Popping pimples speeds up healing

Other View vs Mainstream View

There is a non-mainstream point of view that "popping pimples speeds up healing". Let's take a look into pros and cons of this statement:

1. Pros: Popping a pimple releases the pus and sebum clogging the pore, kick-starting the healing process.
   – Cons (Mainstream View): Popping a pimple incorrectly can push bacteria deeper into the skin, increasing inflammation and delaying healing. It also risks introducing new bacteria from your hands.

2. Pros: Carefully extracting small, superficial whiteheads resolves the pimple faster than leaving it alone.
   – Cons (Mainstream View): Most pimples, especially deeper inflammatory ones, will heal faster when left alone. Attempting to pop these types of pimples will likely make them worse.

3. Pros: Popping a pimple provides instant gratification and temporarily makes the blemish less noticeable.
   – Cons (Mainstream View): Popping a pimple can cause lasting skin damage like scarring and hyperpigmentation, drawing more attention to the area in the long run.

4. Pros: Popping a pimple relieves the pain and pressure associated with the lesion.
   – Cons (Mainstream View): The pain relief is temporary and popping often leads to more swelling, redness, and discomfort in the long run.

5. Pros: Popping a pimple that is very close to the surface and ready to drain speeds up the inevitable and minimizes the chance of a larger scab forming.
   – Cons (Mainstream View): It's difficult for the average person to judge when a pimple is truly ready to pop, so it's safer to avoid the temptation altogether.

Terms

• Acne: A skin condition characterized by the presence of pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, and inflammatory lesions, usually caused by clogged pores and bacterial infection

• Pus: A thick, whitish-yellow fluid composed of dead white blood cells that forms inside infected tissue

• Sebum: An oily substance secreted by the sebaceous glands to lubricate and waterproof the skin and hair

• Whitehead: A type of acne lesion that forms when a pore becomes clogged with sebum and dead skin cells, but remains closed at the surface

Analogy

Popping a pimple is like pulling off a scab. While it may seem helpful in the moment, you're actually interrupting the body's natural healing process and potentially causing more damage. Just as it's best to let a scab fall off on its own, it's usually best to allow a pimple to heal without intervention.

History

• Pre-1950s: Popping pimples was a common practice without much awareness of the risks

• 1950s-2000s: Dermatologists increasingly advise against popping pimples as research reveals the potential for scarring and infection

• 2000s-2010s: The rise of social media and "Dr. Pimple Popper" videos renew interest in at-home extractions, despite medical recommendations

• 2010s-Present: Skincare experts continue to advocate a hands-off approach, while offering safer alternatives like hydrocolloid patches for spot-treating breakouts

How to use it

1. If you have a small whitehead pimple, cleanse the area, gently extract with clean hands, and immediately apply a spot treatment.

2. For most other types of inflammatory acne, keep the area clean, apply a salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide spot treatment, and allow it to heal on its own.

3. For frequent breakouts, use a regular skincare routine including gentle exfoliation and acne-fighting ingredients to prevent pimples from forming in the first place.

Facts

• About 80% of people between the ages of 11 and 30 will experience acne at some point.

• The duration of a pimple can vary significantly from a few days to several weeks, depending on the type and severity.

• Up to 95% of people with acne may go on to suffer from scarring to some degree, with picking being a major contributing factor.

• Popping pimples can cause trauma to the skin, potentially leading to more breakouts and inflammation.

• There are 5 main types of acne scars that can form due to skin damage from picking: ice pick, boxcar, rolling, hypertrophic, and keloid scars.