Should You Pop That Pimple? What Dermatologists Really Say

It always happens at the worst time—you’ve got an event tomorrow, and a pimple pops up front and center. The temptation is to squeeze it and move on. But here’s the reality: while popping might make a blemish look smaller at first, it often leads to more redness, swelling, and sometimes permanent scars. Without the right tools and training, it’s easy to push bacteria deeper into the skin and make things worse. Safe extraction is a delicate process—and it’s one that should be left to your dermatologist.

IN THIS ARTICLE

• Why Popping Pimples Feels Tempting (But Isn’t Worth It)
• The Hidden Risks of Popping Pimples
• The Face’s “Danger Triangle” Explained
• Dermatologist-Approved Alternatives to Popping
• When to See a Dermatologist Instead
• How to Prevent Pimples in the First Place
• Should You Pop a Pimple? The Final Word
• Should You Pop That Pimple FAQs

Few things feel as oddly satisfying as popping a stubborn pimple. There’s even science behind the urge—squeezing gives your brain a quick hit of dopamine, the same reward response you get from checking something off your to-do list.

But that momentary relief comes at a cost. Many people believe popping a pimple helps it heal faster, but the opposite is true. Pressing on a blemish can push bacteria, oil, and debris deeper into the skin, leading to more inflammation, swelling, and an increased risk of scarring. The truth is, safely extracting a pimple without damaging surrounding skin takes precision—and that’s a skill best left to a dermatologist.

You might think it’s a quick fix, but squeezing pus out of a zit can cause more long-term issues than relief: 

• Infection risk: Popping cystic acne only pushes bacteria deeper into your skin, causing infection or new breakouts. 
• Scarring and permanent skin texture changes: The pressure from forcibly extracting a pimple can damage the skin tissue and leave behind pitted scars that require professional procedures to treat. 
• Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation: Instead of scars, stubborn dark spots may form, which often take several weeks to months to disappear.
• Slower healing time and risk of larger breakouts: Besides fighting the acne-causing bacteria, your skin must also repair the wound caused by squeezing, which delays the healing time. It may also trigger severe breakouts. 

Instead of a do-it-yourself pimple extraction, it’s safer to let your skin heal naturally or see a dermatologist for proper treatment. 

There’s a small area on your face, stretching from the bridge of the nose to the corners of the mouth, called the “danger triangle.” This zone forms a triangle across your upper lip and nose. 

Popping a pimple in this area is riskier because the veins here connect to larger vessels that have a direct line to the brain. If you squeeze a pimple in this area and it becomes infected, the infection can spread from your face to your brain and cause serious complications.

One of the very rare complications is cavernous sinus thrombosis. It’s a condition where a blood clot forms in the veins close to the brain, causing symptoms such as headaches, confusion, and facial numbness. About one in three cases is fatal and can result in coma and death. If you get a new pimple in the danger triangle face zone, let your dermatologist handle it. 

Skin experts use safe and effective methods in treating acne to reduce the risk of scarring and infections. Here are three ways to treat a pimple without popping.

1. Warm Compresses‍

Use a clean, warm cloth on the pimple for 10-15 minutes, two to three times daily. Exposing comedones to gentle heat softens the skin around them and helps draw out the pimple. 

2. Spot Treatments

Over-the-counter treatments such as benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid can help flatten pimples faster. You can apply a thin layer of benzoyl peroxide on inflamed, red pimples and salicylic acid on clogged whiteheads or blackheads to clear blockages.

3. Pimple Patches

Hydrocolloid patches are small stickers used to cover the pimple and absorb fluid from superficial whiteheads. They can help treat surface-level blemishes, but not deep cysts. 

4. What NOT to Do‍

A dermatologist’s advice for acne is to avoid squeezing it using needles, pins, or unsterile tools you find at home. It’s safer to let pimples heal naturally to minimize the risk of long-term damage, including scarring.

At-home treatments combined with the right products treat most pimples, but for deep, painful cysts or nodules, it’s best to enlist professional help. Consult a dermatologist for red and swollen under-the-skin bumps, stubborn breakouts that won’t clear despite weeks of at-home solutions, and those that you suspect are infected. Symptoms like pain, pus, and worsening inflammation require professional evaluation.      

In-Office Treatments

For severe pimples, your dermatologist may recommend the following treatments:

• Corticosteroid injection: This quick procedure injects a steroid into large, painful cysts to reduce inflammation and swelling, shrinking the pimple in a day or two.
• Professional extraction: Using a sterile comedone extractor, your dermatologist gently pokes the pimple to remove the blackheads or whiteheads. This technique opens up the bumps for safer extraction while minimizing skin trauma.
• Incision and drainage: This treatment is reserved for severe, pus-filled lesions that don’t respond to other treatments. A skin specialist uses a sanitized needle or scalpel to make a tiny cut in the skin over the pimple to drain out the pus, oil, or fluid for the skin to begin healing.

These in-office solutions can minimize long-term skin damage and protect your skin’s health.

Below are some tips to prevent breakouts before they even start.

1. Pick non-comedogenic skincare products: Look for "non-comedogenic" or "oil-free" labels on the packaging to prevent clogging your pores.
2. Washing your face twice a day: Use a gentle cleanser and avoid harsh scrubs as they strip your skin’s natural barrier. 
3. Adopt a consistent acne routine: If you're prone to breakouts, consider incorporating retinoids, salicylic acid, or benzoyl peroxide into your skincare regimen to minimize breakouts.
4. Use sunscreen every day: Regardless of the outside weather, wear sun protection to prevent dark spots from forming. Pick a lightweight, oil-free product to help fade dark spots. 

Pimples often appear during puberty, making it an ideal time for teens to establish a healthy skincare routine. Some adolescents develop more severe hormonal acne, which may require age-appropriate therapies. Remember, healthy skin starts with the good habits you practice today. 

The straight answer is no. While squeezing gunk out of a bump can give you temporary satisfaction, doing so only pushes bacteria deeper, causing infection and delaying healing. In some cases, it can traumatize your skin and cause scarring. 

Dermatologists recommend safe alternatives, such as using a warm compress and targeted spot treatment, to shrink pimples safely. When these natural remedies aren’t enough, you may consider corticosteroid injections and professional extractions. 

Our team at Altitude Dermatology specializes in personalized dermatology services. Whether you need help minimizing everyday blemishes or require specialized treatment for severe acne vulgaris with cysts, we can create a plan tailored to your unique skin care needs. Skip the risks — get professional acne treatment in Northern Colorado. Schedule a consultation today and let our team help you achieve clearer, healthier skin.