Picture this … You have an important social event or work event coming up. When looking in the mirror you notice a questionable blemish on your face. Do you try to take care of it yourself, hoping for success but risking the blemish getting larger? Or do you leave it alone and hope it disappears before the big occasion?

This happened to me a few weeks ago. I noticed a pre-pimple on the lower right side of my chin. I decided to leave it alone but as luck would have it, it became the most enormous, disgusting growth anyone has ever seen.

I’m sure you’ve all been there. You know, the kind of pimple that when someone is speaking to you the person is not even looking into your eyes because he or she can only focus on the large foreign object sticking out of your head. I actually tried to make sure that during all conversations people only saw the left side of my face. I was pretty successful but my neck got a little sore from angling my head for hours on end.

Since I was now in a pimple-panic and my big event was days away, I decided to make a few calls to see about the best way to fix my problem.

First, I called Marianne Rosen, MD of Glazer Dermatology at 600 West Lake Cook Road in Buffalo Grove. I was curious if people would actually go to a dermatologist for the occasional, massive, single pimple.

“Anything that bothers you enough to bring you into the dermatologist is a good reason,” says Rosen. “There are a lot of options for treatment. If there is just one pimple, it can be injected with Kenalog, which is a steroid, and the pimple goes down in a day or two. For mild acne we use a variety of topical agents and for moderate to severe acne we use a combination of topical and oral agents.”

So, is it ever okay to pop a pimple? “I would say you should never pop one,” says Dr. Rosen. “Popping a pimple can increase your risk for scarring. If you get a pimple, the best thing to do is use a prescription cream or come into the office for a quick injection into the pimple. The prescription creams can prevent pimples from coming up, too.”

Dr. Rosen adds, “There is a good regimen for everybody. It changes from person to person but everyone should remember to use an oil-free product. You don’t want to put any oil on your face because it can clog pores and produce more acne.”

Next, I spoke with an anonymous Skincare Product Specialist from a nearby department store. She said the very best product available for covering up something unsightly is “Secret Camouflage” by Laura Mercier. It goes directly on the pimple after foundation and before powder.

Furthermore, “to actually heal the pimple Natura Bisse works really fast and quick,” says the Skincare Product Specialist. “It’s a stabilizing cleansing mask and you can use it as a spot treatment overnight. It dissolves all the impurities, controls the oil, heals the breakout and prevents future breakouts. You can also use it as a mask as it cleans and minimizes your pores and brightens skin.”

And for those who would like a quick pimple fix on a budget, Neutrogena has a toll-free number that tells about all of their products (800-582-4048). After hearing about the products, you can actually speak with an Information Specialist.

I called up and after telling the Information Specialist about my pimple quandary he recommended Neutrogena’s Skin Clearing Oil-Free Concealer. “It’s the best bet for one big pimple. It treats the acne while covering it up."

The specialist also recommended Neutrogena’s On the Spot Acne Treatment-Vanishing Formula, which goes directly on the pimple. And for all-over facial coverage, Skin Clearing liquid or compact foundation was his pick.

The Information Specialist made sure to inform me not to use any of the three products together because “it will end up irritating your skin if you use too many products.”

Well, I definitely feel very knowledgeable if ever faced with such a huge dilemma again! If you know anyone who should be featured in this column, please email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

© 2007 Susan Dubin, Buffalo Grove, Illinois