{"id":28676,"date":"2023-12-25T11:50:19","date_gmt":"2023-12-25T16:50:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prose.com\/?p=28676"},"modified":"2025-06-19T07:58:12","modified_gmt":"2025-06-19T11:58:12","slug":"is-popping-pimples-ever-a-good-idea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prose.com\/blog\/is-popping-pimples-ever-a-good-idea","title":{"rendered":"Is Popping Pimples Ever a Good Idea?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When is it okay to pop a pimple?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Avoiding poking at your pimples isn\u2019t just about a lesson of self-control. Popping introduces bacteria, dirt, and oil from your fingers into your skin, \u201cwhich can increase infection, bruising, discoloration, and the risk of scarring,\u201d says Brendan Camp<\/a>, MD, a double board-certified dermatologist of MDSC Dermatologist in New York City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When an extraction is done by the hands of a pro, \u201cthe skin is prepped with alcohol and a sterile tool is used to gently apply gentle pressure along the sides of the pimple to encourage its contents to come to a head and be expressed from the skin surface,\u201d says Dr. Camp. It\u2019s a delicate art that\u2019s hard to replicate at home when you\u2019re untrained. That\u2019s why dermatologists say it\u2019s never okay to pop a pimple. \u201cSqueezing can cause more inflammation and could result in permanent acne scars. It does more harm than good,\u201d says LoGerfo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The do\u2019s and the don\u2019ts of pimple picking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We aim to be realistic. If you have an overwhelming desire to pick, \u201cnever pop a pimple without washing hands first or using clean extracting tools [like a comedone extractor],\u201d says Dr. Camp. You want to avoid using your fingernails, which can easily scratch your skin. Using a tissue as a barrier, \u201cdon\u2019t squeeze too hard. If it\u2019s painful, then you should stop,\u201d says Dr. Camp. If a whitehead is sitting at the surface of your skin or if you have a blackhead, you\u2019re less at risk of causing damage if you pop. \u201cBlackheads are open to the external environment; there is no barrier that needs to be ruptured,\u201d he adds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other words, if you have to use a lot of force to get out the pus, you should leave it alone. Since cysts form deep under the skin, those are never okay to attempt to pop, and it is best to leave them to your dermatologist for treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve popped, now what?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Immediately afterward, you can use a gentle cleanser. Once you dry off your skin, you could use a cotton swab to apply a little antibacterial ointment or witch hazel to reduce inflammation. In general, however, avoid putting any active ingredients on it as it\u2019s now an open wound. Resist further prodding, poking, and picking at your pimple. Let your skin heal and be patient as it naturally scabs over in the next few days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to properly treat pimples<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now that you have a better understanding of how popping pimples can potentially make them worse, next time you get a blemish, try to wrap your head around the idea that acne isn\u2019t anything to be ashamed of, and you can let a pimple run its course. However, if you want your blemish to look less angry without popping, try applying a warm compress for a few minutes if the pimple is deep in the layers of your skin (with no visible head). If your pimple is inflamed, apply ice for a minute to calm redness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Focus on a skincare regimen that highlights ingredients like mango leaf extract, kaolin, and witch hazel extract that provide sebum control and help soothe and minimize the look of redness. If you feel too tempted to tweeze, \u201csee your dermatologist for a safe and sterile way to care for your acne,\u201d says LoGerfo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to prevent acne<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You can get ahead of pimples before they pop up. By focusing your daily skincare routine on products that help you gently exfoliate sensitive skin, cleanse clogged pores, and keep skin hydrated to balance oil production, you\u2019ll be less likely to experience unwanted blemishes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prose custom skincare is designed to uniquely address your skin\u2019s specific needs, including improving the appearance of blemishes. Take the Prose skincare consultation questionnaire<\/a> to get your personalized recommendation for blemish-prone skin that you can use every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Think before you pop!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":28684,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,382],"tags":[487,508,535,536,479,251,537,489,486],"class_list":["post-28676","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-category-expert-advice","category-expert-tips","tag-acne","tag-blemishes","tag-custom-skincare","tag-dry-skin","tag-new","tag-oily","tag-oily-skin","tag-skin","tag-skincare"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nIs Popping Pimples Ever a Good Idea? | Prose<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Are you a pimple popper? 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