After popping a pimple, gently cleanse the area, apply an antibacterial spot treatment like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid (or even an antibiotic ointment like Bacitracin), and cover it with a hydrocolloid patch to prevent infection, promote healing, and stop you from picking it further, which reduces redness and scarring.
Use an antibacterial wash to clean the area, such as benzoyl peroxide. Try one with 2.5%-5% Benzoyl Peroxide to start, as you may find it can be very drying. Apply a topical salicylic acid to the spot. If you find the over-the-counter creams to be too harsh and drying, try a toner with salicylic acid.
How to treat a pimple: step-by-step instructions from a dermatologist
When a pimple is not properly extracted, the underlying infection may remain, leading to the pimple refilling with pus. It is crucial to refrain from squeezing or popping pimples forcefully, as this can worsen the infection and increase the risk of scarring.
Squeezing can push bacteria and pus deeper into the skin, which might cause more swelling and redness. Squeezing also can lead to scabs and might leave you with permanent pits or scars. Because popping isn't the way to go, patience is the key.
While the disorder has become extremely uncommon with the development of antibiotics, it still carries a very small chance to develop a high risk of death, and needs to be treated aggressively with antibiotics and blood thinners.
“That clear liquid is just the normal water that's in your tissue. If you see that, you're not getting anything,” says Dr. Howe. “And if you see blood, it's proof that the structure of the follicle is ruptured.” Instead of continuing to squeeze, let the pimple heal on its own, use a hot compress and a spot treatment.
A simple bland ointment like Aquaphor or Vaseline works. But if it's more inflamed or pus comes out, you may want to use an OTC antibiotic ointment like Neosporin to prevent infection.
Hydrate and Moisturize
Drink plenty of water each day and apply a non-comedogenic (non-pore-clogging) moisturizer in the morning and in the evening after cleansing to prevent dryness and flakiness.
When you use your fingers, you risk pushing the infection deeper, leading to more inflammation, scarring, and even rupturing beneath the skin. Dermatologists use specialized tools because they apply even pressure, making extractions safer and more effective. If you do use a tool, be gentle!
Previously Popped Pimple
If you squeezed a whitehead, but it wasn't fully removed, it can become inflamed again. It's also possible for another pimple to appear next to it because the area got irritated and exposed to bacteria.
“But if you must pop, wait until the pimple has been around a few days and has developed a white head, indicating there is pus near the surface. Avoid popping new pimples or those that are red or sore,” she advises.
7 signs that acne is healing
On the other hand, bumps caused by STDs, like herpes sores or genital warts, are often accompanied by pain, itching, or changes in appearance, and they tend to appear near the vulva, vagina, and anus.
Why Do They Come Back? Typically, patients who have pimples that come back in the same spot over and over again are suffering from an underlying problem with bacteria in the skin. When you have too much bacteria in one area, and you aren't treating it, you won't ever fully get rid of the pimple.
Acne fulminans is the rarest but also the most severe form of acne. Unlike other forms of acne which are chronic, acne fulminans is an acute form of the disease. Acne fulminans appears abruptly, mainly in boys during adolescence.
How acne develops. Acne develops when sebum — an oily substance that lubricates your hair and skin — and dead skin cells plug hair follicles. Bacteria can trigger inflammation and infection resulting in more severe acne.