Should You Ever Pop That Spot?
What really happens to your skin when you pop a spot? [Photo: Rex Features]
Spot squeezing satisfaction is totally a thing. Why do you think videos of people popping pussy pimples always go viral?
But though a good old spot pop gives instant gratification, could it be doing more harm than good to your actual skin?
It turns out that whilst you might think you’re getting out all the bad stuff, when you squeeze a pimple you’re actually forcing more dead skin cells and bacteria under the layers of the skin, which could lead to worse breakouts and even infections.
“Picking or popping a pimple can lead to the introduction of bacteria into your skin, making the acne worse and possibly leading to infection,” says Dr Murad, dermatologist and founder of Murad skincare.
And continuously picking at your spot could make it look even worse than it already does.
“Virtually everyone with acne picks at their skin but picking blemishes can make them appear worse than they really are,” explains Dr Murad. “Picking leads to additional and unnecessary inflammation and is one of the worst skin habits that someone can have.”
On top of this, the inflammation can become so bad that you can be left with scarring even after your pimple is long gone. And unlike your spot, scarring can be permanent.
To squeeze or not to squeeze that is the question! [Photo: Rex Features]
So what should you do when you wake up with a spot the size of crater on the end of your nose? Experts recommend leaving your spots to heal on their own, saying that if you resist the urge to squeeze, then most zits will resolve themselves in a few days or so.
But if you simply can’t help yourself, Cherry Woods, luxury facialist at the Cherry Woods Skin Clinic, says you have a couple of options.
“One option is to book a facial at a salon, where a facialist will be able to combine a low PH, low % exfoliation with steaming to ensure the skin is best prepared before extractions,” she advises. “This is often the best and most effective way to extract them while minimising long term damage.”
Can’t get to a salon or squash the urge to squeeze it yourself? Cherry recommends trying this three-step process:
“Warm a teaspoon of honey then add a teaspoon of lemon juice to it. Apply to blackhead areas and wait for 10 minutes, ideally sitting in a hot bath to allow the warmth to soften your skin. Remove the mixture with a warm cloth then use a looped blackhead extractor, or alternatively the tips of two cotton wood buds, to isolate and coax out individual blackheads.”
“Why does this work? The lemon juice contains natural Vitamin C and AHAs, which gently exfoliate the skin, while honey draws out impurities and absorbs moisture in from the air. It’s believed that keeping skin moist can help prevent scarring, encouraging growth of new tissue, so honey is a good option if you have over squeezed!”
Who doesn’t get the urge to squeeze? [Photo: Rex Features]
That’s the blackheads covered, but what about those pesky puss-y pimples? “If you must pop those kind of pimples, make sure it’s a pustule, which will appear inflamed with a white center,” advises Dr Murad. “If your pimple is not at the surface, it will not heal properly. Use heat, steam, and very gentle pressure from your fingertips (not nails), which should be covered with tissue. Push from all sides to extract the pimple. Once you have popped the pimple, it is very important to disinfect the area with an antibacterial solution like Salicylic Acid to get rid of any remaining grime to avoid the spread of bacteria.”
And for those of us with anti-zit-squeezing willpower of steel, Emma Leslie, editor of Escentual.com and beauty expert has some tips on how to cover a spot that hasn’t been popped.
“Make sure you have clean hands before you apply any makeup to the face,” she says.
“For concealing a blemish, use a really tiny brush and (don’t apply the concealer directly from the stick onto a blemish for hygiene reasons) apply a small amount onto the spot and the surrounding area. The right shade of concealer for covering blemishes should not need much blending - it should just seamlessly cover the spot. A product like the Vichy Dermablend corrective cream stick is perfect because the finish is full-coverage but the formula isn’t too heavy or drying. Finally, add some powder onto the blemish using a small brush to ensure the concealer doesn’t go anywhere.”
Simples.
What’s your best pimple busting tip? Let us know @YahooStyleUK
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