Squeezing pimples is, understandably, a tempting thing to do. But it’s important to understand why this is, generally, not a good idea for the long term appearance of your acne. There are two major problems that arise of out squeezing pimples: you can make your acne worse, and you can cause scarring down the road.
#1: Squeezing Pimples Can Worsen Your Complexion
If the pimple is not “ready” (or even if it is), you can actually make the area more irritated by squeezing a blemish, even if you do release some of the buildup. First of all, just touching your face adds oil and dirt to your skin’s surface and can irritate a blemish, which is not helpful. Putting pressure on an inflamed, blemished area can actually push oil backwards—further below your skin, where it spreads to other areas and increases infection (and thus, irritation and blemishes) in the surrounding area.
#2: Squeezing Pimples Can Cause Permanent Scarring
Your skin is sensitive. In fact, the pink and redness that occurs with acne is overwhelmingly not a blemish in the sense of a clogged pore, but rather irritation of the skin around a clogged pore. It doesn’t take much to irritate your skin, especially when you are acne prone. So think about blemishes this way: like any other injury to your skin’s surface, they need to heal. Squeezing pimples can disrupt the healing process, by slowing it down, causing extra irritation, and leaving your skin’s surface disrupted in a certain place for a longer period of time. This can all lead to scarring.
When is it okay to squeeze a pimple?
Dermatologists will recommend never squeezing a pimple, but conventional wisdom tells us that sometimes, it’s quite unpleasant to leave a prominent whitehead alone, especially when it’s “ready to pop.” Try to avoid popping pimples until you cannot bear it any longer. Especially do not get over-anxious and pop a blemish that is clearly not ready or only “kind of” ready. Unless it is VERY easy to release the buildup, do not do it. If you must pop a pimple, wash the skin as well as your hands, so that no dirt or oil will enter the irritated area.
Preventing Scars
It’s always good to work to prevent scars. Treating your acne to control the symptoms helps prevent scar-inducing blemish in the first place. Also keep your skin healthy: use an acne-fighting moisturizer as well as oil-free sunscreen to keep your skin healthy and hydrated. This will give it the ability to heal faster, thus avoiding scarring.
