Why Pimple Popping Is Bad for Your Skin
Pimples occur when excess oil (sebum), dead skin cells, and bacteria become trapped in pores. This can lead to redness, inflammation, and pus-filled bumps (pustules). Dermatologists and estheticians warn not to pop pimples because your pores are already swollen and under a lot of pressure.
Why Pimple Popping Is Bad for Your Skin
When you squeeze a pimple:
- Debris can be forced from the pore deeper into the follicle (the structure that anchors each strand of hair to the skin).
- That can cause the follicle wall to rupture, spilling the infected material (including pus) into the lower layer of skin, called the dermis.
- This can result in even more inflammation than before, with increased redness, swelling, and heat in the surrounding skin.
- The break in the structure of the skin can also promote infection, which can, in turn, lead to the formation of an even larger pimple and/or a new pimple next to the one you just popped.
How the Skin Changes After You Pop a Pimple
In addition to new pimples forming near a pimple that’s been squeezed, other skin changes, such as scars, and discoloration, can occur.
- Popping a papule (a pimple without a white head) forces the skin to break open to release the pus. This leads to the formation of a scab and the darkening of the surrounding skin.
- Squeezing the area frequently can lead to the formation of acne nodules (hardened acne lesions in deeper tissues) or acne cysts (deep, pus-filled lesions that look similar to boils).
Popping Pimples and Scarring
Popping pimples can cause more than a swollen spot or a scab; it is a surefire way to increase your chances of developing acne scars.
- Every time your skin is damaged, there’s a possibility tissue will be lost during the healing process. That is how you get depressed or pitted acne scars. The more extensive the damage, the higher the chance of tissue loss.
- Even if depressed scars don’t develop, you can be left with dark marks known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. This occurs when severe inflammation damages cells known as keratinocytes, causing them to release large amounts of a pigment called melanin.
Summary
Popping a pimple should be avoided. Popping can force the contents of the pimple into deeper tissues. This can lead to skin inflammation, the formation of new pimples in nearby areas, scarring, and discoloration. In some cases, the damage caused to the skin may be permanent.
FAQs
- Why should I avoid popping pimples?
Popping pimples can lead to skin inflammation, the formation of new pimples in nearby areas, scarring, and discoloration. - What are the risks of popping pimples?
The risks of popping pimples include skin inflammation, the formation of new pimples in nearby areas, scarring, and discoloration. - How can I treat acne without popping pimples?
You can treat acne with over-the-counter acne medications or seek professional pimple extraction by a dermatologist or esthetician.
