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 Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life. What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin? Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition. Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider. What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin? Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity. Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C. Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post. Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster. This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster. While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin. It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin. Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning? Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance. You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather. Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.

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