Is it OK to drain pus from a pimple?

Author: Greg Konopelski  |  Last update: Monday, September 15, 2025

You may be tempted to pop this unwanted guest, but it's not a good idea. Contrary to what pimple popping videos may show, squeezing your skin to extract the contents of a pimple — a mixture of oil, dead skin and bacteria — can cause scarring and infection.

Is it good to drain pus from a pimple?

Don't try to pop or drain an infected pimple. Doing so can make it worse or spread the infection. You should: Clean the area: It's very important to keep the wound clean.

Is it better to pop a pus pimple or leave it?

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. 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.

How to draw fluid out of a pimple?

Apply a warm compress

Applying a warm compress can help treat a blind pimple. The heat can open up pores, which may draw the pimple closer to the skin's surface and create a head. The formation of a head enables the sebum, cells, and bacteria to exit the skin. The heat from the compress can also help relieve pain.

What happens to the pus in a pimple if not popped?

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.

The Only Right Way To Pop Your Pimples

What color pus is bad?

Q: What colour pus is bad? A: Pus is a protein-rich fluid known as liquor puris, which is accumulated at the site of infection. While whitish-yellow pus is normal, pus with the colour yellow, green or brown along with a foul smell can be a sign of infection.

Why do pimples hurt until you pop them?

The redness, swelling, and inflammation cause the pain. The body knows that the dead skin, oil, and bacteria are supposed to be in the hair follicle (which is outside the skin). So, as your body tries to push it out, you end up with more sensitivity in the area.

Why does my pimple keep refilling with pus?

If bacteria living on the skin also become stuck in the follicle, this can cause inflammation and infection. White blood cells flow in to fight infection, and, as a result, dead white blood cells, bacteria, and other debris form pockets of pus. Pus filled pimples do not reflect an individual's cleanliness.

Is it safe to drain a pimple with a needle?

When doing this at home, many people choose to pop pimples with a lancet needle or pin. This is not a good idea because it can cause an infection if the needle or pin hasn't been properly sterilized. Additionally, you might penetrate other parts of your skin, causing additional damage.

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.

What happens when you pop a pimple and blood comes out?

You can cause a blood-filled pimple by damaging blood vessels around an existing pimple. This often happens when you pop, squeeze, pick or over-exfoliate a pimple. Blood-filled pimples usually heal on their own if you prevent further damage and keep the area clean.

Is it better to drain pus or leave it?

Drainage and Tissue Removal

In such cases, if pus is not cleared, the infection may be harder to resolve. At the same time, the infection may spread into the bloodstream, causing a potentially life-threatening reaction known as sepsis. External abscesses may be lanced (cut) or drained with a needle and syringe.

What does a septic pimple look like?

One or More Swollen Red Bumps Draining Pus

This can start with a small bump that looks like a pimple or acne, but that quickly turns into a hard, painful red lump filled with pus or a cluster of pus-filled blisters.

What is the hard white stuff in pimples?

Pustules: These are pus-filled pimples that look like whiteheads surrounded by discolored rings. Picking or scratching your pustules can cause scarring. Cysts: These are pimples filled with a thick, yellow or white fluid composed of dead white blood cells, small pieces of tissue and bacteria (pus).

Can you poke a hole in a cystic pimple?

Do not try to pop, pick, or squeeze a cystic pimple. It may be tempting, but popping a pimple can introduce more bacteria to the pore, slow healing, drive the infection deeper into the skin, and increase the chance of scarring.

Why do some pimples explode when popped?

It's not just the pus that you're moving, you're also moving the core. The pressure from popping a pimple can cause the wall of the pore to burst. This happens below the skin surface where you can't see it.

What is a white worm pimple?

A comedo can be open (blackhead) or closed by skin (whitehead) and occur with or without acne. The word comedo comes from Latin comedere 'to eat up' and was historically used to describe parasitic worms; in modern medical terminology, it is used to suggest the worm-like appearance of the expressed material.

Why is my pimple so big and full of pus?

Pimples start when a pore in your skin gets clogged, usually with dead skin cells. Bacteria can also get trapped, causing the area to become red and swollen. Cystic acne happens when this infection goes deep into your skin, creating a bump that's full of pus. It may hurt or itch.

Does toothpaste help pimples?

Putting toothpaste on a pimple won't help it go away faster. Toothpaste is an acne remedy that has no evidence to support it. It may even cause problems such as skin irritation and over drying.

Should I pop my pimple if it's white?

Given their raised height, should you pop whiteheads? Popping is never advised as you may rupture the area of skin around it. This leaves those pores exposed to bacteria and scarring, which can increase the rate of pimples and cause stress to skin.

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