Some acne clears up in days while others can take several months. While you need to stick to an acne treatment for some time without giving up to truly see the best results, there are some ways to encourage acne to clear up faster.

It's not possible to totally get rid of acne overnight, but you can improve its appearance and the pain or discomfort it brings. To get rid of acne fast, you'll want to accomplish three main things:

1. Lower the amount of acne-causing bacteria on the skin

2. Bring down inflammation

3. Control excess oil production

To break down how you can tackle these goals and more, we've collated some of the best tips and skincare information you need to know when dealing with sudden or stubborn breakouts. Acne treatment is a long-term process, but that doesn't mean you can't take control over the way your skin looks and feels immediately.

Overnight Remedies and Quick Solutions

While no product will magically erase acne by morning, some solutions work faster than others to reduce redness and swelling overnight. A targeted spot treatment containing benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or sulfur can deliver a concentrated boost, quickly attacking acne-causing bacteria.

Another option is a calming hydrocolloid patch, which keeps blemishes protected and promotes faster healing. While these methods don’t make acne disappear instantly, they can visibly shrink the blemish and make it less noticeable by morning.

Also read: How to choose the best acne treatment

What is Acne & What Causes It?

Though pimples may seem to simply appear overnight, acne is actually a multi-faceted process with three main components:

• Inflammation

• Excess sebum (oil) production

• Bacteria

Acne breakouts generally start with inflammation, which causes the pores to constrict slightly, trapping oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria inside.

If the dead skin cells and oil trapped in the pore are limited, a blackhead or whitehead will form, but if there are significant numbers of bacteria in the pore, then a pimple or cyst will likely form.

Potential Triggers For Acne

Different from the causes of acne are triggers, which are factors that may be specific to you and your skin, affecting the way you experience the causes listed above.

If you're going through puberty, for instance, the fluctuating hormone levels you experience may trigger your skin to produce more oil, resulting in acne.

Lifestyle Tips for Clear Skin

Healthy habits are one of your best allies in preventing breakouts. Eating a balanced diet, staying hydrated, and avoiding excess sugar may help keep acne at bay.

Aim for foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and zinc—all of which are believed to support healthy skin.

Plus, managing stress through activities like yoga or meditation can reduce inflammatory responses that sometimes trigger acne. Small changes in your daily routine can lead to clearer, healthier skin over time.

Lifestyle features that commonly exacerbate or trigger acne flare-ups include:

• Stress. Stress doesn't cause acne on its own, but some research shows that if you already have acne, stress might make it worse by increasing levels of inflammation.

• Hormonal changes. Hormonal changes are a normal part of life, but they can change the way our skin produces oil and regulates itself. Some chronic health conditions or birth control also cause hormonal changes that affect the skin.

• Prescription medications. Changes to the skin or hormone levels may be the result of some medications.

• Diet. Studies suggest that carbohydrate-rich foods, dairy, and saturated fats may all contribute to the presence of acne, mainly by altering the way the body produces sebum.

Preventing Acne Scars

A quick acne fix isn’t just about clearing a pimple; it’s also about protecting your skin from future scars. To prevent scarring, avoid picking or squeezing blemishes and consider using a mild chemical exfoliant to help speed up cell turnover.

If a pimple is particularly inflamed, try an anti-inflammatory serum or moisturizer containing niacinamide, which reduces redness and promotes even skin tone. Preventing scars isn’t about drastic steps—it’s about managing acne while being kind to your skin.

How to Get Rid of Acne Fast

Seemingly sudden breakouts are no fun, but they can be managed, especially if you're prepared ahead of time. Below are some of our suggestions for getting rid of acne fast (and for good).

Fight Inflammation

The most thorough way to get rid of your acne is to tackle the inflammation at the source. Inflammation plays a key role in the development and long-term existence of acne, so eliminating it is a big step forward.

If you want to get rid of your acne quickly, treating inflammation can also reduce the appearance of your pimples, especially if you have already picked at them so they look swollen or red.

A great way to fight inflammation is to use a product containing salicylic acid, which can thoroughly cleanse the pores of any dead skin cells or grime. At the same time, salicylic acid shrinks the pores to prevent any other contaminants from getting in, reducing inflammation in the process.

The Exposed Skincare Clear Pore Serum is a great choice for taking control of your skin's inflammation and reducing the severity of your acne quickly.

Apply Some Ice

Ice (or a cold pack) can help you immediately make your acne look better by constricting the blood vessels in your skin and, as a result, lowering the redness and swelling that may be accompanying your acne.

Wrap your ice in a towel or napkin rather than placing it directly on the skin. This trick won't help you get rid of your acne, but it can help you ease some discomfort and make your acne less noticeable.

Use a Targeted Spot Treatment

A treatment formulated with ingredients that target the main causes of acne could reduce the size and severity of a specific blemish almost overnight by ridding your skin of the irritants that originally caused it.

Benzoyl peroxide is a top choice for spot treatments, like in our Acne Treatment Serum, because it reduces acne-causing bacteria without stripping the skin of its moisture.

Just be sure that you don't put toothpaste on your skin. The old wives' tale that says toothpaste will clear a pimple actually causes your acne to get worse.

Ingredients That Work Fast

When it comes to quick results, choosing products with proven active ingredients is essential.

• Retinoids, for example, are a go-to for many due to their ability to promote skin cell turnover, helping to prevent clogged pores.
• Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) like glycolic acid exfoliate the skin’s surface, potentially clearing small blemishes faster.

Each ingredient works a bit differently, so combining one or two in your skincare routine (like a retinoid at night and a salicylic acid cleanser in the morning) can speed up the acne-healing process.

Keep Your Skin Clean

No matter what other steps you take to get rid of acne fast, if you're not cleansing your skin, you won't be able to maximize your acne treatments.

A gentle cleanser that's meant for acne-prone skin is an ideal choice for faster results. Try our Facial Cleanser, formulated with salicylic acid and pro-vitamin B5, to fully clean your pores and prepare them for the rest of your skincare products.

Professional Treatments for Fast Results

If you’re looking for faster, more targeted results, a visit to a dermatologist might be worth it.

Professional treatments like chemical peels, laser therapy, and extractions can help reduce acne quickly by reaching deeper layers of the skin than topical products alone.

Laser treatments, for example, can target bacteria beneath the skin, while peels remove dead skin cells to reveal smoother skin. While professional treatments can be more expensive, they’re an option if you need fast, visible results for special occasions.

Try a Clarifying Face Mask

When you don't have a lot of time to see changes in your skin, products like face masks can deliver an intense burst of moisture and vitality that lessen the appearance of breakouts.

Our Clarifying Mask can help you draw out impurities, kill acne-causing bacteria, and absorb excess oil to reveal your best, cleanest skin.

DIY and Home Remedies for Acne

Natural remedies can be great for quick relief, especially if you’re looking for ingredients already in your kitchen.

For example, tea tree oil has anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce redness, and raw honey is known for its antibacterial effects, potentially helping calm a pimple. Just remember to spot-test any DIY treatment to avoid irritation.

While home remedies are not as strong as medicated treatments, they can support your acne-fighting efforts, particularly for mild breakouts.