Yes — a thin dab of 1% hydrocortisone cream calms an inflamed pimple in about 24 hours. It suppresses the local immune response but does not clear the underlying plug. Use it once or twice on a single spot before an event. Never use it as a daily routine. Repeated facial use thins skin, triggers perioral dermatitis, and can rebound the acne worse. Pair it with a hydrocolloid patch like Hero Mighty Patch overnight to absorb pus from a surfaced whitehead. For a deep painful cyst, a dermatologist intralesional cortisone shot shrinks it in 24 to 48 hours.