Pimple Popping - Should i be Popping my Pimples?

[live]

Should i be popping my pimples? I wait till their ready and POP. I'm very careful but will it damage my skin in the long run?

[tater03]

When I was younger I used to pop them. I was always told that it really is not good to do it because it can leave a scar. I never noticed that personally with me but I finally did just learn to leave them alone and they really did seem to go away faster.

[Jewel]

I have always been told not to pop pimples, because they will scar. I don't think it necessarily makes them go away faster either.

[mollyL]

I don't know for sure whether they scar (perhaps it is different with different people) but I know that you could give yourself an infection. What I used to do is get a washcloth with as hot water as you can stand, and press it against the pimple for a few minutes to encourage all the pus to the surface. Then sterilize a pin by holding it in a flame for a few seconds, then pop the surface of the pimple and gently squeeze all the pus out that will come. It sounds a bit of trouble but it's really not; better safe than sorry...

[SageMother]

I think scarring isn't an automatic result of popping pimples, but you do need to take care.

Steaming the face first, to soften the skin and relax the tiny muscles, will help prevent scarring, as long as you aren't dealing with cystic acne or really deep blackheads. There is a chance that the contents of the pimple will create problems in skin that has contact with them as the reaction may spread, so you have to be sure to keep everything neatly contained!

[Jewel]

Thanks for the information, SageMother. I have heard that steaming your face has many advantages, but I just haven't gotten around to trying it except for in the shower.

[Taggart]

Sometimes "whiteheads" can form, and I've been basically told to pop them by my doctor, although he didn't come right out and "officially" recommend it.

He referred me to an eye specialist, because it was near my eye, but he and a pharmacist suggested that it could be popped, but were careful not to say I should do it, if you know what I mean.

I've always heard that pimples shouldn't be squeezed when I was a kid.

[riskey58]

I never popped my pimples. As growing up I had a aunt who was really sweet. But she had one problem. Everytime she saw you if you had a pimple that she thought needed popping she back you against the wall and start squeezing. It drove me crazy. I guess that is why I don't like doing it.

[tater03]

I had people that do that. I had a relative that was constantly pointing them out and telling me you should pop them. I never knew that heating the face with a hot washrag would be better. Makes sense though.

[mollyL]

Originally Posted by riskey58

I never popped my pimples. As growing up I had a aunt who was really sweet. But she had one problem. Everytime she saw you if you had a pimple that she thought needed popping she back you against the wall and start squeezing. It drove me crazy. I guess that is why I don't like doing it.

I'm smiling at your story about your aunt. Before my brother and his fiancee were married, she used to pop the pimples on his back every time he got any. We used to say amongst ourselves that that must be their grooming ritual, because they really started to resemble monkeys grooming away.

[Jewel]

My boyfriend is always asking me to pop the pimples on his chest and back. I always refuse though, because I think it's so weird! I didn't know that other people groomed each other like that too.

[SageMother]

She would point them out? You are waaaay more tolerant than I am about such things. How rude!

[riskey58]

I really hated it while growing up. I used to hate going to my aunts for that reason. But now I can look back and laugh about it.

[Swastik]

Don't do that for sure. My personal experience is of scars whenever i pop my acne. So try to avoid that as it will take time but scars are forever.

[justontime]

I saw a program on TV where they compared popping spots or leaving them to settle on their own, they said that trials had showed that there was little difference in the end result. My husband still gets spots, and he just puts some spot gel on them to dry them up, it seems to work. I don't get many but if I do I have to pop them (with clean hands of course), I have not got any scars.

[riskey58]

Originally Posted by mollyL

I'm smiling at your story about your aunt. Before my brother and his fiancee were married, she used to pop the pimples on his back every time he got any. We used to say amongst ourselves that that must be their grooming ritual, because they really started to resemble monkeys grooming away.

How funny. I guess everyone has funny little bad habits. At least now we can look back on them and laugh.

[Taggart]

There's also a "razor rash" condition that's spread by razor blades, and it kind of resembles acne, I'd say. But it's very contagious to spreading on broken skin, so you have to be careful.

I've used hydrogen peroxide on that kind of thing, with pretty good results.

[Serenity]

I can't believe someone would be so tactless as to point out spots! People especially teens are self conscious enough about them without it being brought to their attention you noticed them too. That's just awful.

I was told not to pop them because dirt can get in the opening and make them worse. I was lucky with my skin and never had them much but always just left them alone.

[justontime]

Originally Posted by Serenity

I can't believe someone would be so tactless as to point out spots! People especially teens are self conscious enough about them without it being brought to their attention you noticed them too. That's just awful.

Is is surprising how many people have absolutely no tact! I have approached the issue of spots with my son (13), but I was very tactful. He has a problem with blackheads around his nose and I have to encourage him to look after his skin.

[Kitten]

As long as you wait until they're "ready" and do it with clean fingers or q-tips, then it's not a big deal. Q-tips are preferable to your fingers, though, because your nails could puncture your skin and 'that' makes it more likely to scar.