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It?s probably safe to say that there isn?t a single human being on the planet that enjoys getting pimples. Whether you?re a preteen dealing with consistent pop-ups during puberty or an adult struggling to keep those unwanted visitors at bay, pimples and our complexions are just not friends. No matter if they come alone or in a cluster, pimples can be a headache. We talked to Dr. Pimple Popper herself (aka dermatologist Dr. Sandra Lee, MD) to get the lowdown on how to treat and exterminate those unwanted bumps without causing irritation or infection. Here are her dos and don?ts for getting rid of zits.
Do Sterilize
You?ve heard it time and time again that picking a zit can cause infection, which will only worsen the problem. Cleaning the infected area and any tools used is an important step in decreasing your chance of infection. ?If the pimple has come to a white/yellow ‘head’ and you must extract, the area and your tools need to be sterilized,? Lee says. ?Wash your face with warm water to open up the pores and this should make extraction much easier.? In other words, picking your pimple in a gym bathroom or in the car is likely not the best choice to avoid infection. Don’t Pop Prematurely
There are stages to every breakout. You can feel it growing, it breaks the surface and then the waiting game begins. It can take days for the pimple to turn into a white or yellow head (aka superficial) and this is often the time we become most impatient....