How do you get the redness from a zit to go down?

ok so today i used the wash cloth trick on one of those hard zits that are sort of painful to touch. i made all the puss come up, i disinfected a needle and pricked the surface, and popped it. their really isnt that much swelling but its red. ive even put ice on it and the redness wont go away. i stayed home from school today and i did it at about 11 30 this morning and the redness hasnt gone away. please help me get rid of the redness in like a couple hours because i want to look nice for this guy i like at school. im on my period and these are the kind of zits i always get when i start which sucks. thanks much for help!