What Happens If You Don't Pop a Pimple?

What Happens If You Don’t Pop a Pimple?

Dermatologist usually say “Don’t pop a pimple,” but what will happen if you leave a pimple alone? This article will discuss when to pop and when not to pop a pimple and will tell you what happens if you leave a pimple alone.

No one likes to wake up to a pimple in the middle of their face, and we certainly don’t like the idea of waiting for that pimple to go away on its own. However, the truth is that waiting it out might be best thing you can do to clear a pimple fast.

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Will a Pimple Go Away on Its Own?

Pimples will go away on their own if you do not pop them. Your skin uses its own natural exfoliation process to push the pimple and its contents to the surface.

You can actually see this process, called “purging”, happening when you begin using a retinoid. Purging is the skin pushing the ingredients that are clogging the pores to the skin’s surface.

As the purging process occurs, the pimple will eventually rise to the skin’s surface or the inflammation will go away and the pimple will disappear on its own.

The best way to get a pimple to go away on its own is with the right acne care products. Check out some of these great options:

If you don’t pop a pimple will you get a scab?

Pimples rarely cause scabs if you don’t squeeze them. Scabs happen when the upper layers of the skin are injured by your fingernails or comedone extractors.

If you get a scab, do not pick at the scabs as this can lead to scarring and dark spots on the skin.

Just like when scabs form over a cut on other areas of your body, scabs that form over a pimple will eventually shed off on their own once the skin underneath is healed. This can take 3-12 days. If you pick them it can take longer. Scabs heal faster when left alone or when a topical antibiotic ointment is placed on them.

What are the three kinds of pimples. Different stages of pimples, and when you can pop them.

Three types of pimples: which type can you pop

There are three types of pimples: comedones, papules and pustules. Pustules are ready to be popped, comedones and papules are not. Trying to pop a papule will make acne worse by causing inflammation and tissue damage and maybe even push the pimple contents deeper in the skin.

Whiteheads are also called Comedones

Whiteheads are the earliest stage of pimples. They are clogged pores are not ready to be popped. Apply a retinol on top of them and wait for them to come to the surface. Picking them and popping them can cause a scar or a cyst.

What happens if you do not pop a whitehead?- It comes to the surface and goes away naturally.

Here are some strong retinols to help a whitehead come to the skin’s surface faster. Apply these only to the whitehead because they are very strong and can cause side effects if used on your entire face.

Papules are Early Pimples

Papules are a type of acne lesion characterized by small, red, raised bumps on the skin. Unlike some other types of acne, papules do not contain pus, and their formation is a result of the skin’s inflammatory response to bacteria, oil, and debris within the hair follicle. At this stage, the inflammatory material is dispersed throughout the skin layers, rather than being concentrated in a singular, pus-filled space. This distribution makes papules ill-suited for extraction. The body’s immune system actively works to wall off the invading bacteria and debris, a natural protective mechanism to prevent further spread and damage. Attempting to pop or squeeze a papule can disrupt this natural process, potentially pushing the bacteria and inflammation deeper into the skin and exacerbating the issue.

Pustules are a Later Stage of Pimple

Pustules are distinguishable by white bumps/heads that indicate they are ready to pop. You should pop pimples when they are white pustules, or you can leave them alone to pop on their own.

Pustules, in contrast to papules, are visibly filled with pus and often appear as yellowish or whitish bumps with a defined center. This pus is a mixture of bacterial debris, white blood cells, and dead skin cells. Because pustules have a centralized collection of pus, they can be more amenable to extraction when done correctly and hygienically. However, it’s essential to approach this with caution; while the contents of a pustule are more centralized and can be more easily extracted, improper techniques or doing so prematurely can still result in skin damage or increased risk of infection. Ideally, any extraction should be conducted or guided by a trained professional to minimize complications.

If you must pop the pimple yourself, wait until it has a white head on it (which means it is a pustule) follow these instructions.

Why you should not pop a pimple

Why You Should NOT Pop a Pimple

As tempting as it might be to pop pimples as soon as you can see them on the surface, doing so can make matters worse. Here are the main reasons NOT to pop a pimple and let them resolve on their own. Popping a pimple can:

Make it last longer, by pushing bacteria and the contents of the pimple deeper into your skin.

Cause an acne cyst by pushing the contents deeper

Cause scars. It is a myth that pimples are more likely to scar if you don’t pop them. When you leave pimples alone, there is less inflammation and less of a chance of pushing the pimple’s contents deeper.

Lead to a skin infection. Fingernails are very dirty! It is common to cause a skin infection when you scratch off pimples or pop them.

natural ingredients for acne prone skin

What Skincare Should I Use to Get Rid of Pimples?

Retinoids are a common acne treatment ingredient because they speed up the skin’s natural exfoliation process, causing pimples and their contents to come to the surface faster. Retinoids also stimulate collagen, helping your skin to repair itself more efficiently and minimizing the formation of acne scars.

Salicylic acid is another common acne-fighting ingredient, thanks to its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and exfoliating properties. You can use a salicylic acid cleanser to help acne clear on its own.

Other antibacterial ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide and colloidal silver can be helpful when treating acne because they kill acne-causing bacteria on the skin.

There are acne treatment products you can put on pimple to make it go away faster such as Murad Outsmart Acne Clarifying Treatment.

Use these acne spot treatments 2 times a day.

Bottom Line

Don’t pop a pimple unless it is a pustule. Papules will eventually go away on their own. Popping pimples and picking at acne scabs can cause scarring and slow the healing process. Papules will go away much faster if you do not pop them or pick at them.

The best way to stop getting pimples is to only use products that are right for your Baumann Skin Type.

Take the quiz and we will give you advice on what products are best to prevent getting papules and pustules on your skin.

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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