What makes zits pop

Every time your skin is damaged, there's a possibility that, as the skin heals, tissue will be lost. That's how you get depressed or pitted acne scars. The greater the damage done to the skin, the greater the chance of tissue loss.

Even if depressed scars don't develop, dark marks can. These dark spots on the skin, called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation , are caused by inflammation. Popping a pimple causes inflammation, so you're more likely to see post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation once a pimple heals.

Picking at your blemishes can spread infection and, ultimately, worsen your acne. Clearly, a hands-off policy is the best choice when it comes to your skin. But, honestly, zits are annoying enough that we just want to get rid of them fast.

There are safer ways to get rid of individual pimples. First, try over-the-counter acne spot treatments.

These products are dabbed on existing pimples to help dry them out and heal them quickly. These work best for relatively minor pimples, though. If you have a really big pimple that won't go away , you may need to see a dermatologist for help. Spot treatments are unlikely to be much help with these more severe blemishes. Your best bet, always, is to leave the zit alone to heal. But, if you just have to squeeze it, at least extract the blemish safely.

Don't use your fingernails or another hard object, don't force the zit to drain, and never squeeze a deep pimple or one that hasn't come to a white or yellow "head. We all have, at one point or another, popped a pimple even knowing we shouldn't. Occasionally squeezing a blemish, while not great for your skin, is normal.

But when squeezing pimples, popping zits, or picking at the skin becomes a compulsion, it's time to look a little deeper. You may have a form of acne called acne excoriee also known as excoriated acne. People with excoriated acne pick at their pimples, real or imagined, to the point of seriously damaging their skin. Talk with your dermatologist or physician. Of course, we all want to keep pimples from forming in the first place.

The absolute best way to do that is to use an acne treatment medication every day. Over-the-counter acne products can help stop minor breakouts. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Although popping pimples is often immediately gratifying, dermatologist Melissa Piliang, MD, highly discourages it. The cells around the hair follicles on your face get sticky, Dr.

Piliang says. Once they stick together, they form a plug that blocks your pores. For your security, we've sent a confirmation email to the address you entered. Click the link to confirm your subscription and begin receiving our newsletters. If you don't get the confirmation within 10 minutes, please check your spam folder. Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team.

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There is a proper way to extract a pimple, which we will cover in this article. Keep in mind this procedure is best performed by a doctor in a sterile environment. Most pimples form because the skin cells that surround your hair follicles stick together. This can create a hard plug that blocks your pores. Several things can trigger this reaction in your skin, including:. The result is a pore that gets clogged with oil, pus, or sebum, and a bumpy, inflamed area of your skin.

Here are three common types of blemishes:. When a pore becomes clogged or a pimple forms under your skin, your hair follicles can fill up with pus or sebum oil. Eventually, the hair follicle can burst, breaking the clog free from your pore and beginning the healing process. But there are also risks involved. If you attempt to pop a pimple and end up breaking your skin barrier, you risk permanent acne scarring. If your pimple contains infected pus, popping a pimple can spread bacteria into other pore and hair follicles and create a bigger acne outbreak.

This can clog your pores even more, make acne more noticeable, or trigger inflammation under your skin. With all that being said, some people are unable to resist the temptation of popping a pimple as soon as they see a whitehead appear. If you are going to pop a pimple once in a while, follow these steps.

The technique for popping a pimple safely differs slightly depending on which type of blemish you have. Over-the-counter topical medication such as salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide can be applied to your blackhead to loosen the plug before you try to pop it.