The urge to pick and prod at an angry zit on your face is real—and valid. You probably know you shouldn’t but maybe, with a quick pinch, it’ll go away and you can move on with your life. The thing is, what starts as a little squeeze can quickly turn into a few minutes of relentless pressing and poking—until you’re left with an inflamed, gaping mess that looks even worse than before.
If you need another reminder about why you should keep your hands off your acne, here it is: While it’s true that in some cases you can gently extract a pimple, “more often than not, doing so—without a professional—will cause more harm than good,” Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, tells SELF. “People usually apply way too much pressure, causing trauma and damaging the outer skin layer.” And aside from having to deal with the nasty, possibly bloody aftermath, you could also end up with an infection, as well as more pain, swelling, and scarring, Dr. Zeichner warns—all of which are way more of a hassle than the (relatively) tiny inconvenience you started with.
That said, you’re probably here because you want a quick fix for the mistake you already made. Like all wounds, this one will require some time and patience to fully heal, Dr. Zeichner says. In the meantime, though, here are three things you can do to make your freshly attacked zit look (and feel) a little better.
Seriously, abort mission and stop picking.
We get it: When you haven’t pushed out all of the gunk, or you still feel a slight bump, it’s tempting to keep going. You’ve already got a noticeable mark on your face, so why not at least flatten it out, right?
“So many people feel they’re ‘so close’ to getting the pimple ‘out,’ but it’s important to stop before you cause even more damage,” Dr. Zeichner says. Messing with it at this point will only make things worse. First, open wounds are entry points for bacteria, so touching them with your fingers increases your chances of getting an infection. Plus, all that pressure from pushing, squeezing, and poking causes physical trauma to your delicate skin. And in response to this injury, your body will release melanin (the molecules responsible for the skin’s pigment), which can leave you with hyperpigmentation (dark spots), Dr. Zeichner explains.
Spot treat with Vaseline and slap a Band-Aid on top.
Rather than reaching for strong (but harsh) acne-fighters that can dry out your skin, like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, you’ll want to use more hydrating treatments. That’s because open wounds (including your squashed blemish) heal faster in moist environments, Dr. Zeichner explains.
So once you’ve cleansed and dried the area, spot treat that erupting face volcano with a thick occlusive like petroleum jelly (a.k.a. petrolatum, the main ingredient in Vaseline and Aquaphor). According to Dr. Zeichner, this will lock in moisture and help your skin repair itself. You can also try OTC topical antibiotic ointments like bacitracin to “kill bacteria and speed up the healing process”—especially when the hole you created is particularly deep or bloody. Neosporin is another popular option, but Dr. Zeichner cautions that it may not be the best one for everyone: “It’s rare, but some people can develop contact dermatitis [an inflammatory reaction to an allergen or irritant] from one of its ingredients, neomycin,” he says.
