The Adverse Effects of Zit Popping

You probably did it yourself once or twice as a teen, and hopefully there were no negative consequences that resulted. Zit popping can be difficult to resist. When you have a highly noticeable pimple and you want to get rid of it fast, it seems like zit popping may be the only answer. In reality, though, it’s very important to avoid popping pimples, for a number of reasons. The trick is to convince your kids of this.

Why Can Zit Popping Be Harmful?

When you squeeze a pimple, your goal is to force all the acne causing products through the skin. While popping a zit will produce this effect, it will also force many of those products, including the acne causing bacteria, deeper into the skin. This can actually make your acne even worse in the long term and may even lead to infection. In addition, there is an issue of acne scarring. An acne scar occurs when a pimple fails to heal properly. Acne scars are unsightly and permanent. They require expensive, repeated medical procedures to get rid of and even then they may not fully go away.

Is Zit Popping Ever OK?

The one type of acne you may consider popping is an inflamed pustule, a pimple that is an engorged red bump with a white tip. However, you should never squeeze a pimple. To remove one of these, you should either apply a hot compress to it until it bursts on its own, or lance it with a sterilized needle. Once popped, you should immediately clean the affected area and swab it with an antibacterial solution.

How to Teach Your Kids About Zit Popping

Now that you know why zit popping is bad, you are better able to explain it to their kids. Let them know that while zits can be unpleasant and embarrassing, the long term consequences of popping pimples are highly undesirable. Make sure your kids know about acne scars and the other problems that may result from pimple popping. Also let them know that in most cases, zit popping doesn’t even fully get rid of the zit. You should also show them how to safely deal with those inflamed pustules that can be popped.

Alternatives to Zit Popping

At this point, your child may be dissuaded from popping his or her zits, but may also be discouraged at the prospect of just having to live with acne throughout the teenage years. Fortunately, avoiding zit popping doesn’t mean just suffering with acne. If your child is really struggling with acne, there are solutions that are a lot better than zit popping. Acne care solutions containing benzoyl peroxide kill acne causing bacteria and unclog pores without damaging skin. Rather than popping pimples, encourage your child to try an acne care system that includes benzoyl peroxide, and to use it consistently as directed, day and night. Hopefully, your child should quickly see the pimples start to fade, and the temptation to pop pimples will fade with them.