When you’re dealing with a pimple or breakout, squeezing can feel like the best solution. But, picking is bad and can cause scarring and other skin issues. We are here to tell you exactly what will happen if you do or don’t squeeze your blackheads, cystic zits, whiteheads, and classic zits… Read below to find out.
BLACKHEADS!
When clogged pores are exposed to the air, they can oxidize and turn black. So, if you squeeze them, they will produce dirt and cause inflammation. What’s more important, all that squeezing can damage the pores and make them larger. But, if you don’t, they will stick around for a few weeks to a few months, but over time, the body will naturally push the contents out to the surface of the skin. However, some large blackheads may never go away unless they are physically extracted by the professionals.
PUSTULES!
Pustules are a collection of blood cells that can get trapped under a very thin outer layer of the skin. If you squeeze them, the pressure will rupture that outer skin layer, causing pus to burst out of the pimple, which additionally can cause inflammation and swelling. By squeezing them, sometimes may happen for them to heal faster, but there is a high risk of scarring and hyperpigmentation. If you don’t, they will rupture on their own.
CYSTIC ZITS!
Cystic zits or bumps are deep, infected balloons filled with oil and pus. They’re not connected to the surface of the skin. So, if you squeeze them, you’ll cause more irritation and inflammation, by pushing the infection deeper into the skin followed by severe scarring, hyperpigmentation, and a zit that can take months to heal. If you don’t, your body will send white blood cells, called macrophages, to break down the gunk and slowly kill the infection.
CLOSED COMEDONES!
Similar to blackheads, closed comedones are filled with oil, except that these are trapped beneath the surface of the. Therefore, if you squeeze them, you can create a big inflamed pimple or cyst. And if you don’t, they may stick around for a while, but this can actually be beneficial for the skin.