Five minutes is not enough to flatten a pimple — no patch, cream, or home remedy moves an inflamed bump that fast. The fastest visible reduction is ice wrapped in a tissue held against the spot for 5-10 minutes, which constricts blood vessels and drops redness and swelling by roughly 30-50% for about an hour. Pair with a green color corrector and concealer to neutralize the red while the swelling stays down. For longer-lasting results, swap to a hydrocolloid patch like Hero Mighty Patch overnight, which flattens a surfaced whitehead in 6-8 hours. A dermatologist's cortisone injection is the only clinically faster option, with visible flattening in 2-4 hours.