Should You Pop Pimples? (And What To Do If You Already Did)

It’s a feeling we all know too well, you wake up the morning of the big school dance to find an annoyingly obvious pimple on your face. The timing could not be worse! You are so tempted to pop it and be done with it. But is that really the right move?

It’s Risky

Popping your pimple may feel satisfying. But when it comes to the long term health of your skin, it can be very risky. Pimples form when debris and bacteria get trapped in the pores of your skin. These pores get inflamed and blocked, and you might think that popping them gets all that gunk out and will let the pore begin to heal. In reality, the pressure that you use to try to pop the pimple actually pushes a lot of that dirt and bacteria farther under the skin. 

It might look like you got everything out and can move on with your fun night, but sadly, the debris that gets pushed deeper can cause even more inflammation. This makes the pore take even longer to heal, and can cause longer term problems like scabbing and even acne scars. So is it worth the risk?

Stick To Routine

It might not be fun, but it’s best to just keep to your normal hygiene routine when you have a pimple. Make sure you are using a gentle cleanser morning and night, and a hydrating, light moisturizer. Complete your 3 step routine with a spf sunscreen. Girlyish Skincare’s Glowing Girly 3 step set is perfect for your daily needs!

While you are maintaining your normal routine, here are a few things to remember that can help those pesky pimples heal a little faster. First, when you’re washing your face, try not to scrub too hard. Excessive scrubbing can irritate skin and acne and make the problem worse. You’ll also want to avoid touching your face. Oils and contaminants on your hands can cause new acne and make existing pimples worse by transferring that gunk to your face. And finally, the best thing you can do is be patient. Most pimples will resolve on their own with good hygiene. It may be hard to wait, but it’s so much better for your skin in the long run.

Too Late?

Let’s be honest, despite the issues it can cause, we have all popped our pimples at one point or another! So if you’ve already done that, is it too late? Luckily, there are a few things you can do to help the pimple heal and minimize any problems. Clean the area as soon as possible with cleanser and warm water. This will limit the amount of new debris that can get into the open and irritated pore. Try to be very gentle while you cleanse so that it doesn’t get more inflamed. You can also use a small amount of an acne treatment like benzyl peroxide to kill bacteria, just be cautious to not use too much. And just like with an unpopped pimple, be really careful about touching the spot. You don’t want to introduce any new gunk.

Slow And Steady

We all want that quick fix, but sometimes a quick fix means more problems later on. Sticking to your normal routine and giving gentle care to your skin will help your face be healthy and glowing long term!