Written By: Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti | Published : December 6, 2017 3:58 PM IST
Whenever I used to have a pimple on the face, I would have the urge to pop it. But, my Mom would always stop me saying that popping a pimple will only worsen it. It can lead to more pimples as the pus or bacteria will spread, increasing the risk of acne. And I used to wonder if this is true. However, a recent study that I came across substantiated what my mom always said -- popping or squeezing pimples worsens acne. Here are few home remedies for acne you should NEVER try.
The study published in the International Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical and Biosciences [1] revealed that squeezing the pimples can cause acne. If you try to squeeze pimples, it not only worsens the acne but also increases the risk of scarring. Hence, this leads to pigmentation and darkening of the skin, which further causes more trouble. Moreover, picking and touching acne lesions can make it worse and might lead to permanent scarring, requiring dermatological procedures to get rid of skin lesions and acne scars. Not just this, squeezing or popping pimples can cause an eruption of sebum and bacteria into surrounding skin tissues. This might lead to more swelling and redness of the skin, which can also put you at risk of a possible infection. Here's more on why you should not pop pimples.
But if you have already popped a pimple, then make sure you apply a cold pack or ice pack on the skin. This will help in reducing the risk of inflammation and swelling caused due to increased blood flow to the area. Do not pick the scab. You can apply benzoyl peroxide as it will lower the bacteria in the area and prevent infection. Here's more on what should you do after popping a zit to prevent scarring.
References: Chanda Ray, Poornima Trivedi and Vikas Sharma. Acne and its Treatment Lines, International Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical and Biosciences, 2013, 3(1): 1-16.
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