Healthy Living Guides

Pimple Popping Rules

Do you ever wonder if popping a pimple will cause you any pain long term? What about if there is a procedure out there that maybe you should follow? There are rules and you should follow or you could end up with pain in the affected area followed possibly by an eternal acne scar. Everywhere you look you will find conflicting information about popping pimples. Some believe that pimple popping is acceptable, while others say never touch a pimple. Unfortunately, everyone has had a huge pimple just begging to be popped and if you must, then at least try to do it correctly. If not done correctly it can leave you with more than a pimple, in fact it can make the condition a whole lot worse.

Popping pimples should not be done with your bare fingertips. This is because dirt from your fingers can actually force bacteria into the pores and cause an infection to occur. This will result in a larger bump and a possible scar. If the pimple is deep under the surface of your skin and it is filled with a white puss you may end up squeezing the acne bacteria back down into your pores, which can result in a large irritated acne cyst. Acne cysts will linger for a lot longer than a pimple and will more than likely cause you to scar.

To remove a pimple that you feel you just have to pop, such as the zit with the white puss just under the skin surface, at least do it safely and in a hypoallergenic way. The first step is to clean the area thoroughly with an antibacterial face wash or even hand soap. Next, take two sterile gauze pads and use them to gently press on each side of the pimple. Remember, do not use your bare fingertips and absolutely do not use your fingernails to apply pressure. If the white puss is easily squeezed out then go ahead and do so, but if it does not come out easily, then you should stop. After you have removed the white puss then use a clean gauze pad to apply some hydrogen peroxide and some antibiotic cream, such as Neosporin or any other triple antibiotic cream, to the affected area. If the white puss did not come out when pressure was first applied then you can try soaking a piece of gauze in a quarter teaspoon of salt and half cup of warm tap water. Hold the gauze on the pimple for ten minutes and repeat this several times a day. The salt water helps to dry out the pimple and draw it closer to the skin surface. Never attempt to squeeze a pimple that is not showing white puss under the skin surface.

Many scientists and dermatologists have tried to find a way to get rid of pimple quickly with little success. Acne sufferers will continue to suffer with a pimple for longer than a day as there is very little that will successfully rid them of their pimples overnight. Pimple popping may seem like the easiest a quickest way to get rid of the pesky pimple, but it is a practice that should be reserved for certain types of zits. Only pimples that show the white puss just under the surface and when pressure is applied the puss releases easily should be popped. Red pimples that linger just below the skin are very painful and can make a person want to pop or poke at them. These types of pimples should be left alone and trying to pop them will not work. In fact, this can prolong the life of the pimple. Prolonging the life of a pimple is the last thing any pimple sufferer wants.

There are many myths as to what helps clear up pimples. Tanning is one thing that people think helps clear up acne, however this is untrue. People believe this because they think that tanning dries up the oils that cause pimples. Even though a tan may temporarily cover the redness of acne, there’s no evidence that having tanned skin helps to clear up acne. People who tan in the sun or in tanning booths or beds run the risk of developing dry, irritated, or even burned skin. They’re also at increased risk of premature aging and developing skin cancer. Tanning should not be used as an acne treatment.

Preventing acne by washing your face daily, morning and night, with warm water and antibacterial soap will suffice. Do not scrub your skin as this may actually cause acne flare-ups. If acne is a problem for you, consult your physician or dermatologist about possible medication treatment. Just remember that popping a pimple can cause it to be worse and may actually result in long-term effects like scarring.