How can I minimize a pimple prior to a date?

Men's Fitness, Feb, 2006

Q: How can I minimize a pimple prior to a date?

A: It won't be your eyes she's staring into during dinner if you have a zit the size of Idaho on your nose. Luckily, there's a same-day fast fix, according to Linda K. Franks, M.D., director of Gramercy Park Dermatology in NYC.

First, fight the urge to squeeze--this just increases the swelling. Instead, run to the drugstore during lunch and buy both benzoyl peroxide (or salicylic acid, for you sensitive-skin types) and a tube of 1% hydrocortisone cream. Apply a dab of each to your pimple now, and a second dose right before the date. "The combination of benzoyl peroxide and hydrocorfisone cream will significantly reduce inflammation" says Franks.

Severe breakouts need a bit more. A day or two before the big event, consult your dermatologist for what's called an intralesional injection. The procedure--often used by brides, models, and celebs--involves injecting a small amount of low-strength steroid into the pimple. A single dose is usually all you'll need to zap the zit by the next day.