So you've got a pimple, and you're officially in crisis mode. Its charming arrival likely coincides with a major life event; acne loves to rear its ugly head at precisely the worst moments, doesn't it? Pimples have a cruel way of popping up just before first dates, important job interviews, school dances, and weddings. You need a quick and effective fix, or you're seconds away from squeezing.

Hold it right there. It's true, you can't clear up a pimple in an hour—and even getting rid of one overnight can be a challenge—but there's no need to resort to popping. It's possible to rid acne of its worst traits if you employ a diligent regime. "Pimples are small micro-infections of hair follicles," explains Dr. Purvisha Patel, board certified dermatologist and founder of Visha Skincare. "You may not be able to get 'rid' of a pimple overnight, but you can make it look a lot better, so it appears to be gone."

Added Dr. Angela J. Lamb, Director of the Westside Mount Sinai Dermatology Faculty Practice in New York City, there are "no guarantees" when it comes to a bedtime miracle, but there are several steps you can follow to get your skin glowing just in time. Read on, and godspeed.

Do us a favor: Stop staring at your pimple for a second, and do a little research on it. Dr. Patel explains that pimples are commonly caused by four things: follicular occlusion, microbe growth, sebum production (or adding oil to your skin), and inflammation.

All these issues can be addressed and helped when a pimple is early in the game. "The most common way to address these issues is to use benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, tree oil or salicylic acid products before you go to bed," says Dr. Patel.

Benzoyl peroxide is a bleaching agent that kills microbes and dries up oil in the follicle. Tea tree oil and sulfur also do similar things to benzoyl peroxide by drying up the pimple. "Using these products can make the pimple look smaller in the morning, " explains Dr. Patel.

Dr. Lamb also recommends using prescription topical products, if you happen to have any in your medicine cabinet. Gels that contain clindamycin, an antibiotic, or topical minocycline can make fast work of an angry zit.

But if you'd prefer to use products that don't require a doctor's note, Dr. Patel and Dr. Lamb both recommend trying salicylic acid first. "Salicylic acid products not only dry up the pimple and kill any microbes, but also exfoliate the skin on top to let any accumulated puss out of the follicle," says Dr. Patel. (Gross, but effective.)

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