15 replies to this topic

[GB2]

Everytime I do some online research to find different ways of treating acne, I always seem to see sites that say DO NOT put your fingers to your face or pop your acne. WHY??? Say you have a large pimple that has come to a head. Are you telling me you are supposed to let it like that? When I finally pop a really painful zit it is like I'm letting all the bad stuff out and then the pimple ends up healing. What happens if you just let is sit like that with the pus inside? Are they saying it will go away even with that inside it? To me, all the bad stuff has finally surfaced and now it is ready to be removed. What do others do? I've always been in the habit of leaving them alone till you KNOW they are ready to pop. If I mess with them too soon (when they have not come to a head) it usually makes them worse and more red and noticable. Anyway, just wondering if others think "hands off" is best or if getting the stuff out is what you normally do.

[bittermp]

if its poppable then i pop.
they say not to b/c of scarring but i've also not popped a zit and left it alone and it still left a red mark/scar. anyway, some pimples are easy to pop and heal and leave no trace while others, depending where their situated stay around longer.


a white head is just asking to be popped. wash your hands, pop, stop usually they say before blood comes, then put some zit cream on it. I use tea tree oil (usually watered down) and that helps.

[Cyph31]

never because the chances of spreading the bacteria to adjacent healthy skin areas or causing more inflammation is pretty much guaranteed even with the most tempting white blob

[bittermp]

never because the chances of spreading the bacteria to adjacent healthy skin areas or causing more inflammation is pretty much guaranteed even with the most tempting white blob

again, it depends on the pimple. the size, the location, what's around it etc.

[Cyph31]

yes it does but from my experience even the mildest most isolated whiteheads still almost always turn ugly after a careful pop (which i don't do anymore finally)

[GB2]

yes it does but from my experience even the mildest most isolated whiteheads still almost always turn ugly after a careful pop (which i don't do anymore finally)

But what happens if you leave them alone with the pus inside them? I have had some in areas (like under jaw line that got huge and never came to a head and I left them alone and they healed). Where does the infected material (or pus) go? Does it just dissipate? It is so hard to leave them alone when they get to the point of a whitehead. It is embarrassing to leave them looking like that because I think they look even more noticeable in that state.

[~jess~]

I pop mine. Sometimes it makes it better, sometimes worse. If you leave it alone, the pus under the skin eventually gets eaten away by special cells in your blood, and the pus on the top dries out and falls off. It does take a while tho. Pus is just white blood cells that have fought off the infection and died, so its not like its something dirty that you need to get out of your skin immediately.

[Lorrie]

Sorry but I pop. I am not walking around with a blob of white crap sitting at the surface. I dont want to see it and I sure dont want anyone else to see it. BUT that may be why I have scars.

[Cyph31]

better a white blob then a larger red blob with no head and more pain

[acne_battle]

Everytime I do some online research to find different ways of treating acne, I always seem to see sites that say DO NOT put your fingers to your face or pop your acne. WHY??? Say you have a large pimple that has come to a head. Are you telling me you are supposed to let it like that? When I finally pop a really painful zit it is like I'm letting all the bad stuff out and then the pimple ends up healing. What happens if you just let is sit like that with the pus inside? Are they saying it will go away even with that inside it? To me, all the bad stuff has finally surfaced and now it is ready to be removed. What do others do? I've always been in the habit of leaving them alone till you KNOW they are ready to pop. If I mess with them too soon (when they have not come to a head) it usually makes them worse and more red and noticable. Anyway, just wondering if others think "hands off" is best or if getting the stuff out is what you normally do.

I totally agree with you. I feel relieved to get that disgusting puss out of there. Im not just gonna leave puss on my face. It looks ugly and it hurts. If it comes to a head I pop it

Sorry but I pop. I am not walking around with a blob of white crap sitting at the surface. I dont want to see it and I sure dont want anyone else to see it. BUT that may be why I have scars.

I scar whether I pop mine or not. Since thats the case I figure Ill just pop them

[Siouxsie]

But what happens if you leave them alone with the pus inside them? I have had some in areas (like under jaw line that got huge and never came to a head and I left them alone and they healed). Where does the infected material (or pus) go? Does it just dissipate? It is so hard to leave them alone when they get to the point of a whitehead. It is embarrassing to leave them looking like that because I think they look even more noticeable in that state.

If it's a pustule (a red zit with white pus) then the pus will dry up, turn a yellowish color & then fall off like a scab. The pus is there cuz your body is pushing the bacteria out; it's part of the healing process. I find my pimples to heal faster & better when I leave them alone. Yes it is hard, cuz pustules are noticable, but dark hyperpigmentation left over or larger zit in the same spot would be worse.
If you pop it, you are essentially creating an open wound, as a pimple is considered a lesion (a wound). That leaves that spot open to be being re-infected with bacteria & a larger zit to form in the same spot. Ever have a popped zit not heal & just get bigger?
When they get to the point of having pus, they have sort of reached their climax. If you leave it alone it will heal & you'll be less likely to scar, less likely to have the spot re-infected, & less likely to spread bacteria. Any hyperpigmentation in that spot might not be nearly as dark either. Also, keep in mind that popping a zit can permanently damage a pore's walls. That can lead to scarring & re-occuring zits in the same spot.
From www.stoppickingonme.com:
"Have you ever noticed you get pimples in the same exact spot over and over again. Once a pore has been prematurely emptied (squeezed before nature had a chance to combat the problem and shrink the pimple naturally) often it will not return to its original form or size. Because of its abnormal shape or size, it is likely to become clogged again. The larger the pimple popped, the more likely it will not heal properly."
"When you pick and squeeze you can enlarge, extend or distort a pore so that you have set yourself up for further problems down the road."
"Every time you squeeze at your face you are bruising the minuscule veins and capillaries that feed your skin. Have you ever seen an older person that has spidery red and blue lines across their face. These are broken capillaries. Caused both by high blood pressure AND potentially by picking."

Check that site out, it has really helped me overcome my bad picking habit & improve my skin (along with DKR).

[rebootyourcomputer]

What I usually do is wait for a day or two and red blob will turn into white.In the morning , I will wash my face as usual and use tissue with hot water to whip out the white blob.
Forcing the red blob to go out is a bad idea and it will usually leave a scar so be ware.

[Jennywho]

I pop mine. Sometimes it makes it better, sometimes worse. If you leave it alone, the pus under the skin eventually gets eaten away by special cells in your blood, and the pus on the top dries out and falls off. It does take a while tho.

Ya I'm not willing to wait for that. I usually pop and pick at pimples because walking around school/work is embarassing with white puss on your face and it feels like people are staring at it when you're talking to them. So I'd rather pop and then cover up with makeup

[nvr gv up]

I'm addicted to popping. I'm lucky, I have very few scars on my face. But I'm 40 yrs old and even though I know better, I can't stop picking. I will get a zit or one of those bumps that are large & painful and I promise myself - " I will not pick at this." I always end up picking it - it's like some type of OCD thing. I notice that I pick at my face more when I'm stressed or feeling depressed about my looks.

ARGGH!!! I wish I had the will power to just LEAVE MY FACE ALONE!

[jeffy83]

hahahahahaha you're so funny

Sorry but I pop. I am not walking around with a blob of white crap sitting at the surface. I dont want to see it and I sure dont want anyone else to see it. BUT that may be why I have scars.