“I’m over it. I’m going to pop my zit — how can I do it safely?”
Okay, we’re not going to pretend we’ve never been there. Of course we’ve poked, prodded and went to town on pimples that have seriously invaded our personal space (and hurt our feelings ahead of a big event). And while it’s obviously best to leave it alone if you can, if it’s clearly a whitehead and the temptation is too strong, we have some words of advice from our Chief Dermatologist, Dr. Robin Schaffran.
“Only attempt to extract a pimple if it can be done very easily and quickly,” says Dr. Schaffran. “That means only with zits that are near the surface of the skin. And only with clean hands.” In fact, right out of the shower is not only when your hands are most clean, but also when your pores are open. “Do not under any circumstances squeeze hard on the zit, or you will traumatize the skin, potentially making the pimple worse or causing it to stick around longer.” Not to mention it can lead to scarring.
So what can you do then? Gently press on the side of the pimple with one finger to extract the contents. If it doesn’t come out, wait it out and try again later. And ditch the magnified mirror; it’s your worst enemy. No one, including you, can see your pimples that closely.
