This festive season, try these skin hacks to prevent pimples

Dr Deepti Rana, Senior Dermatologist, Max Multi Speciality Centre, Noida, explains why DIY hacks do not work and what you need to do for skin hygiene

Pimples, in their various forms, typically originate when skin cells surrounding hair follicles clump together and form a stubborn plug that obstructs your pores. (Source: Freepik)

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Written by Dr Deepti Rana

Pimples, those pesky dots of skin nuisance that show up at the most inconvenient times, often leave us with an irresistible urge to give them a good squeeze. While this might seem like a quick solution to the problem, popping pimples can actually do more harm than good. Let’s dive deeper into this skin problem to understand why your body’s natural mechanisms should be left to their own devices.

What are the various kinds of pimples?

Pimples, in their various forms, typically originate when skin cells surrounding hair follicles clump together and form a stubborn plug that obstructs your pores. There are three common types of pimples you’re likely to encounter:

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Blackhead: A clogged pore that remains open, displaying a darkened appearance due to exposure to air.
Whitehead: A clogged pore that remains closed, often appearing as a small, white bump on the skin.
Pustule: A more inflamed pimple filled with pus, causing redness and tenderness.

When a pore becomes clogged or a pimple forms beneath the surface, the hair follicles can accumulate a mixture of pus and sebum (oil). Over time, this can lead to increased pressure within the follicle, ultimately causing it to burst and initiating the healing process. This process is, in fact, your body’s way of naturally addressing the issue.

How do DIY practices do more harm?

However, the impulse to take matters into your own hands and engage in “do-it-yourself” pimple popping can lead to undesirable consequences, such as:

Permanent Acne Scars: Squeezing pimples can damage the surrounding skin tissue, leaving behind unsightly scars that may last long after the pimple is gone.

More Noticeable Acne: Popping pimples can spread bacteria and inflammation, potentially causing more breakouts and making your acne more visible.

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More Painful Acne: Pimple popping often causes discomfort and pain as it aggravates the inflamed area.

Risk of Infection: When you squeeze a pimple, you introduce bacteria from your hands into the open wound, increasing the likelihood of infection.

So, what can you do to maintain clear and healthy skin without resorting to pimple popping?

Keep Your Hands Away from Your Face: A crucial step is to resist the temptation to touch, pick, or pop your pimples. The less you interfere, the better your skin will fare.

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Avoid Touching, Picking, and Popping: These actions can exacerbate your acne, making it more noticeable and painful. Instead, allow your body to heal naturally.

Relieve Pain with Ice: Acne can be painful, particularly in the case of nodules and cysts. Applying ice can help reduce inflammation and alleviate discomfort.

It’s important to remember that acne treatment takes time to work. If you’re struggling with persistent acne, seeking the expertise of a dermatologist is your best course of action to achieve clear and healthy skin. Remember, patience today can lead to clearer, more radiant skin tomorrow.