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That I can't answer, but likely it was from nerves and stress. What I can tell you is how I successfully got rid of it. After researching the case, I decided to try an at-home product containing sulfer (the Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Clarifying Colloidal Sulfur Mask) and had a Joanna Vargas esthetician zap the area with an antibacterial wand. Yet the pimple did not budge. I had two days until I needed to walk down the aisle, and I needed it gone.
[post_ads]Dr. Schultz is a trusted NYC doctor (another beauty editor recommended him) with an impressive background, being the host of DermTV.com and creator of BeautyRx.
Even though he is experienced, I was nervous! I had never done this
procedure before. His calm demeanor was soothing as he popped the zit,
sucked out the pus (he said there was enough to feed a family!), and
then gave me a light cortisone injection (half the amount he normally
would as per my request).
He was also honest with me. I had heard that this treatment can leave
an indent in your face, and he told me earnestly that it does sometimes
happen and there's no clear answer why, but he had not seen it happen
in his practice in a few years. The procedure completely worked for me,
and in two days — as promised — the skin was completely flattened. The
area where the pimple had been was darkened, but makeup easily covered
it. You can see in the photo up top of my makeup-free skin that the
right side of my face looks clear! About a month later, there was no
trace of it (and thankfully, no indent).
When I returned from my honeymoon — acne-free! — I emailed him to find out the science behind why this works.
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"If you find yourself with a monster zit on the days leading up to
your wedding, go directly to your dermatologist to get it opened, have
the pus drained (so it doesn't dilute and thereby reduce the efficacy of
the cortisone shot), and have the cyst injected with cortisone (which
will shrink the swollen wall of the cyst)," he explained. "That will do
the most to improve it in the next 12-24 hours."
Dr. Schultz emphasized that for results this quick, a derm needs to
physically extract the pus. Normally the gunk would take about a week or
longer to be absorbed by the body on its own. Under your skin there is a
hard swollen wall of cyst, and it can clear up naturally, but it takes
time. "No oral or topical medicines can work this quickly," he added.
He described the process from beginning to end for me:
"We start by taking an alcohol-soaked pad and wipe the skin to make
sure that everything is as sterile as it can be. With a sterile needle, I
make a hole in the middle of the cyst. With an instrument called a
comedone extractor, I push the pus out of the cyst. To shrink the cyst
so it goes away much faster, I inject a tiny amount of cortisone into
the wall and cavity of the emptied cyst. A bandaid is then applied (it
stays on for an hour)."
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After receiving the morning treatment, I was able to get an hour-long facial with Joanna Vargas that afternoon. I felt no pain or inflammation, and she simply avoided the area.
According to Dr. Schultz, you see results from the procedure within 12-24 hours
"If you squeeze it yourself, you may as well cancel the photographer," he advised. I'm a classic face picker, and I pay the price with acne scars. "Don't take matters into your own hands. Seek out your derm."
I felt relief the morning of my wedding, which you can see below,
getting my makeup done knowing my Big Fat Pimple was demolished!
