The Truth About Pimple Popping

Hard to resist popping a pimple when it’s glaring at you in the mirror, isn’t it? We’ll always tell you “don’t” but we know that those instructions are sometimes too tough to follow. So, if you simply can’t resist, follow some rules to minimize potential disaster.

1. Make sure your skin, hands and nails are super clean (use a nail brush too – there are some nasty germs that can hide beneath your nails).
2. Stand in front of good light and use a magnifying mirror if you have one.
3. Ask yourself if you are willing to deal with the results if you make things worse.
4. If the pimple is deep and swollen, it’s likely cystic and you WILL make things worse and potentially scar.
5. Still determined?
6. Don’t pop too early – it’s best to wait until the pimple has a firm white head.
7. Sterilize a sewing needle with a match – wipe it with rubbing alcohol. Wipe the pimple and fingers with the alcohol too.
8. Holding the needle parallel to the surface of your skin, open the top of the pimple (don’t dive straight down – you only want to pierce the the top of the pimple).
9. Wrap your fingers with a clean tissue or use a couple of cotton swabs.
10. Once you’ve made an opening, gently squeeze the pimple with a rolling motion inward and upward around the base of the pimple. If it doesn’t empty easily, don’t keep pressing…wait until later in the day. Continued persistence can rupture the follicle and cause more pimples and deeper level infection.
11. Dab the pimple with alcohol and keep your hands away from your doctored skin.