Spots. Pimples. Breakouts. Acne. Whatever you call them, we all suffer from them, and when they do pop up we ALL get the urge to give them a good ol’ squeeze. That being said, if there’s one thing all skincare experts seem to agree on it’s that you really *shouldn’t* pop your pimples - but what’s really the reason? Surely it can’t be that bad… 

Before we get into the best way to safely pop a spot (if you really have to) here’s why you might consider sticking to a hands-off approach instead…

Why you shouldn’t pop your spots

Essentially when you squeeze a pimple, you may be able to drain some of that pus (ew) out, but as you're squeezing that pus in the pimple's core (a plug of dead skin cells and sebum) isn't just pushing up and out of the skin—it's also being pushed down further into the lower layers of your skin. This means that infected material from inside your pimple spreads, which can possibly cause infection, hyperpigmentation (dark patches on the face) and scarring. Plus, you could possibly be introducing even more new bacteria that may be on your fingers or trapped under your nails. Sounds less than ideal…

But what if I can’t help myself…

Okay the above sounds pretty scary and is *almost* enough to convince us to never pop a pimple ever again. However, when Monday morning rolls around and a spot that resembles a second head makes an appearance, it’s enough to assume that even the most dedicated of us might be swayed to just give it a little squeeze. So, what’s your options…

Popping the spot

If you really MUST, pop your spots here’s the down-low…

1. Time to pretend you’re doing surgery…. sterilise the area and be sure to have clean tools, clean hands + environment.
2. Start by washing your face with warm water. What’s also really good is taking a steamy shower, to really open up the pores.
3. Next… get popping!! Wrap fingers in clean tissue paper, then place pressure on the skin that immediately surrounds the spot.

 A whitehead should come out pretty easily if it's ready, but if the spot needs too much pressure to pop it is definitely time to give up and let your skin naturally recover or give your dermatologist a call.

Alternatives to popping your spots… 

Professional Extraction

So it’s definitely not practical or realistic to run off to your dermatologist every time you get a spot- however for those of you with persistent breakouts, cysts or blackheads the best option is to have a dermatologist or esthetician do the popping. These pros know how to extract those pesky pimples without causing long term damage to the skin.

Apply a Warm Compress

Instead of squeezing it outright, if you have a spot with a large, obvious white head, you can try and get it to drain with a warm compress. All you need to do is soak a cloth in hot water and hold it over the pimple for several minutes. When the compress gets cold stick it back under the tap and re-warm it.

What this does is help to loosen and "open" the pore, meaning the head softens, allowing the pimple to drain naturally. You’ve got to make sure it’s definitely ready to go, with the white head close to the surface, if you try too soon before the white head has formed it can make the blemish more inflamed, making it look larger and more obvious, so it’s still a little risky…

On-the spot treatments (for those breakouts that have already appeared…)
If you have a day or so to wait, spot treatments are another good (& obvious) option to avoid popping. All you have to dab a small amount on the pimple and leave it alone, helping to dry up the pimple and recover from it faster. It’s an option we LOVE, which is why we made our Zit Zap targeted spot stick. Made to give spots a stern talking to, leaving skin glowing & breakouts going with papaya extract + salicylic acid for targeted exfoliation & hyaluronic acid to help brighten dull marks.  There’s also added+ tea tree oil to help control spot-causing bacteria, helping to improve the appearance of breakouts & prevent more from appearing. Zit Zap without pesky popping…

Preventative routine (Purify & Brighten)

Sooo extracting blemishes here and there on occasion isn't a big deal (by this point we know we all do it) but if you do have a lot of breakouts, the best option is to try and stop them before they even appear. For that, you'll need to come up with a plan of action for your daily skincare routine…

Take a break from breakouts & get clearer, brighter, detoxified skin with Purify & Brighten. Gently balance with antioxidant-rich Blueberry + clarifying Black Tea to keep oily skin under_control & breakouts_at_bay.   

The usual tricks just not cutting it? If you are struggling with persistent spots or acne we advise speaking to your doctor or dermatologist.