How to Pop a Pimple Correctly Without Leaving a Scar

The best way to get rid of a pimple without scarring is not to pop it and let it heal on its own. However, there are occasions when a zit shows up on your face full of yellow or white pus and you don’t want to leave the house without popping it. We know in this embarrassing situation you will squeeze the pimple- so we will teach you how to pop a pimple with a needle. These instructions on how to pop a pimple can be used on pimples anywhere including the chin, lip, nose, face or back. We will also discuss how to pop a pimple that is not ready to be popped.

To Squeeze or not to squeeze? How to pop pimples without leaving a scar

To Squeeze Or Not To Squeeze- That is the Question

Whether or not you should pop pimples depends upon what type of pimple you have and where you are.

Should you pop pimples?

Do not pop a pimple that does not have a white head. If you do not see yellow or white pus- it is not ready- and there is nothing to pop. You will cause inflammation, push the problem deeper and will worsen the pimple. Popping a pimple that is not ready to be popped will make it take much longer for the pimple to go away and will increase the risk of scarring. Read here to learn what happens when you do not pop a pimple.

Timing and Preparation is Important

Only pop pimples at home because it is best if you can shower first to clean the area before popping.

Never pop pimples without washing your hands and the skin around the pimple first with antibacterial soap. When you pop the pimple it will release bacteria so wash your hands and face (or rea where the pimple was) again after popping pimples.

how to pop a pimple with a needle

Dermatologist Advice on How To Pop a Pimple

5 Steps to Safely Pop a Pimple Without A Needle

If your pimple does have an obvious whitehead, follow these steps to pop it:

Take a hot shower. If a pimple is on the verge of popping on its own, taking a steamy shower is often enough to help it along, without having to physically pop it. If this doesn’t work, however, proceed to the next steps.

Wash your hands to remove dirt, oil and bacteria so that you do not push this debris into the acne lesion and make matters worse.

Wash your face with a salicylic acid cleanser. Salicylic acid removes acne-causing bacteria from your skin, exfoliates and cleans your pores, and reduces inflammation.

Apply gentle pressure around the entire pimple using a medicine dropper or comedone extractor. Never pop a pimple with your fingernails, as this can introduce bacteria and physically damage your skin.It is best to use a sterile medicine dropper or comedone extractor- very gently. If the pimple does not pop after two gentle tries, wait a few hours and try again. Apply gentle pressure around the entire circumference of the pimple using a glass medicine dropper or comedone extractor. It is important to apply equal pressure around the central head of the pimple. (Applying excessive pressure to only one area of the pimple can drive the contents deeper. Equal pressure around the circumference encourages the pus to go out of the skin rather than deeper in the skin.)

Apply a topical antibacterial such as benzoyl peroxide, colloidal silver, or an antibiotic to the popped pimple. These ingredients help to keep bacteria out of the pore so that it can heal properly.

Salicylic acid structure

How To Pop A Pimple With A Needle

The very best way to pop a pimple is with a sterile needle. Put a needle in boiling water to sterile it if you do not have a needle that is already in sterile packaging. The best size of needle to pop a pimple is a 30 gauge needle. You can also use a sewing needle or a safety pin- but make sure they are sterile.

Gently insert the sterile needle in the middle of the head that has yellow or white pus. Very slow and gently. Then follow the 5 steps to pop a pimple above. Do not prick the pimple more than 2 times. If the pimple does not pop- wait and try again in an hour. Or do not pop it at all.

How To Pop A Pimple That Is Not Ready

Pimples are caused by bacteria that gets into the hair follicle and eats the dead skin cells and oil that is lodged in the hair follicle. (Learn more about the stages of pimples here.) As the bacteria eat the dead skin cells and sebum, it releases inflammatory factors that cause inflammation. Immune cells move to the area and surround the bacteria and wall it off. Once the bacteria and debris is surrounded and walled off by the immune cells, a central area of pus forms. Pus is immune cells and inflammatory factors. If you squeeze a pimple before it has walled off the offending bacteria and debris, you interfere with the entire process and prevent the immune system from doing its job. This is why you should never pop a pimple that is not ready. Instead of popping a pimple too soon, follow these instructions to treat a pimple that is not ready.

