Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Pop Your Pimples

For some people, every new pimple is a shining opportunity to squeeze, poke, pop, or pick their skin. But while it can feel satisfying, pimple popping isn’t a habit you should keep. Your skin will thank you for choosing professional acne treatment instead. 

Serving the Atlanta area, Pure Bliss Medspa provides top-of-the-line acne treatment in Sandy Springs, Georgia, so you won’t be so tempted to pop your pimples. Founder and aesthetic nurse practitioner Asha Hill, NP, treats each case of acne with great care, using evidence-based methods like medical-grade skin care, chemical peels, and Limelight intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy. 

If you feel eager to pop your pimples, read on to find out why it’s important to change that habit. 

How popping pimples damages your skin

No one likes waking up in the morning to see a new inflamed pimple or whitehead. Your first instinct might be to pinch it or poke it with a needle. But doing so can result in:

Scarring

Popping a pimple is typically imprecise and messy. You rupture the skin, which can cause damage to its structure. This includes the epidermis (surface layer) and the dermis (the layer below). 

A pimple-popping habit is a one-way ticket to pitted acne scars that can last for years, decades, or the rest of your life. Sometimes, the skin around an acne scar darkens and leaves a hyperpigmented spot. You can treat acne scars, but they won’t always go away entirely.

Infection

Popped pimples can become infected when bacteria and pus spread from their initial confined area. Infected pimples can be red, large, inflamed, and sore.

More inflammation

You might assume popping a pimple relieves the pressure and therefore curbs inflammation. The opposite is true. When you pop a pimple and the infected material spreads, more redness and inflammation can appear. 

The dangers of compulsive pimple popping

For some people, popping pimples becomes compulsive. Compulsive pimple popping is a sign of a condition called acne excoriée, which involves the uncontrollable urge to pop your pimples.

You may need to work with a mental health specialist if you feel that you can’t stop popping your pimples no matter how hard you try. 

Alternatives to pimple popping

The best way to avoid popping pimples is to treat or prevent acne with professional skin care. Pure Bliss Medspa offers a variety of skin treatments to keep your skin acne-free, reduce acne scars, or treat active acne. 

During your next visit, talk to Asha about: 

Medical-grade skin care

These products are formulated by experts to clear acne breakouts using ingredients like retinoids and salicylic acid. 

Chemical peels

Chemical peels strip the top layer from your skin’s surface to clear and smooth your skin. They can treat active acne and acne scars. 

Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion exfoliates your skin to reveal a softer, smoother surface. 

Microneedling

Microneedling promotes new skin and collagen growth, which can reduce the appearance of acne scars. 

Intense pulsed light (IPL)

IPL treatments reduce redness and inflammation from acne without causing damage to the skin’s surface layer. 

For more tips on how to manage acne without popping pimples, call Pure Bliss Medspa at 678-515-3653 or request an appointment online today.