There are too many circumstances, too many big events that come up and require the significant other or the afflicted to scream, “Get the acne cream, stat!” The unexpected and of course unwanted zit appears just as our biggest moment approaches, be it a wedding, a high school graduation or prom, a first date, a job interview, or any other appointment where first impressions will keep the acne cream companies in business.

TV sit-coms play on this debacle with which so many of us identify. In one episode of "Wings," for instance, Joe Hackett (played by the typically handsome Timothy Daly), is getting ready for his high school reunion on the island of Nantucket. Joe’s brother, Brian (played by the equally gorgeous Steven Weber)--who classically gets his kicks pointing out his brother’s flaws –call’s attention to a huge zit that has appeared suddenly on Joe’s nose. The zit, of course, is of the kind and size that you'd want to lance and medicate ASAP, retrieving the magic acne cream that works, if not in an hour at least overnight. For the sake of the sit-com laugh, however, Joe obsesses over unpleasant development every five minutes, over-burdening his acne cream of choice by expecting too much too soon.

This is not to say that acne cream doesn’t work; acne cream just does not perform miracles. Rather, acne cream requires a few steps and time in order for it to do its job. For instance, you need to consider what kind of skin you have and which acne cream or product is appropriate—and fast-acting:

IF YOU HAVE OILY SKIN….. Use a medicated acne product or one in gel form.

IF YOU HAVE DRY SKIN…... use a cream form and medicated products with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.

IF YOU HAVE BOTH OILY AND DRY (COMBINED TYPE)….. Use skin gels on oily areas and creams for dry areas, accordingly.

IF YOU HAVE SENSITIVE SKIN…. use less intense concentrations of either dry, oily, or combined-type treatments.

IF YOU HAVE PAINFUL ACNE….. Get attention from a dermatologist.

We real-life characters have experienced these sudden, ill-timed breakouts. All we need do, instead of freaking out further and having a contest to see who gets to pop first, is investigate a bit, ask a few questions of our primary care physician or dermatologist, and do a couple of experiments on our own. Keep in mind the above acne cream checklist of suggestions, and if all else fails, we opt for makeup!!