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If I have decided that a pimple is ready to be popped (it's alway best to leave it alone but I know sometimes its just impossible!) I will put a dab of either manuka honey (preferable) or a little bit of vaseline on the pimple and leave it for as long as possible (sometimes up to an hour.) This acts as a humectant and makes sure the area is nice and moist and the skin around the pimple is nice and pliable. Then I will take a clean wash cloth and run it under hot water, not burning hot but warm enough that there is a nice amount of steam coming from the cloth. I will then apply this to the pimple and hold it there until it cools. Repeat this as many times as you feel is necessary to bring the pimple's head as close to the surface as possible.
Sometimes, if you're lucky, the pimple will just burst by itself, meaning there is no need for dirty fingers to get involved! However, if the pimple does not pop, I will wash my hands very thoroughly, wrap a clean piece of tissue around each index finger and very gently push in a downwards motion around either side of the pimple. If the pimple doesn't come out easily because it is not ready I will try my best to take a step back from the mirror and realise that it's not worth the scar!
I know this might seem like a ridiculous routine, but I have enough acne scars to make the effort not to end up with more!
If I have decided that a pimple is ready to be popped (it's alway best to leave it alone but I know sometimes its just impossible!) I will put a dab of either manuka honey (preferable) or a little bit of vaseline on the pimple and leave it for as long as possible (sometimes up to an hour.) This acts as a humectant and makes sure the area is nice and moist and the skin around the pimple is nice and pliable. Then I will take a clean wash cloth and run it under hot water, not burning hot but warm enough that there is a nice amount of steam coming from the cloth. I will then apply this to the pimple and hold it there until it cools. Repeat this as many times as you feel is necessary to bring the pimple's head as close to the surface as possible.
Sometimes, if you're lucky, the pimple will just burst by itself, meaning there is no need for dirty fingers to get involved! However, if the pimple does not pop, I will wash my hands very thoroughly, wrap a clean piece of tissue around each index finger and very gently push in a downwards motion around either side of the pimple. If the pimple doesn't come out easily because it is not ready I will try my best to take a step back from the mirror and realise that it's not worth the scar!
I know this might seem like a ridiculous routine, but I have enough acne scars to make the effort not to end up with more!
Hi - this is great advice! I am not sure about the vaseline idea- I have never tried that. The hot compress idea works like a charm though, if you have a pimple that is under the skin with no head, a warm compress will bring it to a head quickly. Try using the compress once every hour until it comes to a BIG white head (clearly visible, no live skin covering it). This may take a couple of days depending on the depth of the infection.
Note: If it does not come to a head, or the head is very small or deep - don't pop it, it just isn't worth it. Better to go to the derm and get a cortisone shot instead.
Once a good head has formed, I take a nice hot shower and clean my face. I use a very tiny, clean needle (rub it in alcohol and allow to air dry) and gently insert the needle parallel to the membrane over the head to make a small incision to relieve pressure.
Note: This should not be painful or cause any bleeding because the membrane over the whitehead is just plain dead skin - if you feel pain or see blood, the blemish is not optimal for draining.
This may be enough to let the head drain on it's own, but if not - you can gently push the contents out. The method the poster above uses (pushing down and in) is good if you are VERY careful, but you also risk driving the infection further down and causing greater inflammation if you push too hard. Another method is taking your fingers and gently pushing down around the blemish and moving OUT. This effectively pulls the skin taught, widening the opening around the whitehead allowing it's contents to come out less forcibly. The only downside to this method as opposed to the other one is it might not completely drain the contents of the whitehead. You might try a combination, but if whitehead refuses to budge, STEP AWAY FROM THE MIRROR.
Like @megtree I use a clean sewing needle ONLY when I can see the white head coming out. Then I put some the tree oil on it to kill any remaining bacteria. If it is really swollen I will put some hydrocortisone cream on it to reduce redness and swelling. Be careful not to use too much because hydrocortisone cream is comedogenic. If the swelling is not too bad I will just put Neosporin on it instead.
On July 8, 2015 at 11:29 AM, jessicasaysmeow1 said:Like @megtree I use a clean sewing needle ONLY when I can see the white head coming out. Then I put some the tree oil on it to kill any remaining bacteria. If it is really swollen I will put some hydrocortisone cream on it to reduce redness and swelling. Be careful not to use too much because hydrocortisone cream is comedogenic. If the swelling is not too bad I will just put Neosporin on it instead.
Why is hydrocortisone comedogenic?? My mom was a nurse,& she always told us that hydrocortisone. Was the go to cream for just about any skin irritations/rashes, itching. Etc.. I'm brand new to this site(like 20 mins ago I found it!!) please explain to me what that is?? Ty!