If you don't pop a pimple, your body's natural healing process takes over, usually resolving it within days to a couple of weeks by draining or reabsorbing the pus, which minimizes scarring and infection risk; popping pushes bacteria deeper, causing more inflammation, swelling, and potentially permanent scars or dark spots. Leaving it alone allows the skin to shed dead cells and oil, causing it to either come to a head and drain, or simply fade away as the body reabsorbs the contents.
Pimples usually last between three and seven days. Most pimples go away on their own, but it may take some time. Deep pimples (pimples under your skin with no head that may feel hard to the touch) may take a few weeks to go away, if not longer.
Jennifer Gordon, a board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Austin, Texas. Not only that, popping your pimples can keep them around for longer. “True acne pimples do not need to be 'popped' and will heal faster if they are left alone,” she adds.
“As tempting as it is to pop a pimple, specifically those little whiteheads or pustules, you don't need to,” says Dr. Nazarian. “In fact, your body is more than equipped to take care of them on its own, but of course, that takes time.”
Your pimple will disappear on its own, and by leaving it alone you're less likely to be left with any reminders that it was there. To dry a pimple up faster, apply 5% benzoyl peroxide gel or cream once or twice a day.
Your body can gradually break down pus and reabsorb its components. That's why small accumulations of pus (like in a pimple) often don't need treatment.
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The body's immune system responds by sending white blood cells to the affected area, resulting in redness, swelling, and the formation of pus. Over time, the pimple may either burst, allowing the pus to drain out, or it may resolve on its own as the inflammatory response subsides.
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!
The long-term consequences of untreated mild to severe Acne: Lifelong scars. Indentations on the skin. Dark spots.
Pimples refill after popping because you often don't remove all the pus and debris, pushing some deeper, while the inflammation continues, and the pore wall itself can be damaged, allowing oil (sebum) and dead cells to collect again, leading to recurrence in the same spot. Popping also creates an opening for bacteria, causing more inflammation and new pimples nearby.
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.
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"It's best to let a pimple run through its life span," Rice says. Left alone, a blemish will heal itself in 3 to 7 days. Popped improperly, it can linger for weeks or lead to scarring.
If you have a pimple, using benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or a pimple patch can help it go away faster. Your dermatologist can give you a cortisone injection to make a deep, painful, inflamed pimple heal quickly. Avoid picking or trying to pop your pimple — this can lead to more inflammation, redness, and scarring.
This encourages the production of sebum and thus can cause a breakout. High-glycemic index foods that break down quickly in the body, such as white bread, processed breakfast cereals, white rice, pretzels, potato chips, cookies and cakes can increase the severity of an acne outbreak[2].
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.
Taglia. A gentler approach is to use a warm wash cloth or compress. This softens the pimple and helps it form a complete head, which makes it easier to remove. Apply gentle pressure to remove the pus, then apply ice to reduce inflammation.
But what is the hard white stuff in pimples exactly? That white, hard material you see when popping pimples is primarily pus—a mixture of dead white blood cells, bacteria, and debris.
Pus is basically a mix of all the “ingredients” that clogs your pores: sebum, dead skin cells, white blood cells, bacteria, and other debris. ⁵ Pus in pimples develops for a reason. The bacteria that contributes to pus-filled acne is Cutibacterium acnes or “C. acnes” for short.
Because the pore gets stretched out of shape, it will fill back up again even after it is emptied.
Both aerobic bacteria (bacteria that require oxygen to grow) and anaerobic bacteria may cause a foul smell in your acne discharge. Acne severity: Mild acne generally does not produce a strong smell. Moderate to severe acne with pus discharge, however, may be more likely to have a bad smell.
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Inadequate sleep can lead to acne through hormonal imbalances, increased inflammation, and impaired skin repair. A dedicated skincare routine, both in the morning and evening, is vital for addressing acne caused by irregular sleep.
Not all pimples are created equal, and some should never be popped. These include: Cystic Pimples: These large, painful pimples are deep under the skin and are more likely to cause scarring if popped. Nodular Acne: Similar to cystic pimples, nodules are hard, inflamed lumps that should be left to heal on their own.