What Happens If I Prick My Pimple?

This was the question my niece asked me one day after she discovered she has a pimple. She’s only thirteen and it’s her first time to ever have a pimple grow on her cheek. At first, I didn’t know how to answer simply because there are a few possibilities that might actually happen if you prick or pop your zits. In my case, I used to prick my pimples when I was younger, and luckily for me, they didn’t develop into deep, ugly scars.

To be sure, I simply told my niece not to touch her pimple and it will just go away if she is religious in cleansing her face. But really, what happens if you prick your pimples? Well, it all depends on several factors. Some people prick their pimples and nothing bad happens (like in my case), while others develop permanent scarring by doing so.

The right question to ask then is this, “is it bad to prick your pimples, or not?” My answer is yes, and no. Yes if you have oily, acne prone skin and if you prick clusters of your acne with your dirty fingers. No, if you let a professional aesthetician prick them for you. I visit the facial spa regularly and my specialist pricks my acne and extracts my blackheads all the time, and until now, I have clear and beautiful skin.

I also believe it’s not a problem to prick a small, individual pimple as long as you apply some anti-inflammation cream afterwards. I do it all the time and my face is free from acne scars. If you’re suffering from severe acne problem though, pricking your pimples is a big NO-NO!

So, the next time you are tempted to pop or even touch your acne, think again. You don’t want bacteria that’s lurking underneath your fingernails to get into your face and cause serious acne infection. The best you can do is to visit your dermatologist and have your acne treated in safer and more proper way.