How to properly pop a pimple so you don’t make it worse

Okay, so you’ve got to pop that pimple. I understand how you feel, I can’t help not popping my pimples either but there’s a right and a wrong way to do it.

What follows is the step-by-step process I follow each time I get the urge to pop a traditional red pimple or what is known as a whitehead.

Start by washing your face with a gentle cleanser. Your cleanser should be hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic and alcohol-free.

Use warm water and gently work into a lather for at about 30 seconds.

Now rinse thoroughly for another 30 seconds or so and pat dry with a clean towel.

Using an all-natural astringent like witch hazel or a little sea salt mixed with water and a 100% cotton ball or absorbent pad dab your pimple to make sure no extra dirt or bacteria is left behind.

Next using a clean wash cloth, run part of it under very warm water. Immediately apply it directly to the pimple. (The reason for this is that you what to open up the pore but at the same time make it less painful to pop.) Repeat this a few times re-running the wash cloth under the warm water when it starts to cool off.

Using cotton swabs, cotton balls, or clean finger tips, gently pull outward, around the pimple. It should be relatively easy to do. If your acne blemish doesn’t pop easily apply more warm water and then try again.

Once you have successfully popped your pimple wipe up the pus with a cotton ball or absorbent pad. If the pimple still has pus in it repeat the above until it is pus free. Don’t be surprised if there is some bleeding. Bleeding is a by product of popping your zits.

Next, apply a dry cotton ball or absorbent pad to stop the bleeding and remove any residual pus.

Now wash your hands thoroughly and rewash your face in the fashion I directed you early on.

Finally apply a generous amount of aloe vera gel or an antibiotic ointment onto the affected area and cover with a bandage and leave on overnight.

While I suggest replacing the bandage and applying more aloe vera or ointment once or twice a day, I do understand that you may not want to bandage your face for cosmetic reasons. In that case, just apply the gel or ointment during the day and let it heal in the open air. It isn’t as effective to do it that way but as long as you bandage the area of your acne blemish at night you should have equally good results in a couple of days time.

One last note, if the area in which you have treated by popping is still swollen, place an ice cube in a clean wash cloth and hold it against the bandage for a minute or so. This should reduce both the swelling and the redness.