What You Should Know Before Popping That Pimple

Acne is a relatively common skin disease that affects not only teens but also young adults and adults. A common misconception is that acne is a problem of adolescence affecting primarily females, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Acne can appear in different forms at all ages and in both men and women. Blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pimples, pustules, nodules, and cysts are the different types of acne. They are all unique, but one thing they have in common is how much everyone wants to pop them.  

When done correctly, popping a pimple is an art, and it is perfectly fine and not as dangerous as it seems. Since it is relatively uncommon knowledge about how to pop a pimple safely and hygienically, most people do it wrong. This increases your chances of getting an infection, which worsens your acne. For this reason, doctors warn people not to pop pimples. Remember, though, that popping a pimple can bring temporary satisfaction, but the consequences can last a long time, if not forever.   

When You Pop Your Pimple, What Happens? 

Popping acne can make it worse if you’re not doing it right. That’s something we can all agree on based on our own experiences. Popping a pimple is all about removing pus. A pimple usually contains dead skin cells, the skin’s natural oil-sebum, and even bacteria. As a result of squeezing out the pus, the contents are possibly pushed deeper into the skin, spreading the infection to the rest of the layers.  

Never pop a pimple on your own, especially if it contains nodules or cysts, which are deep under the skin. Popping them can spread the infection and irritate the skin even more.   

The pimple may take longer to heal if you continue to pop it, leading to long-term or permanent consequences such as acne scarring and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) also known as acne marks. It can also lead to more infection, leading to more acne breakouts.

When Do I Pop the Pimples and How Can I Pop Them Safely?  

#1 Identify the types of Acne 

In the best interests of your skin, let the pimple heal naturally. According to Dr Thean from Ensoul Medical Clinic, if you must pop the pimple right away, do it properly to avoid further worsening of your acne. Identifying which pimples can be popped properly is the first step in popping them. Among the types of blemishes to pop, blackheads are almost easy to remove by yourself since they are ready to pop. Non-inflamed acne should be popped early rather than waiting until they develop into red pimples that are harder to remove later. 

#2 Pop only when there is an opening 

 Pustules, which contain pus, are another type of pimple you may consider popping. Pus is caused by a buildup of white blood cells with fungus or bacteria in infected tissues beneath the epidermis. The presence of pus is a sign that your white blood cells are present in your body to help fight infections caused by bacteria and fungi. Blemishes with broad openings to the surface of the skin are easiest to squeeze since their contents can be seen easily and they have a visible head.   

#3 Leave it alone if they are not ready 

Pimples that hurt or are under the skin are not yet ready to come out. Don’t touch pimples that are sensitive to touch, like cystic acne. If the pimple has not yet formed a head and is still under the skin, extracting it can be very painful. You may even cause irritation and infection, making the healing process longer and more challenging. 

Picking at acne with unclean hands or long nails increases the risk of tearing the skin. Even worse, if you really traumatize the skin, scarring is likely to be permanent. You can either wait for it to develop a head or treat it with a topical acne product.   

Instead of Popping your Pimples, What Else Can You Do?  

It is important to remove all of the pus from a pimple when you pop it by yourself. Often, larger pimples do not drain completely, causing infection and an abscess to spread. Even antibiotics alone aren’t enough to treat them. In order to minimize pain and discomfort, it is best to let a medically-trained aesthetician or a doctor pop the large pimples.  

In severe cases, acne popping may be performed with an injection needle or a blade tip, both of which may be used to create an incision to drain out whatever is inside the pimple or nodule. These are not long-term or permanent remedies for acne, but rather last-resort treatments for isolated cystic or nodular breakouts. 

Spot treatments may not be sufficient for treating all types of acne. In the event that over-the-counter treatments and other skincare products don’t work, consult a doctor about prescription topical and oral medications to help treat acne and combat frequent breakouts. 

Other options, such as RF microneedling, chemical peels, and laser therapy, can also help control active acne. These treatments have proven to be quite effective in treating not only acne but also acne scarring and hyperpigmented spots associated with acne. Please consult your physician for more information about acne concerns and how to minimize acne breakouts.