A pimple can get infected if you try to “pop” or squeeze it. When you pop a zit, you create an open wound. Bacteria that naturally live on your skin get inside the opening, causing an infection. The area around the pimple may be very sore, red or inflamed.
Rule number one: Resist the urge to pick at or pop your pimple, Lester says. Squeezing will likely only make the pimple hurt more. Plus, it can increase the risk for infection (or make an existing one worse) and lead to scarring, says the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).
There are a few reasons a pimple might not be going away. It's normal for some types of acne—especially deep, large pimples—to take some time to clear up. You might also have persistent pimples if you're not taking care of your skin, taking certain medications, or have certain health conditions.
If you once squeezed a whitehead until it burst, it's possible that the entire blockage wasn't removed—meaning that pimple could become inflamed again, says Dr. Zeichner. The irritation or exposed bacteria could also cause another pimple to form right next to your previous one.
If you're bleeding, she says to “gently blot the area with a clean tissue or cotton pad and clean the area with alcohol.” Once the blood has stopped, she advises applying a spot treatment containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid as mentioned above.
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.
Although people can pop some noninflamed whiteheads and blackheads if they take the necessary precautions, they should never try to pop or extract inflamed acne. This type of acne is deeper in the skin and may be more likely to cause scarring and infection if a person tries to squeeze it.
Pimples hurt because the body is trying to get rid of the stuff that doesn't belong there. The redness, swelling, and inflammation cause the pain.
An infected pimple may be larger than a regular pimple because of swelling. It can also be warm and sore to the touch. There may also be more redness when a pimple becomes infected. An infected pimple is also going to be more painful and inflamed.
The healing time of pimples varies a lot, depending on their severity and how you treat them. Generally, infected zits can take as long as six weeks to go away completely.
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.
If your skin is red and irritated and you need to apply concealer, try to leave as much time as possible between popping and makeup. The best time to take on your pimples is in the evening, right before bed, so your skin has all night to recover.
As a general rule, you should never attempt to pop your pimple yourself. If you attempt to pop a pimple and end up breaking your skin barrier, you risk permanent acne scarring.
It may be tempting, but popping pus-filled pimples can worsen acne and damage the skin. Releasing the pus allows the bacteria to disperse, which can spread infection.
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.
However, antibiotics alone may not be enough to clear a skin abscess, and the pus may need to be drained to clear the infection. If a skin abscess is not drained, it may continue to grow and fill with pus until it bursts, which can be painful and can cause the infection to spread or come back.
However, larger abscesses may need to be treated with antibiotics to clear the infection, and the pus may need to be drained. This will usually be done either by inserting a needle through your skin or by making a small incision in the skin over the abscess.
A pimple is a result of a pore becoming clogged. A boil, or furuncle, is a pus-filled lump caused by bacterial infection. It can appear red and swollen. While a person can treat both boils and pimples at home, boils can sometimes turn into a severe infection known as a carbuncle.
The whitish-yellow, yellow, yellow-brown, and greenish color of pus is the result of an accumulation of dead neutrophils. Pus can sometimes be green because some white blood cells produce a green antibacterial protein called myeloperoxidase.
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.
Nodules are a type of hard pimple that can be large and painful. They form when an infected skin pore or follicle is located deep below the skin surface. Cysts are found deep below the skin when a pus-filled membrane forms around the infection.