By Eliza • 9 Comments
Most skincare experts strongly discourage popping your pimples because you run the risk of a worse breakout or an infection. However, I still pop mine from time to time and I bet I’m not the only one. If you’re going to pop those zits, make sure you are doing it as safely as possible so that you can get rid of the blemish without making things worse. Here’s a guide to what you need to do after popping that pimple. Good luck!
Once that zit is popped, press a warm washcloth to the area for a few minutes. This helps soothe the area and soften the skin around the blemish. Ideally, you should have done this before you popped, but you can still go ahead with it after. Popping a pimple is sort of painful, so this step also alleviates some of the discomfort.
Any open wound runs the risk of bacteria getting in and causing an infection or worse. A popped pimple is absolutely an open wound, even if it is really small. Use an antibacterial face wipe or cleanser to disinfect the area and keep it clean. Skincare experts suggest choosing something that contains benzoyl peroxide because it’s designed to treat acne. Don’t be too rough when washing. A gentle swipe or two is all you need.
Salicyclic acid will work to help prevent the spot from turning back into a pimple. It’s the main ingredient in many facial washes and creams that are meant to get rid of acne. Again, be gentle to avoid damaging the popped pimple any further, but use enough product that you can be sure it’s effective.
This is an especially important tip if your pimple bled when you popped it. You don’t need a lot of the product, but a dab of Neosporin or similar product will keep the wound clean and kill any germs and bacteria that could cause issues. Use a cotton swab or your finger to gently cover the spot with the Neosporin.
This is important because it helps keep the area clean and prevents the Neosporin from getting wiped off, leaving the spot exposed to germs. Cover the spot with a small bandage until it scabs over. Pop your zits before bed if you don’t want to go out with a bandage on your face.
Your hands aren’t always as clean as you think they are and popping a pimple may spread icky stuff on your face. Once your zit is well-covered, gently wash the rest of your face, using an anti-acne cleanser, being careful not to get your bandage wet. This way, you don’t run the risk of suffering from further breakouts.
If you’re anything like me, you tend to touch your face many times over the course of a day. When you’re done cleaning up your face, wash your hands to prevent any further germs or bacteria getting on your face and causing future zits.
You’re never going to pop a zit again, right? It’s simply not good for your skin. How do you resist the temptation?