Three things you should do after popping your pimple

If you have acne-prone skin, you know how annoying it is to get a breakout. Whether it’s that time of the month or your skin has decided to get a mind of its own, there’s nothing as off-putting as that pimple that makes an appearance at the most inappropriate time, and then refuses to go away.

The second annoying thing about getting a pimple is when you can’t help but pop it. Most people will pick at the spot further irritating already irritated skin.

Below are three things you should do when you’ve popped that pimple.

1. Use gentle products

Be it a cleanser or moisturiser, use only gentle products. Remember that your skin is already sensitive and it doesn’t need any harsh products to aggravate the situation further. Avoid harsh treatments, scrubs or facials until the breakout has healed.

2. Clean it

A pimple is a wound to, put it simply, thus it needs to be kept clean. If it’s bleeding, use a clean tissue to blot out the fluid.

Proceed to wash the area using a gentle cleanser.

Avoid touching the spot or your face in general as this adds bacteria to the wound and could result in an infection.

3. Moisturize

When we were younger, our mothers would apply petroleum jelly to injured skin and this somehow made us feel better. In the same way, your popped pimple also needs something soothing as it heals. Opt for a gentle moisturiser to soothe the area and keep the skin hydrated.

A layer of moisturiser will also prevent dirt from entering the wound.

Allow your pimple to heal naturally. Interfering with it can lead to scars, which, according to Dr Nada Elbuluk, a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at University of Southern California, take much longer to heal than the pimple itself.