Neha has been writing beauty articles for five years. She is passionate about skincare and natural remedies.

Everyone knows you’re not supposed to pop pimples. Not only can it increase the chances of scarring, but it can also make you break out more as the bacteria inside your pimple spreads to the parts of your face.

But just because you know it’s bad for you doesn’t mean you won’t do it. Trust me, we’ve all been there. So, if you’ve popped that zit in a moment of weakness, there are still things you can do to contain the damage and help along the healing process. Check out the tips below for how to treat a popped pimple.

How to Heal an Open Pimple Wound Fast

• Leave it alone: You have to give the pimple time to heal. That means don’t pick at it anymore to see if there’s any more liquid you can squeeze out; don’t scratch at the scab, or don’t poke and prod it while looking in the mirror.
• Clean it: Popping a pimple creates an open wound on your face that can potentially get infected. You also just released a bunch of bacterial goo all over your face that can cause more breakouts. So you’ll want to do your best to prevent that. You should also apply antibiotic cream or ointment to the area.

1. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is a popular skin treatment, known for its healing power and restorative properties. Aloe vera can help soothe the damage caused by a popped pimple, reducing irritation and redness. Aloe vera doesn’t only health the wound quickly, it can also reduce scarring.

To get rid of the redness, soreness and discomfort from a popped pimple, apply aloe vera pulp or gel taken directly from the aloe vera plant. For best results, apply the aloe vera regularly to the wound.

2. Honey

Honey has antibacterial properties that help to reduce skin redness and inflammation. Just apply a small amount of honey to the wound for relief. Honey is also a natural humectant, meaning that it helps keep your skin moisturized and hydrated. Applying honey to the site of your popped pimple will help you heal more quickly and prevent scarring. The honey won’t dry out, so you’ll want to wash it off eventually, probably after 20-30 minutes or so.

You may want to either dampen the area you’re applying the honey to or wet your hands, as that will help the honey spread a bit easier.

3. Salt Water

Yes, you read that right! Salt water can help a popped pimple heal faster. Just add a teaspoon of salt to a quarter cup of warm water and mix well. Use a cotton ball to apply the salt water to the popped zit.

While this remedy may be a bit painful, it’s generally pretty effective. Most bacteria can’t live in salty conditions, so the salt can help keep the wound from getting infected. Salt can also help dry out the pimple, reducing it in size and making it disappear more quickly.

4. Neem Leaves

Neem leaves are really great treatments for popped zits. Neem leaves have antiseptic properties, which help prevent infection. Neem leaves also help heal damaged skin, preventing marks and scars.

To use this method, boil the neem leaves in water. Once the leaves have soaked into the water, let the mixture cool and wash the affected area with lukewarm neem leaf water.

5. Ice

Ice can help treat popped pimples by reducing the swelling around them. First, wrap a piece of an ice cube in a thin washcloth or towel. Hold the ice over the pimple for 5-10 minutes twice a day. Doing so will help reduce inflammation and help the wound to heal more quickly.

6. Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide can help you avoid infection. Its antiseptic properties also can help it heal faster. The peroxide also dries out the would, which can also help it heal faster and make it less noticeable.

Use a cotton ball to gently dab the hydrogen peroxide on the wounded area. Be warned: it will be somewhat painful. You should also make sure you avoid getting it into your eyes and mouth. You can leave it on your skin overnight or rinse off after 15 minutes.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Questions & Answers

Question: Why do pimples hurt so much?

Answer: A pimple hurts at two levels, physical and emotional. Pimple problems can be emotionally excruciating sometimes. A person getting pimples also has to manage their emotions while treating his skin problem. Always keep in mind that this is a part of life. Accept your condition and try to find a solution to your problem. If you accept them emotionally, then it will hurt less.

Question: Why do I look so bad with acne?

Answer: You are a beautiful soul and keep in mind acne, pimples all these skin problems are temporary. Sooner or later you will get over it! You will remain beautiful no matter how your skin looks.

Question: Is "Patanjali Aloevera gel" good to use on acne or popped pimples?

Answer: Yes, you can use it, I love using patanjali aloevera gel on my combination skin.

Question: Can I use the aloe vera gel which I had bought from Korea for pimples?

Answer: Yes, you can use aloe vera gel on your skin as they are designed for topical application. However natural aloe vera pulp would be more effective for skin problems as aloe vera gel loses some active ingredients while it undergoes various processes.

Comments

Domonic on November 27, 2019:

Hi my daughter had this pimple on top of her nose but Im not sure was it a pimple as she scratch it open by masteak as she told me but it starts to beeld when ever and when it do it beeld like a running tap is this serious or is there something I can do to just stop the bleeding please.

Surbhi rahi on March 29, 2019:

Popped a pimple on head after I put tooth paste on it for whole day and when I cleaned up my skin, it became dark brown n red, kind a big spot. I m really confused what should I do? It's embarrassing.

Ashaba nicole on January 22, 2019:

Popped a pimple on my nose after i put toothpaste on it for a whole day and when i cleaned up my skin was wrinkled and peeled off on its on now there is a patch of wrinkled skin surrounding the wound

girl on June 29, 2018:

I use sea salt or aloe vera as I have an aloe vera plant of my own.

Person on May 15, 2017:

The ice thing doesn't work, ice just slows down the process, and also, before i found that out, i did the ice method, and it made my pimple bleed.

Alethea on February 18, 2017:

When I notice a popped pimple I definitely use coconut oil right when I notice it

melanie on October 19, 2016:

I use vitamin E oil. I has really bad skin as a teenager, and because I always used vitamin E oil, I have no scars. And no one believes me when I tell them I'm 53.

Karistina on May 23, 2016:

Heyy do these remedies actually work on popped pimple can someone plesEee helpp

peachy from Home Sweet Home on September 16, 2014:

i usually use dettol to disinfect the bacteria before I use tea tree oil to clean the pimple wound