Popping Zits–Don’t Take Matters into Your Own Hands
We know how tempting it is to want to use your own fingers to get rid of a zit. Whether it’s a fully formed whitehead or an inflamed red bump, most people believe that they can make it disappear with just a few squeezes. But that’s never the case. While it’s hard to resist temptation, you should know all of the facts before attempting to pop your zit. If you try and take matters into your own hands, you will risk leaving a permanent mark that will take much more time and effort to conceal and get rid of than the original zit. Secondly, the bacteria in the zit–and on your fingers–could cause much more damage than good if you try and pop the pimple. That bacteria could get pushed further down into the skin and cause a cyst–which would be much worse-looking than the zit you tried to pop. So what’s the best thing to do when temptation rises? Sit it out and apply some topical acne medications or if you have an important event, make an appointment for a cortisone injection.
Recent recommendations from the South Beach Symposium, published in Skin & Allergy News, reiterate the importance of treating inflammatory acne early in patients with skin of color. Darker skin types are more susceptible to a type of acne scarring called post-inflammatory pigmentation. Post-inflammatory pigmentation presents as dark spots left behind after inflammatory acne lesions resolve. Dr. Schweiger explains that, “Inflammatory acne in skin of color should be treated aggressively, as prolonged inflammation increases the risk of post-inflammatory pigmentation.” Dr. Schweiger recommends a combination treatment with topical antimicrobials and topical retinoids, in addition to oral medications when appropriate. In-office treatments, such as Photodynamic Therapy and Isolaz Treatment, can address both active acne and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in order to decrease the risk of scarring.
The acne product market is full of creams and cleansers, but did you know there are also pills meant to target breakouts? Here’s an overview of some of the most popular vitamins that claim to fight acne from the inside out. Keep in mind the reason they’re called “supplements” is because they are meant to supplement an already healthy diet. We do not specifically support or recommend any of these products, we just want to give our patients an overview of what’s out there.
There are more ways to help clear up acne breakouts than just by using topical and oral medications. There are now several at home acne treatments that can be performed. In the last decade, many new brands have come out with consumer-friendly hand held devices that do their best to treat and banish acne. From LED blue light therapy to heat treatments, here are some of the top acne-fighting, at-home devices you can find on the market today.