Why Popping Pimples is Bad

We’ve all done it at one time or another. Squeezing zits. Popping pimples. Whatever you call it, it’s no good for you. It seems like a good idea at the time, sometimes those unsightly pimples are just begging to be popped. But you should try to avoid popping pimples. Here’s why.

Why You Shouldn’t Pop Pimples

Usually the type of acne that we wish to pop is an inflamed pustule, those raised white bumps that may appear on our face or elsewhere on the skin. These blemishes look like they are full of oil and begging to burst, so it’s hard to resist. To avoid damaging the skin, you should apply heat, such as with a compress, to the affected area. This may cause the pustule to release the oils on its own. If it does, you should clean the area fully and apply antibacterial ointment.

However, sometimes it is the traditional red bump known as a pimple that we wish to pop, just to get rid of the pimple. This is a very bad idea, and you should never try popping pimples like this. For one, it can leave a permanent scar. For another, the bacteria on your fingers that you deposit into the affected area when popping pimples can make the acne much worse.

Why exactly is popping pimples so bad for you? A pimple, like other acne, is a collection of sebum excreted by your sebaceous glands, dead skin cells, oil, dirt, and acne-causing bacteria which clog up skin pores around your hair follicles. Popping pimples, from the act of squeezing, can force these materials further inward, seriously infecting the skin. Even if the pimple pops and you are able to squeeze out the pus inside, more infected material may be deep in the skin where you can’t get to it, and you will pay for your actions later, possibly in the form of a cyst, a large, painful, inflamed lesion that can only be treated by a doctor.

How to Treat Pimples

So how do you get rid of pimples? The occasional blemish here or there can be taken care of by regular washing with healthy soap and warm water, and time. More serious pimples require a more serious solution. An alternative to popping pimples that many find highly effective is the Proactiv system of skin care products with benzoyl peroxide, which is clinically proven to be an effective treatment for pimples.

Proactiv’s three step acne fighting system renews skin to reduce the appearance of current pimples, revitalizes skin to keep it youthful and elastic, and refreshes skin to prevent new acne from forming. Proactiv products penetrate deep into the skin to kill acne causing bacteria, which can lead to fewer breakouts. Where popping pimples can damage the skin and make acne worse, Proactiv heals the skin and can lead to fewer breakouts.

There’s no shame in wanting to get rid of your acne. Pimples are unsightly and uncomfortable at times. But it’s important to get rid of them the right way, with proven treatment, not by taking matters into your own hands.