Photo: Fox
Infection
Dermatologists stress this: trying to lance a pimple yourself is pretty much guaranteeing an infection. Popping turns an inflamed area into an open wound. Whether you stick a pin into the top or forcibly pop it, you’ve broken the skin barrier. And skin—even when it has a bulge under it—does a great job of blocking potentially infectious bacteria from entering your body. By introducing an opening, you’re giving those bacteria a chance to get inside.
Scarring
Inflammation is one of your body’s responses to foreign objects. It’s healthy in a lot of ways, but it can also end up causing damage. The inflammatory response changes the skin tissue, resulting in a small depression or a raised bump (scar). People with particularly bad acne—think deep, painful, cyst-like zits—are more prone to scarring, but picking at or popping any zit makes permanent marks more likely by increasing inflammation.
Dermatologists warn about the potential for scarring and serious acne should be treated by a professional.
You won’t really solve the problem
Acne is the result of clogged pores that are often full of bacteria or other irritants. When you go to push on the zit you may get a satisfying rush of pus, but you’re also pressing all that other gunk into the surrounding skin.
What to actually try when you do pop it
Hydrocolloid found in Cover-Dot Acne Care absorbs exudate (oil & pus from your pimples) which helps speed up the healing process. Hydrocolloid found in Cover-Dot has been used to treat wounds in medical and hospital settings for decades. Unlike other acne dots with weak adhesives that do not withstand everyday activities, Cover-Dot is waterproof and made with the stickiest adhesive to prevent outside contaminants from entering the infected area. We also made them with tapered edges so you won't feel tempted to remove the patch.