the Prid or do a traditional spot acne treatment?
Celadon says
I hate these things. though of course, calling them “pimples under the skin” is inaccurate, but I suppose its less likely to freak people out. I mean, calling them Abscesses sounds a lot scarier. In any event… They are bacterial infections and any remedies should consider that.
While most of the time you’re fine, and most of the time these things heal fine on their own… be careful. You don’t want it rupturing and spreading through your blood and becoming a systemic infection. Which likely will not happen to you. But it did to me.
Skin ulcers are unpleasant.
Nour says
Thank you so much for your comment, wishing you all the best.
People should NEVER pop a pimple themselves
Shelley says
Hi, thanks for the creative solutions. I am going to try Prid tonight! I have one on my lip and it hurts pretty badly. I am already so self conscious of my lip since I have hyper pigmentation (looks like I have a dirty mustache). So add a zit to it and it makes it that much worse! Thanks again, hopefully it will work! Shelley
Angel says
Never heard of Prid’s; and my family’s pretty “old school” when it comes to remedies. They swear by Vick’s…and the occasional Coke bottle bottom. Seriously.
Don’t know why, but vapo-rub will help draw out a head. And my PaPa suffered from horrendous boils; usually on the back of his neck. Years of “tractor tan” tends to become more like “tanned hide”, so skip the wimpy washrags (lol); my Granny used to heat up the thick bottoms of those old green Coke bottles! (Boys and girls…DO NOT try this at home!)
My doctor said zits are really just mini staph infections—and I have an auto-immune disease, so they spread like necrotizing fasciitis. Right now I have so many splotches on my face, and fluid blistered under my skin, I feel like one of those squishy water mats for babies.
WHERE CAN I FIND PRID’S???
anubha says
I just get mine off Amazon 🙂
Linda says
you can purchase it from any durg store. ex. CVS or Walgresens
Jenna says
You can get it at Walmart too !!
Grace says
I wish I had read this even one day ago. I’ve had one of these for almost a month and it was driving me crazy, so I decided to take matters into my own hands last night and try to dig it out. Horrible decision! Didn’t work and now I have an even larger, even redder SCAB on my face. Wonderful. I feel too ashamed to even leave my house. Would any of these remedies still work? Because even though it’s now covered in a scab, the pimple is still under my skin, still painful as ever. I neeeed to get rid of it as soon as possible!
Rachel says
If you try tee tree oil, it will work, but put some on a “test patch” to see if your will react poorly in a control area. Like on the inside of your wrist, first. Not on your face. If that doesn’t have a reaction, then the under-the-skin-pimple will come to a head, even though it a a scan. In about 12 hours. Put some on a cotton swab, put it on the effected area, then again after about 8 hours. When it has a white head it will have a crust to it. If you choose to drain it, use a needle first. It won’t come back. 🙂
Doris says
Go to a Dermatologist!!!!!!
Zaiasys says
I have one right now in my chin and it hurts! it kills the pain is unbelievable and I tried the garlic solution and it didn’t give me any results but to make it more red but idk hopefully if I get prid it will work on me but hearing the results of people I might just go pick it up at Walgreens
Ellie says
Thank you so much! The PRID’s is a live saver. It didn’t entirely disappear overnight but it did shrink considerably. I also put it on the other zits on my face and it worked like a charm on them. I don’t usually break out so I was super upset when i found this awful painful zit. But the PRID brought down the swelling and the redness and some of the pain. I think that I popped the zit under my skin though because no head is appearing and I had been picking at it. I’ve had to wash off my chin like every hour though because of the drainage. Do you think it would be good for the skin to do a PRID mask?
wilma says
omg I got one of these on the left side of my forehead yesterday and I seriously thought it was a tumor lol!! I’ve never had a zit this big, but your desription fits perfectly. I just hope I can find Prids from where I live, because my forehead looks crazy right now and it hurts!!
Lori says
Most of the kcal drug stores carry it Walmart Walgreens for sure around 6 bucks and will kSt u a life time
sakshi says
OMG OMG OMG!!! YOU ARE MY HERO!! No for real!!!!!!!! I always get these nastyyyyyyy under skin zits cz my pores are the size of a little country. I will get the Prid and like you said keep it in every corner of my house. Would you recommend to use prid on pimples too?? like the one which have a head. I have a very bad BAD habit of popping zits. 🙁 which has left several marks on my face.
