How do you prevent scarring after popping a pimple?

Author: Dr. Selena Buckridge MD  |  Last update: Friday, July 18, 2025

Keep the Area Clean Maintaining cleanliness is crucial to prevent further irritation and infection. Gently cleanse the area with a mild cleanser and pat it dry with a clean towel. Applying an occlusive moisturizer or hydrocolloid over the clean blemish will ensure it stays sterile and contribute to faster healing.

Does popping pimples always lead to scarring?

Popping a pimple should be avoided. Popping can force the contents of the pimple into deeper tissues. This can lead to skin inflammation, the formation of new pimples in nearby areas, scarring, and discoloration. In some cases, the damage caused to the skin may be permanent.

How to heal damaged skin from popping pimples?

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. Pro tip: If you need an emergency spot treatment, you can use some OTC hydrocortisone 1% cream to help reduce inflammation.

How do I stop my pimples from scarring?

You may be able to reduce your risk of developing acne scars if you:
  1. Treat acne when you first notice it and continue treatment. Preventing acne can prevent acne scars. ...
  2. Never pick, pop, scratch, or squeeze breakouts. When you do any of these, you increase inflammation in your skin. ...
  3. Stop touching your acne.

Will pimple scars ever go away?

If you have a red or brownish mark on your face that you got from a bad zit, it should eventually fade. However, it may take 12 months or longer. If you're upset about acne marks, talk to your doctor, who might have advice on what you can do.

How To Heal A Popped Pimple (FASTEST METHOD)

What to put on a pimple after popping?

After gently cleansing the affected area, apply a spot treatment specifically designed to target blemishes. Look for ingredients like salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or sulfur, which help reduce redness and inflammation.

Where does the pus go if you don't pop a pimple?

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.

How to remove old pimple scars?

What's the best treatment for acne scars?
  1. Home skin care. Using sunscreen can help limit the contrast between unscarred skin and a scar. ...
  2. Soft tissue fillers. ...
  3. Steroid injection. ...
  4. Laser resurfacing. ...
  5. Other energy-based procedures. ...
  6. Dermabrasion. ...
  7. Chemical peel. ...
  8. Skin needling.

Do pimples heal faster when popped?

It's tempting, but popping or squeezing a pimple won't necessarily get rid of the problem. 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.

How to extract a pimple without scarring?

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.

Why does every pimple I get leave a scar?

Acne scarring can sometimes develop as a complication of acne. Any type of acne spot can lead to scarring, but it's more common when the most serious types of spots (nodules and cysts) burst and damage nearby skin. Scarring can also occur if you pick or squeeze your spots, so it's important not to do this.

How to get clear skin?

Follow these tips for gentle skin care:
  1. Limit bath time. Some experts say it's ideal to bathe for no longer than five minutes at a time. ...
  2. Don't use strong soaps. Strong soaps and detergents can strip oil from the skin. ...
  3. Shave carefully. ...
  4. Pat dry. ...
  5. Moisturize dry skin.

Does popping pimples actually leave scars?

scarring can happen whether you pick at your acne or not, but here's why you should still avoid the urge to pop. "Inflammation-related acne scarring aside, aggressively pinching or squeezing a pimple or whitehead just makes the underlying inflammation worse. This, in turn, makes scarring even more likely.

Does toothpaste help pimples?

According to our dermatology providers, using toothpaste as an acne spot treatment can cause dryness and irritation and might even worsen breakouts. So, if you're wondering, “how long should I leave toothpaste on my pimple?”—don't!

How to remove popped pimple marks naturally?

Lemon juice, with its natural bleaching properties, could be your go-to for lightening those stubborn pimple marks. Simply squeeze out fresh lemon juice and dab it onto the marks with a cotton ball. Keep it on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse it off.

Does vitamin C help with acne scars?

COLLAGEN PRODUCTION AND IMPROVEMENT IN THE APPEARANCE OF POST BLEMISH MARKS. Collagen is an important skin protein, providing the scaffold that gives skin its structure. By promoting collagen production, vitamin C effectively improves the appearance of post blemish marks.

What exfoliator is good for acne scars?

Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid is a superstar when it comes to treating acne scars. The acid helps exfoliate and break down dead skin cells, allowing for new skin to grow in its place. Moreover, it helps your skin get rid of the bacteria that cause acne, preventing you from developing another acne breakout.

Are acne scars unattractive?

People with acne scars are perceived as less attractive, confident, happy, healthy, successful, and less likely to lead promising futures compared to people with clear skin.

What is a pimple with a hard white ball inside?

Pustules are a type of pimple that contains yellowish pus. They are larger than whiteheads and blackheads. Home remedies and over-the-counter creams may help treat pustules. Pustules appear either as red bumps with white centers or as white bumps that are hard and often tender to the touch.

Can I pop a blind pimple with a needle?

Can I pop a blind pimple? Never try to pop or squeeze a blind pimple. Doing so pushes the oil and bacteria deeper, causing more inflammation and increasing the risk of infection.

Should you squeeze the clear liquid out of a pimple?

The best approach with a pimple is to leave it alone. Though it might not be the fastest method, it reduces the risk of skin damage. Popping a pimple can lead to infection, scarring, and worsened acne.

What to put on a popped pimple to prevent scarring?

Use a basic, fragrance-free, lightweight moisturiser to soothe the area and apply a non-comedogenic broad-spectrum sunscreen. You can also opt for an in-clinic procedure with your dermatologist like a chemical peel, dermal infusion, Q-Switched lasers and IPL light to resolve the damage and prevent scarring.

What to do if I popped a pimple in the Triangle of Death?

Avoid picking or squeezing the popped breakout to let your skin heal naturally. If you notice any signs of potential infection like redness, increased pain, pus, or inflammation surrounding the blemish, contact a healthcare professional immediately.

Previous article
How to build muscle if you are overweight?
Next article
Can you tan at 7am?