Zit Popping Can Damage Your Skin

When it comes to zits, one of the most discussed topics is about popping them. Should you, shouldn’t you? If you do, what is the best way? Should only dermatologists pop zits? The list of questions is endless, and while most of us know that we shouldn’t pop our zits, sometimes the temptation is too much. So, before you start picking at your latest break out, you should consider the following:

The Risks of Zit Popping

The biggest risks associated with popping zits is spreading the infection, making your acne worse and causing scabbing and scarring. Depending on the type of acne you suffer from, you risk a greater chance of permanently damaging your skin if you do pop your zits.

The easiest pimples to get rid of are blackheads and whiteheads. These can often be removed without a trip to a dermatologist. Other more severe types of acne need to be approached with caution. As soon as infected material is trapped under the skin, there is a risk of pushing it deeper into the skin or rupturing the membranes between skin cells and causing the infection to spread. Also, the more you pick at your skin, or the larger the zit, the greater the chance of causing scarring to the skin. In these cases, you should either visit your dermatologist to have the zit removed or continue to use your acne treatment until it takes care of the zit.

Blackheads and Whiteheads Invite Zit Popping

Blackheads and whiteheads are both uninfected skin blemishes that occur at or near the surface of the skin. This makes removing them a lot easier than with other types of zits. Prior to trying to pop any zits, you should wash your face and then use either a hot facecloth or steam bath for 10 minutes to open the pores on your face.

To clear pores of blackheads, the best idea is to use a metal blackhead remover. By sterilizing the blackhead remover with alcohol before using, you reduce the chance of introducing dirt and bacteria into your pores. Removing whiteheads is a bit more difficult. The goal is to not squeeze the whitehead but instead, use a sterilized needle to poke a small hole in it. Once you have a hole in the whitehead, wrap your finger in a clean piece of tissue and press down on the whitehead to force the liquid out of the hole. Use the tissue to pick up the liquid.

After you have finished removing any blackheads or whiteheads, you should clean the area with facial wipes containing active anti-acne ingredients, such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.

See a Dermatologist Over Zit Popping

Zit popping should be approached with extreme caution. Unless you are very comfortable with what you are doing, it should not be done, particularly with severe types of acne. If you have had a pimple for a week or longer, or think you may have a cyst, this needs to be treated by a dermatologist. Particularly for cysts, dermatologists can drain them safely ensuring that they do not grow larger or infect any further skin cells.