Pimple Popping Myth? for Questionland Seattle

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Pimple Popping Myth?

So is there any truth to the idea that popping a pimple will cause them to spread? My instinct is to say yes, though washing the area well right afterwards would probably take care of the problem. But what have you heard from professional dermatologists/etc.?

I was trying to convince someone that it wasn't a good idea when I realized my assumptions were mostly based on conjecture.

Arsenic7 asked in Aches, Pains & Illness 6 months ago | Report

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O my captain

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Hold on now, let's define our terms.
When you say "popping a pimple", we're talking about a white-head back-up in a facial pore, correct?

By definition, the oils and bacteria that are trapped within the pore are already festering, and an erruption is already occuring. The white head is basically the puss of decomposing cells and white blood cells that are amassing. Until they get out, or are carried away, the white head is likely to continue to grow.

Now, by "popping", if you're talking about gentle abrassion with a washcloth, soap and maybe a little asstringent, taking the top off this pimple and allowing it to remove the white-head, then the truth is that it is not likely to spread...unless the bacteria and dead cells get swept into another pore and back it up.

[This is one reason why they recommend that a kid wash their face regularly, with soap, multiple times a day, and to remove oils and as much of the stimulation that causes excessive oil production. (Pick your cause: hormones, excerise, greasy foods, chocolate, whatever you choose to believe...)]

IF YOU PICK AT THE PIMPLE, SQUEEZING IT, TEASING IT, COMPRESSING AND BRUISING THE SKIN AND CELLS AROUND THE PORE AND FOLICLE, you are likely to compress and irritate the surrounding skin, making additional back-ups, contamination, and flare ups highly likely.

So, good luck. If the pimple is already at the large white head stage, anytime to pick, pop or split the skin, you're allowing additinal bacteria access to the skin...and scaring can result.

O my captain answered in Aches, Pains & Illness 6 months ago | Report

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Russ Campbell, NWEBS

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The concern is not that the expelled material will cause a spread to surrounding pores. It is that the mechanical compression of the inflamed tissue may cause the pus and accumulated material to be driven downward or laterally to non-affected tissue and then the body has to deal with bacteria and new infection in previously stable (and sometimes deeper) healthy areas.

If the pimple is far enough along the material can be released with some gentle mechanical prodding but this is long after it appears. Most people go after the developing lesion when they first feel it or when it first becomes visible, and then with fingernails pressed tight and with vise-like pressure - a recipe for skin bruising damage and internal spread as described.

With the products available today I think the possibilities of keeping the skin clean and healthy are better than ever and treatment of developing pimples improved. Most kids (generally those most likely to go aggressively after a new zit) learn what kind of prodding and mechanical encouragement can move the process along and not create a huge worse problem. Social stigma and worry about personal image will allows be the overriding factor for the young in wanting to squeeze pimples. Encourage gentleness, restraint and the need to judge when best to help along the process mechanically. Perhaps you can also query about their skin care regimen and make suggestions on new methods or new products to try. The frustration of having socially interrupting face lesions can get in the way of reasonable actions and the long view of how to avoid them.

Russ Campbell, NWEBS answered in Aches, Pains & Illness 6 months ago | Report

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There are a lot of variables.
Acne - real acne, not just a few pimples - should never be squeezed or even touched beyond what is necessary to clean and maybe put on whatever topical treatment is being used. My experience is that squeezing acne will cause it to spread.

Blackheads - can be gently squeezed after a warm shower, to urge the plug of oil and dirt out of the pore. This is not recommended usually, because people go crazy and put a lot of pressure on the skin causing breakages, which then get reds, sore, infected etc.

Pus pimples - O my Captain has that covered.

Red lumps - leave em alone, they often go away without forming a whitehead, and if they get squeezed will take ages to heal, especially if a lot of pressure has been used to force whatever is in there out.

ozchick answered in Aches, Pains & Illness 6 months ago | Report

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