The health concerns of pimple popping
Pimples are a naturally occurring phenomenon that can inhabit any part of your body at random, sometimes in clusters and other times in lone specks. Some people are more susceptible to it and are constantly attacked by recurrences while others remain relatively safe.
Sometimes a change in environment may trigger their appearance brought on by a change in geographical location or simply a change in weather. The hormonal changes at puberty might also be involved in bringing about an onset.
Some people think acne and pimples are the same thing. They are not. A pimple is a hard, inflamed spot on your skin while acne is a broader term; a skin disease in which hair follicles are clogged with dead skin and sebum (skin oil) to create pimples. Since the human face contains a relatively high number of oil glands, this is usually the primary area of occurrence.
Now, the treatment for acne is something that you need to consult your doctor for so we suggest you don’t go around pimple popping each and every one of the pimples if you have acne.
“Pimples” come in many forms; blackheads, whiteheads, pustules, papules, nodules or cysts. We won’t get bogged down in dealing with how each type is unique: that is a discussion for another day.
Instead, let us talk about the possible risk factors associated with popping random pimples on your face or body.
Scarring
As stated earlier, pimples are essentially clogged pores. When you try to pop, it damages the skin tissue surrounding the pore and results in a permanent blemish. You may have seen some pimple popping videos on YouTube or so but you must avoid it until you know what you’re doing.
Over time the scar may fade, but would it not have been easier to let the pimple go away on its own and not leave an indelible mark.
Irritation
Pimple popping can aggravate the pore and the surrounding tissue resulting in greater inflammation than before. Quite often, the pimple might return with a vengeance and even if it doesn’t the pore leaves a mark that sometimes looks worse than the pimple did.
Bleeding/Swelling
Once you pop it or scratch it off, it might start bleeding. Our skin is home to an eclectic range of bacteria, not to mention what we carry to it from our dirty hands. As white blood cells accumulate to the spot to fight of the invading bacteria, you will notice an increasingly inflamed look in the region as the swelling occurs.
Infection
The excess reddening, swelling and inflammation is a sign of infection. The popping forces the bacteria underneath the skin, effectively providing it an entry way. The skin is the first barrier against foreign elements, especially bacteria.
In the case of a pustule which is swollen, red lesion that holds pus inside it, you can think of it like a sac that is holding all the bacteria inside it, not letting it come into contact with anything else. Poking it, pricking it with a needle or popping it can force the bacteria into your skin.
So, how do we safely remove a pimple without infecting, scarring or irritating the skin?
Well, if you have to pop it, it’s best to do it somewhat knowledgeably. Although, if you leave it alone and allow it to run its course, it will most likely disappear in less than a week.
Let a professional do it
In this case, we are talking about a dermatologist.
There are several different ways they can handle this, the first of which is to use sterile instruments. Right here, we realize why it’s so important for a professional to undertake the task with the right tool. An instrument piercing your skin is the easiest way to get infected, if it hasn’t been sterilized properly.
Acne extraction is the method used to remove blackheads and whiteheads. In the case of a particularly painful cyst, the doctor may perform an incision to drain the fluid, which, once again, is something that should only be performed by a certified professional.
In some cases, when the doctor feels it’s not necessary or prudent to perform an incision, they may inject it with a corticosteroid to speed up the healing process.
Benzoyl peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide is effective in killing bacteria, so using it in conjunction with an acne treatment system in order to keep the skin clean will do the job just fine.
Vaseline
It is not directly related to the treatment of acne or pimples but using Vaseline will help your skin heal quicker after a breakout.
Constant washing
Your face accumulates oil faster that you can imagine which obviously promotes the growth of pimples and acne. Your must get into a habit of washing your face every opportunity you get to rid yourself of that excess oil, especially after exercise or if you have been in a kitchen too long.
Secondly, you must wash your hands thoroughly before you touch your face. The same goes for your hair as they contain a lot of oil that can come into contact with your skin.
You are advised to use a soap-free cleanser to remove the oil in your face. Like they say, prevention is better than treatment.
What not to use?
Toothpaste
Somebody had the bright idea of applying toothpaste to their pimples. The only thing that will happen is further irritation, redness, burning and peeling of the skin, without getting rid of the pimple.
Alcohol
Do not use alcoholic products for your face, because alcohol dries your face out and can force your body to produce more oil which in turn can make your acne worse than it actually is.
Scrubbing
Using rough scrubbing force to clear away your acne is a one way ticket to disaster. We realize that the struggle can seem hopelessly futile, that remaining patient is difficult but you can’t allow yourself to resort to such measures.
A persistent dedication to acne medication and proper rules will bring you the results you desire, God willing. Patience and Consistency is the name of the game.
Oil-based products
Make an effort to avoid these. As previously mentioned, oil clogs your pores and makes your acne worse.
It is advised to medically treat your acne with products prescribed by a dermatologist. You’re likely to see progress within weeks. If that doesn’t work, you should see the doctor again who will recommend alternative procedures.
Do not try any of these procedures yourself. Your face is one of your greatest assets so do not become hasty. A few weeks of trouble will be well worth it if you can treat it the right way.
If you have to relieve pain, then applying ice to your skin will help. It reduces the inflammation and helps your cope.
Useful links:
- Black cumin seed oil
- How to get rid of dark circles under eyes
- Olive oil health benefits
- Patanjali products
- Cosmetic surgery
Tags: Pimple popping, pimple popping videos, pimple popping tool, pimple popping youtube
This is a super informative and helpful post! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Oh man! The way I have a habit of popping pimples!Thanks for sharing the other professional ways of dealing with pimples.