We’ve all done it, despite all the warnings about making it worse, scarring or infection, we still pop that pimple that’s taken an unwelcome spot on our face. It’s a guilty pleasure that we all have – in fact, a dermatologist who posts pimple popping videos, has 5 million followers. You aren’t alone in this bad habit, don’t worry.
However, that’s kind of the point – the famous zit popper is a dermatologist – a professional telling people that they should not engage in pimple popping at home. The reasons go beyond making your skin worse or scarring your skin. It can make you very ill – hence the name “the Triangle of Death”.
Yes, you read that right. There’s a place on your face known as the “Triangle of Death”. Popping a spot in this zone can be extremely dangerous. The tip of the triangle begins at the bridge of the nose, with the base at the corners of your mouth. This region in your face is a highly sensitive, vulnerable place.
WHY IS IT DANGEROUS?
There’s a good reason why the Triangle of Death, has been given such a scary nickname. This area has your sinuses right behind it, as well as important nerves and blood vessels that are responsible for the blood flowing to the brain.
When you pop a pimple in this area, the skin might become infected. This infection might spread through to these important blood vessels. When that happens, the veins that are located behind your eyes may clot, this may put pressure on the brain and can have lethal consequences. It’s known as Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis and can be caused by popping pimples or plucking your nose hairs.
HOW DO YOU TREAT IT?
If an infection is caught early it can be treated with antibiotics and you will recover. Always seek medical advice or attention if you notice something seems like an infection in your face or if you’re feeling unwell. In the worst-case scenario, the infection gets left untreated and deadly complications appear.
The best-case scenario? You spot something isn’t great, and you decide to get it checked out straight away by a professional. The thing to take from this is – the early you treat it, the better.
IS THERE A WAY TO GET RID OF A PIMPLE WITHOUT POPPING IT?
We have to say, the best and safest thing to do for your skin and health is to just leave it alone. Keep your hands, tweezers and whatever other contraption you use off those pimples. It’s dangerous, it can scar and can make a pimple so much worse.
All things considered, we completely understand how tempting it is to pop a pimple. As well as the simple fact that you don’t want to sport a big whitehead for a few days.
You can try to soak a face cloth in warm water and compress on the pimple for several minutes. Make sure the white head is completely formed before you do this, or it can make it look worse.
Another alternative to popping is to use a spot treatment. Over the counter or drug store treatments might actually work for you. Look for products that include benzoyl peroxide or sulphur. If you’re looking for an all-natural treatment, tea tree oil works well for many people.
WHAT IF I AM ADDICTED TO POPPING PIMPLES?
So, you’re a serial pimple popper, we all know the feeling. I mean, ideally none of us would squeeze our spots, but that’s just too optimistic. One thing to remember, despite the horror stories, antibiotics will prevent anything serious from transpiring from an infected spot. But we live by the rule “prevention not solution”.
To prevent the possibility of infection, always wash your hands before popping and afterwards treat the area you’ve squeezed with witch hazel, this will prevent the bacteria from spreading. If you notice anything weird about the popped pimple, seek medical attention. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
To summarise, the Triangle of Death, although sporting a terrifying name, doesn’t have to be so scary. Try not to pick and pop your pimples, and if you can’t resist, take caution with anti-bacterial treatments.