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10 Reasons Why Picking At Acne Is Bad

It can be embarrassing and annoying to get pimples way past your teenage years. It’s understandable if you want to get rid of your pimples for a smooth and clean complexion. However, doing it the wrong way can lead to more skin problems in the long run.

 

Why Picking at Acne is Bad

These are some of the reasons why picking at or popping pimples can be harmful to your skin:

 

1. You may develop an infection

Although it may feel satisfying to pop a pimple, there’s a big chance that you left some of it behind. Popping pimples forces the contents outward, but the force also pushes the contents of the lesion inward and toward your skin’s inner layers. An acne lesion is filled with bacteria that will feast on the dead skin and oil. When bacteria spill into your skin, you will likely develop an infection.

 

2. Picking at acne makes it worse

It’s understandable that you want to get rid of your pimple, but picking at it will make it look even worse. The skin surrounding the lesion might be red and inflamed, making the pimple look bigger. The pimple you popped might even bleed or, worse, develop a scab.

 

3. Popping pimples could create a scar

Popping pimples causes trauma to your skin and increases its risk for scars. Traumatized skin usually tries to rebuild itself. However, if the damage is too much, your skin may never go back to normal again because your body will no longer be able to create enough collagen.

 

4. Popping pimples prevents your body from healing

If your skin has blocked pores and bacteria, acne is your body’s response to them. This means that having acne is a sign that your body is doing something about it. When you have a pimple on a specific area of your face, that means your body is healing that area. When you pop a pimple, you also stop your body from healing itself.

 

5. Popping pimples could lead to dark spots on your face

Traumatized skin due to popping pimples could lead to a type of scar involving pigment changes- dark spots. Dark spots or hyperpigmentation are mainly caused by inflammation. When you pop a pimple, inflammation is created, and then it forms a dark spot on your skin. The lesion will be gone, but the dark spot will stay the same for months or years.

 

6. You might tear your skin

Popping a pimple means forcefully pushing out all the contents of the acne: bacteria, oil, and debris. When you do that, it actually tears your skin, leaving your face with an open wound. It’s best to let your body heal without creating an additional wound on your face.

 

7. Popping might create more pimples

Picking at a pimple can actually lead to more of them. When you pop a pimple and forcefully release all the bacteria, oil, and debris inside, they can spread and create more pimples. Popping a pimple also means you’ll be touching your face with your bare hands many times, which can spread bacteria and grime on your skin.

 

8. You might permanently damage your skin

Scars and dark spots don’t go away on their own. When you pop a pimple, you risk causing permanent damage to your skin that can take months or even years of treatment to improve.

 

9. Your skin might develop pitting

One of the worst effects of pimple picking on the skin is pitting. Depressed scars or “pits” are formed when the skin gets damaged, and as it heals, some tissues will be lost. The greater the dame your skin has suffered, the greater the chance of tissue loss. This is one of the long-term effects of pimple popping on your skin.

 

10. Although extremely rare, popping a pimple may lead to death

According to dermatologists, there’s a “danger triangle” on the face which should be avoided when popping a pimple. This “danger triangle” extends from the corners of the mouth to the nose’s bridge. Blood vessels in this area are connected to areas of the skull where infections can become serious and can quickly spread. If this area has a severe untreated skin infection, it can be fatal if it gets traced back to the brain. Of course, this is a rare occurrence, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

 

What You Should Do Instead

Instead of performing self-surgery on your pimples, it’s still the better choice to get checked by a dermatologist if you’re getting concerned with your skin issues. After the consultation, your doctor will prescribe medications to treat your acne problems.

Book an appointment with Team Dermatology so your skin can start healing!

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TEAM Dermatology advises you of the departure of Dr. Kuda Maloney from our Memorial and Sugar Land locations in November of  2023.  Dr. Maloney will be pursuing interests outside of private practice and we wish her the best in achievement of her future endeavors. Please contact our office to arrange for your care with another provider in our offices.