Pimples are often the first skin-care issue we come up against. And figuring out what to do with a popped pimple is often the second. As it turns out, there are some very important dos and donts to abide by while your skin heals that will help avoid infections, inflammation, and scarring.

Why shouldnt you pop a pimple? Aside from the fact that youd be interfering with your bodys normal healing process, popping a pimpleor even just prodding around in the areacan cause inflammation and make the area more prone to scarring. And that scarring will end up lasting much, much longer than any pimple would.

I try to stress upon my patients that the impact [popping a pimple] has on scarring can last so much longer than acne, Nada Elbuluk, M.D., clinical assistant professor of dermatology (clinician educator), Keck School of Medicine of USC, tells SELF.

You can end up with scars like divets in the skin or hyperpigmentation, all things that take much longer to go away than a pimple, Mary L. Stevenson, M.D., assistant professor in the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology at NYU Langone Health, tells SELF. I tell my patients, Take your mirrors down. Keep your paws to yourself.

But, as Dr. Stevenson says, its a natural habit to want to pick and prod at that little bundle of pus. Sometimes not popping it just isnt an option. And sometimes a popped pimple just happens by accident!

So, if you did happen to pop a pimpleno judgement heremake sure to use these tips from our experts to keep the area clean and help it heal, hopefully without a long-lasting scar.

Think of the crime scene as an open wound, Dr. Elbuluk says, especially if you see any bleeding. That means you want to avoid contaminating the area with bacteria that may be on your fingers or just out in the world and which could cause an infection. So the first step is to wash the area with a gentle cleanser.

If youre bleeding enough, you might need to apply pressure with a clean paper towel or washcloth until it stops before moving on. But once the bleeding has stopped and the area is clean, you can apply a gentle, relatively bland moisturizer to the area.

You dont want to use anything thats going to irritate the skin, Dr. Elbuluk cautions, so its best to avoid moisturizers that might also be used for antiaging or exfoliating purposes. Seriously, stick with the gentle stuff here!

You dont want to do anything that would interfere with this area while it heals, including using products that might be irritating. The skin is also extra sensitive and vulnerable during this time, so you should stay away from using products like chemical exfoliants or vitamin C serums, which might sting.

Avoid anything that would cause further irritation, like using scrubs or getting a facial, Dr. Elbuluk says. Its already basically injured skin. Really, the only things you need to use right now are your gentle cleanser and moisturizer.

Its crucial to avoid the temptation to keep prodding at the wound or to keep touching it. And if the area scabs over, dont pick at the scab. People end up in this rabbit hole and keep making it worse and worse, Dr. Elbuluk says. Interfering with it at this point just makes infection and scarring more likely.

Not only does covering the area with a hydrocolloid bandage, part of a silicone sheet, or a thick layer of moisturizer keep the healing skin hydrated and protected, it can also help keep you from picking at it, Dr. Stevenson says.

Excerpt from:
So You Popped a Pimple. Heres How to Deal With the Aftermath - Self