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- In most cases, picking at your pimples is a bad idea.
- Some dermatologists say it's OK to gently squeeze a blackhead with clean hands or Q-tips.
- You should never try to pop a cystic or "blind" pimple, since the contents are locked under the skin.
When faced with a bulging zit that looks ready to pop, it may be hard to resist touching your face.
Most of us know that picking at pimples is a bad idea, but letting them go away naturally is easier said than done. Some whiteheads just beg to be popped, or at least it seems that way.
Dermatologists have given Insider plenty of tips for kicking the picking habit, but we were curious to know if there's ever a right time to pop a zit. Here's what the experts had to say.
One dermatologist said certain blackheads require a light squeeze
While most skin experts recommend against popping all pimples, some dermatologists said it's the only way to remove stubborn blackheads.
Blackheads form when a pore becomes clogged with dead skin cells and oil, Hadley King, a dermatologist based in New York City, previously told Insider. The skin debris darkens when exposed to air, hence the name "blackhead."
"Large blackheads often need physical extraction to remove them," Joshua Zeichner, another dermatologist based in New York City, told Insider. "If the blockage does not easily come out, then you can try again another day."
It's important to clean the affected area, as well as your hands, before attempting to squeeze out the blackhead's contents, Zeichner said. You can also use Q-tips instead of your fingers to apply pressure to the edges of the pimple, or an extractor tool made for clearing clogged pores.
No matter what you're using to pop it, the doctors agreed it's best to leave a zit alone if nothing comes out with gentle pressure.
Squeezing a pimple that's not ready to pop will only make it worse
Marissa Garshick, another New York City dermatologist, is more staunchly against pimple popping. Her golden rule is that it's never OK to pop a zit - especially if you're tempted to do it yourself.
"It's not uncommon for patients to notice that the breakout gets worse and is more persistent after attempting to pop it, given the increase in swelling," Garshick told Insider.
Touching your face can also give rise to new pimples if you don't wash your hands first, Muneeb Shah, a dermatologist with over 11 million followers on TikTok, told Insider's Canela López.
Shah told López that squeezing zits with dirty hands can spread bacteria from the problem area into other pores, causing more acne. He also cautioned that DIY pimple treatments can lead to scarring on the surface and under the skin.
Avoid picking at cystic acne, or risk permanent scarring
All of the dermatologists Insider consulted agreed that trying to pop a cystic or "blind" pimple is a bad idea.
"The pimple you do not ever want to pick is the deep, painful 'undergrounder,'" Zeichner told Insider. "These are cysts without a clear connection to the surface of the skin, so picking inevitably leads to more harm than good."
These types of zits are typically "locked into" a hair follicle or pore, according to Shah. Applying pressure may cause the pimple to pop under the skin, leaving a bump of scar tissue that's just as unsightly as the original blemish.
If you need to clear up a nasty breakout before a special occasion, Garshick suggested seeing a dermatologist for an in-office consultation. They may be able to help extract the contents of a clogged pore or administer a cortisone injection to bring down the swelling of a cystic pimple.