Picking, poking and popping the occasional zit may seem fairly harmless. But in reality, irritating that pesky pimple puts your skin at risk of things far worse, such as:
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Inflammation – If you think that pimple looks frightful now, what affect do you think picking and poking will have on its appearance? Make it worse of course! All that pressing and pulling (even breaking the skin) on your pimple only damages the skin around it, causing more redness and swelling in the long run.
Nasty scabs – What’s harder to cover a pimple or a scab? A scab! When you pop a pimple, in turn releasing pus (a thick yellowish opaque liquid consisting of dead white blood cells and bacteria, produced in infected tissue) it scabs over. Then what? You’re tempted pick at the scab. Talk about a vicious cycle! Take it from me, scabs are almost impossible to cover with concealer. Instead, treat your pimple with a cream containing benzoyl peroxide, like Clean & Clear Persa-Gel and use very little makeup to cover it up as it heals.
Scarring – In the event you believe you’re dealing with persistent or severe acne (cystic acne), seeking out professional help is vital for preventing unnecessary scarring. A dermatologist will make sure you are matched with the correct treatment for your skin type/issue.
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Discoloration – In addition to scarring, your skin can actually change colors around the infected area. This is called post inflammatory hyper-pigmentation (PIH). While PIH is not a scar and can be caused by a variety of skin conditions including: eczema, psoriasis, pityriasis rosea, lichen planus, and fungal infections – acne is the most common. This darker dermis can take up to two years to disappear!
Infection – When you pop a pimple, you’re tearing at the skin, leaving it open to bacteria. This can lead to wound infection, rash and/or an exacerbated lesion.
Sure, pimple popping sounds like a quick fix. But keep in mind, there are several things you can do to manage and clear up your adult acne that won’t result in any permanent damage.
Should the temptation be too much for you – and you’re hell-bent on squeezing your pimple — do it the most hygienic way possible. Go to your local drug store and pick up a comedone extractor (aka zit extractor; $5-$15) — it’s a small metal device consisting of a small cup on one end and a hole on the bottom. The extractor itself will discharge the pus without scarring or driving the infection deeper into the skin. Of course, you’ll need to disinfect both the tool and your skin once finished.
While I don’t suggest pimple popping of any kind, this method will at least assist in preventing unsightly infection.
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