Popping a pimple the *right* way

The newbie’s guide to…

- By Erin Reimel

THE HARSH REALITY

You’ve heard it a million times: Don’t pop your zits. But whyyyy? “It’s tempting, but taking matters into your own hands can make your acne worse, spread infections and leave hard-to-treat dark spots and scars,” explains dermatologist Dr. Tiffany Jow Libby. Fair point.

And what’s worse than a blemish that seems to last forever? A scar that literally lasts forever.

POP OR PASS

While any skincare expert will tell you to avoid popping at all costs, they also get that sometimes you feel left with no choice. So it’s best to know when a pimple is actually poppable.

“If it’s a deep cyst or nodule below the surface of your skin, leave it alone,” says Dr. Libby. You’ll cause more damage trying to dig it out of your skin. Blackhead and whitehead extractions should also be left to pros (and their clean tools), she states.