Cindy says
Me too! : (
Kate says
I have a huge under the skin zit and it started to drain this morning but not the usual puss but a yellowish liquid and now it has a scab on it. I’m very fair skinned and I was just wondering if the prid cream will stain my skin? And if I should even use it since the pimple has a scab? Please help
Samantha says
I have suffered from Cystic Acne for nearly 8 years, I am posting what cured my problem on the hope it will help someone else. I tried many antibiotics over the years, all the creams you can get, I went vegetarian for one year, and I went without diary for 6 months. I tried taking all the health supplements you can think of. I did all the “natural stuff” – the cleaning, the cleansing, avoiding this/that, everything (yes even EVERYTHING posted above). I took outrageous amounts of vitamin A. I watched my diet like crazy, and chugged water everyday. I had tried EVERYTHING!!! Seriously everything! Finally, I tried one more drug before I would take Accutane (way too scary, dont take it, its essentially chemotherapy). My Derm prescribed Spironolacto – he told me I have to be patient with it. I take 50mg twice per day. After two months of being on it my face was CLEAR – since then, its been 6 months, I have had NO BREAKOUTS!!!! (I used to have a new breakout every week) I am over the moon and I wanted to share my success!!
Nicole says
My dermatologist put me on Spirolactone as well for hormonal acne. It worked really well, about 80% of my acne was gone. Unfortunately I can no longer take it because I am trying to get pregnant. But I highly recommend it to anyone suffering from bad acne.
Andrea says
I recently popped a huge deep blackhead and it swellef up my face I I then covers it w make up cause it was noticeably embarrassing we’ll the make up irritated it so now I have a huge red spot and where the zit came out got huge and is yellowish I’ve trued peroxide neosporin and it isn’t working please help me get rid if this redness and infected look
Kim says
Would the prids work on cyst that have been there for a long time?
Christina says
Hi, I have problem with these things and this appears on my face and my ass over an year. I am from Czech republic and nothing helps…nothing helps me…I had to go cut it… I don’t know what to do anymore…I would need help.
Christina says
Your opening line speaks volumes! It feels so good to hear someone who understands how calling it acne/pimples is so invalidating. It feels nothing like a normal zit. It really does feel more like a tumor.
Erin says
I had this one blind pimple and I didn’t know what it was. I tried everything to get it to go away. Then finally I tried the toothpaste method and I got fast results. Thank you for the post.
AngieW says
So strange that a friend of mine just had a tin out the other night for an ingrown hair. I didn’t know it would work for this. Thanks for posting. I’d never heard of it before this week and I’m getting some. I thought something was seriously wrong with me to have this kind of pimple (luckily not on my face) but it HURTS….
Lana says
Literally freaked out after realizing i had a huge under the skin zit.,..found this article ordered the prids off Walmart…still waiting for mit to arrive….but in the mewantime…my mom had some tea tree toothpaste…and literrally i put some on my face….because i couldnt go thru this painful experience any longer and it worked….along with the hot compress…
Meanwhile the Prids is in the mail…SMH>
Ankita Goyal says
I have many under the skin pimples. These pimples are quite bumpy. I also have some small comedones on my face. I have tried using tea tree oil, many home remedies such as nutmeg+cinnamon+honey, aloe vera,etc. I also tried few oral anti-biotics and creams such as clindamycin,adapalene, benzoyl peroxide.
I have not seen much change in the pimples even after all these treatments. I want to go for Prid’s but my skin is quite sensitive. So, is it safe to use Prid’s for such skin? Is it useful for small white heads?
I have also heard that this remedy has gone wrong for few people causing serious skin issues. Is it safe to use it without medical prescription?
brother says
Wһat’s up Dear, aгe you actually visiting this webѕitе regularlｙ,
if so then you ᴡill definitely take nice еxperience.
Harmony says
Dermalmd blemish serum Absolutely magical! Works better than the $50 prescription medication I’ve been using. Got rid of 2 horrible large stubborn pimples after 2 nights of use. After the first night, they were 50% improved. I don’t often leave reviews but was so impressed, I had to share so it will help others as well
mary says
I have an underskin itchy sore pimple I hope this is available in canada
Acne Pills says
I am suffering from pimples for the last 6 months and looking for the right guidance which will help me to fight pimples effectively. Your article helped me a lot to know all about pimples and choosing the right treatment for them. Thank you.
Andrea Antony says
Acne can sometimes be a result of products that we regularly use on our skin the comedogenic rating of the products can be the reason for acnes so checkout the label of the products before buying that. I have read a blog that can help you to read and understand the label in cosmetic products