They say "prevention is the key" but we have all tried so many things to prevent huge pimples with limited results. After many years I have decided the best defense is early detection and ice. What I do:

1. Detection: I check for new hot spots when I wash my face in the AM and at night. (feeling very closely with my fingers for any hint of swelling). I also splash my face with water after work (after washing my hands) and do a quick feel. Lastly I look in the mirror quickly during trips to the bathroom during the day. Sometimes I can feel one forming very early just by the tingling sensation it can give. I don't know exactly where it will be...but I can ice the general area.

2. Ice: At that first hint of an issue (even if you are not sure it is one yet) wrap an ice cube in a paper towel and hold it on there (taking a few breaks) for 10 - 15 mins every hour. Don't worry about topical medications except at night - this will keep your skin plenty dry. If you can only do it every few hours that is fine. I will even ice a spot in the middle of the night when I get up to use the bathroom. Ice is most effecting within the first 12 hours but keep it up every few hours for at least 24. (I have killed some only to have them reform the next day).

The idea is to ice them out of existence before they start - but I have woken up to lumps that you would think are too far along and the icing can make them disapear in a few hours. If it seems like it could be really bad I take ibuprofen and Airborne. I think the ice is doing 90% of the work - but I feel like those things help a little too.

Rarely one gets through my defenses and gets to be a full fledged 4-5 week nightmare. In those cases I think the ice becomes counter productive after 48 hours. Then I just wait until I can tell it is starting to die and use hot compresses to speed it along as best I can.

In all my years of dealing with big pimples I honeslty think early detection and ice is the greatest thing I have learned (and the bonus is that it is free).