BEAUTY
How To Safely Pop A Pimple, According To An Expert
By ANNA DENSON
Prepare Hands, Tools, & Skin
Licensed aesthetician Suyud Issa from All Skin Care Talk has helpful tips to safely pop your pimples, and the first step is to “wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water and disinfect your tools. [...] Cleanse the affected area with a mild cleanser,” and then “follow up by steaming” to open up your pores.
Apply Gentle Pressure
After cleaning and prepping your skin and tools, Issa says, “Use a comedone extractor, two cotton swabs, or your fingers wrapped around tissues to gently press down on the pimple until it pops.” She also warns against using sharper tools, like extraction needles, because they can “do more harm than good.”
Aftercare
Once you’re done, remove any bacteria by “gently cleans[ing] the area again with a mild cleanser and apply[ing] a topical antibiotic or spot treatment.” Issa reminds us, “popping pimples should be done […] only when absolutely necessary,” and if the pimple doesn’t heal, it’s best to seek professional help immediately.