By Cheyenne Brown

No matter how good your skin is, you probably have had at least ONE blemish in your life. We all get pimples and we all have our own methods of getting rid of them. But, did you know there is actually a specific way to pop your blemishes?

I was having a conversation with one of my co-workers, who went to esthetician school, about how to get rid of blemishes. She basically broke the technicality of getting rid of a blemish without having to worry about scarring and ruining . So here I am to share these new findings with you all:

There are different kinds of acne: blackheads, whiteheads, cysts, papules and pustules. In order to know which acne to pop, you have to know a little about each of them. 

Blackheads are open pores that are clogged with excess skin cells (oil from your skin). 

Whiteheads are similar to blackheads except there is a thin layer of skin that grows over the clogged pore. This thin layer creates the white appearance. 

Cysts are pretty big bumps, significantly larger than a single pore and they contain pus. You should NEVER pop a cyst, not only will significant scarring occur, but you could make the infection worse. I personally have never heard of the word papule prior to doing research on this topic. 

Papules are actually pretty common, if you have ever had acne, you more than likely have had a papule. This type of acne is a clogged pore infected by bacteria and is more raised than a whitehead but has more redness. 

Pustules (another term I learned during my research) are more commonly known as pimples. These blemishes are raised, inflamed pores with a yellow-ish color filled with pus. 

 

Now for the rules:

DO’S

1. Only pop a pimple when it has a yellow ‘head.’ 
2. Pop your pimple when they are ready.
3. Wash your hands.

DON’TS

1. Do not touch your face if your hands are not clean: This can cause irritation and more breakouts. 
2. Do not pick popped pimples: This does nothing but irritate your skin and increase the risk of infection.
3. Do not pop prematurely, this can lead to more problems.
4. Do not squeeze.
5. Never pop cysts.
6. (I know this is hard) Do not pick or scratch!

 

Recovery:

Here are a few dark spot removal creams that will not only lighten you scars but will improve the overall appearance of our skin.

1. Shiseido’s White Lucent MultiBright Night Cream 
2. Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Targeted Spot Brightener
3. Neutrogena Rapid Tone Repair Dark Spot Corrector
4. Aveeno Positively Radiant Targeted Tone Corrector

 

Preventative Care:

1. Wash your face twice daily. Develop a skin care routine.
2. Apply topical treatments.
3. Cut back on foods linked to acne.
   1. Sweets
   2. Sodas
   3. Fast foods
4. Wear sunscreen when outdoors.
5. Reduce stress.