How To Pop A Pimple With No Head

Blind pimples and Papules Are Not Ready To Pop

Pimples with no head are sometimes called blind pimples. Blind pimples have no eye- or central white pus. Dermatologists call these papules. Never try to pop a blind pimple or papule. It is not ready. You can learn more about the different types of pimples and what happens when you do not pop them here.

It may take 2-3 days for the pimple to go away on its own but it will slowly get smaller and smaller. Picking it will make it take much longer to heal. Just cover it with an acne spot treatment or patch, cover with concealer and try not to touch it.

Benzoyl peroxide vs salicylic acid

How to Pop a Pimple That is Not Ready

Don’t pop a pimple that is not ready. Instead, visit your dermatologist for a steroid injection or try one of these acne spot treatment ingredients:

Benzoyl peroxide 5%

Salicylic acid 2%

Topical steroid such as prescription triamcinolone cream

Topical sulfur

Colloidal silver topically

Tea Tree Oil

Acne spot treatments can be used twice a day on a pimple that is not ready to pop.

How to Get Rid of a Many Pimples Overnight

If you have a sudden break out and it is an emergency because you have an important event, try these steps to help clear skin overnight. Of course it will not completely clear your skin, but in the absence of a dermatology visit, this is the best you can do to clear skin fast. Try these three steps in the evening to try to get rid of pimples overnight. The pimples may come to a head overnight and you can pop them in the morning.

Remember- this is not a long-term solution to acne and you need to get on a acne skin care routine to keep you from having to pop any more pimples!

Wash your face with a salicylic acid cleanser. As noted above, salicylic acid is an excellent cleansing and anti-inflammatory ingredient for acne.

Apply an acne toner such as Element 47 to reduce acne-causing bacteria and oil on your skin even further after washing.

Apply a benzoyl peroxide and hydrocortisone mixture. Combine a 1:1 ratio of these two ingredients and use the mixture to spot-treat problem pimples during your nighttime skincare routine. In the morning, you should notice an improvement in the spot-treated pimples. If they come to a head, follow the instructions above on how to pop a pimple.

What to wash face with before popping a pimple

I recommend using a benzoyl peroxide cleanser before popping a pimple. BP will help decrease bacteria on the skin lowering the risk of infection.

Wash the skin again after popping the pimple to remove bacteria released in the pimple pus. Good BP cleansers are:

PCA Skin BPO 5% Cleanser

Replenix BP 5% Acne Wash

When to See a Professional for Acne

If you have persistent acne that is not going away on its own, don’t resort to constantly popping zits and picking at your skin. It is better to get on the right skin care and prevent acne instead of treating it. You can read here about when to know if its time to see a dermatologist for your pimples. Follow this link to find a board-certified dermatologist or a STS approved skin care specialist who can assess your skin type and unique needs and prescribe appropriate treatment products to clear your acne once and for all.

If you’re not in a pinch to get rid of pimples, it really is best to schedule an appointment to get professional facial extractions instead of taking matters into your own hands. Facial extractions can remove whiteheads, blackheads, and other imperfections such as milia bumps to reveal smooth, bright skin without the risk of damaging your skin further by attempting to pop or pick at pimples and other bumps yourself. Some dermatologists have lasers that can help the pimples go away faster.

In Summary

Get started on the best skin care routine for your Baumann Skin Type so you can prevent getting pimples in the first place! It all starts by taking a 3 minute skin type quiz.

DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek. “Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more. Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals. Sunscreen “We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.” Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup. Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand. Vitamin C Serum “A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging. Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation. Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants. Peptides Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.” Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively. This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek. At-Home Peel Pads Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate. “The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.” According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says. Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection. KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids. Emollient Night Cream “In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.” “Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products. Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid. RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme “The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.

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