Pimple pus is made from sebum (oil) that gets trapped in your pores, along with a combination of dead skin cells, debris (such as makeup), and bacteria. When you have inflammatory acne lesions (such as pustules, papules, nodules, and cysts), your immune system activates in this area, resulting in noticeable pus.
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.
If it's oozing a clear liquid, press a tissue against it to suck up what you can. Then pull out an emergency zit kit of drier, putty-like concealer and a clean brush. “After every use, you want to clean the brush with brush cleaner or rubbing alcohol,” says Roncal.
Vesicles are small fluid-filled sacs or blisters that can appear on your skin. The fluid inside these sacs may be clear, white, yellow, or mixed with blood. Vesicles are fluid-filled lesions less than 5 mm (1/2 cm). If the fluid-filled lesion is greater than 0.5 mm, it's called a bulla.
Persistent Pimple Rx
One reason a pimple keeps popping up in the same place is that the pore it developed in is damaged -- usually the result of too much picking. Prodding at a pimple can loosen the cell lining of the pore and cause the clogged oil to slip deeper into the skin, creating an inflammatory reaction.
What is the clear liquid/fluid that comes out of a pimple? "Clear fluid is just oedema – fluid that accumulates in the area due to redness and swelling. It is not pus, and it is not an infection."
Left alone, a blemish will heal itself in 3 to 7 days. Popped improperly, it can linger for weeks or lead to scarring.
While waiting is never fun, it's worth it when it comes to pimple-popping. Basically, what happens if you don't pop a whitehead is that it goes away on its own, usually in 3 to 7 days. It may happen that you wake up one morning and notice the pimple is gone. Or you may notice the pimple draining.
A sebum plug can look like a tiny bump under the surface of the skin or it may stick out through the skin like a grain of sand. When a sebum plug forms, bacteria that normally lives harmlessly on the surface of your skin can start to grow within the follicle. Inflammation follows, causing a breakout.
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.
However, multiple sebaceous oil glands can be connected to each pore, so the sebum clogged beneath your initial pimple can lead to nearby pores getting clogged. This, in turn, leads to multiple pimples in one spot.
Popping pimples releases dopamine
After feeling and hearing that “pop”, some people get an immediate sensation of pleasure and relief. That's because dopamine — the happy-hormone — is released when you feel a sense of accomplishment.
Is It Good for Pus to Come Out? It can be part of drainage necessary for healing, but it can also be cause for concern. Don't encourage pus to come out, however. Doing so can cause or worsen infection, and it may make the skin more tender or even painful.
Acne extraction is usually offered when other acne treatment fails to clear the skin. it's rarely a first choice because it takes time and can be expensive. When performed by a dermatologist, acne extraction is a safe way to get rid of blackheads and whiteheads.
Although it might feel good to pop a pimple, dermatologists advise against it. Popping a pimple can cause infection and scarring, and it may make the pimple more inflamed and noticeable. It also delays the natural healing process. Due to this, it is usually best to leave pimples alone.
Pores become clogged if there is too much sebum and too many dead skin cells. Bacteria (especially one called Propionibacterium acnes) can then get trapped inside the pores and multiply. This causes swelling and redness — the start of acne: A pore that gets clogged, closes, and bulges out from the skin is a whitehead.
This can lead to a skin infection called cellulitis, which requires antibiotics for treatment. In very rare cases, popping pimples in the “danger triangle” (also called the “triangle of death”) can lead to potentially fatal conditions.
If the drainage is thin and clear, it's serum, also known as serous fluid. This is typical when the wound is healing, but the inflammation around the injury is still high. A small amount of serous drainage is normal. Excessive serous fluid could be a sign of too much unhealthy bacteria on the surface of the wound.
For small abscesses on your skin's surface, applying a wet, warm compress can help drain pus. Apply the compress a few times a day for several minutes. Just make sure you avoid the urge to squeeze the abscess.
Try using a warm compress to see if that opens up the abscess so it can drain. You can make a compress by wetting a washcloth with warm — not hot — water and placing it over the abscess for several minutes. Do this a few times a day, and wash your hands well before and after applying the washcloth.
"In the event that you pick a pimple, and an infection develops, the worst-case scenario is that the infection spreads from the skin through this sinus [and] has the potential to infect the brain and even spread through the bloodstream to the entire body," said Dr. Zeichner.
The section of your face from the bridge of your nose to the corners of your mouth is sometimes known as the “danger triangle of the face,” or even the “triangle of death.” And it's one place where you should never pop a pimple, as it can lead to an infection in your brain.
What are blackheads? Blackheads are a type of acne (acne vulgaris). They're open bumps on the skin that fill with excess oil and dead skin. They look as if dirt is in the bump, but an irregular light reflection off the clogged follicle actually causes the dark spots. Blackheads aren't pimples.
According to doctors, there is a reason why such pimples called "love" or "crush" pimple. They say boys and girls become much too conscious about their appearance when they discover someone has a crush on them and get stressed about their looks. This may result in pimples be on the nose and around the lips.
A clogged pore is the root cause of any pimple, including pustules. Oil, bacteria, or dead skin can block the pore. Pustules occur when the walls of the affected pore or pores begin to break down.