There’s nothing worse than a zit that decides to pop up right before an upcoming event or celebration. We know you've heard it before, but the best thing you can do is to keep your hands off of it. A pimple will eventually heal on its own, and therefore, you should do your best to avoid squeezing it and coming into contact with it. You might be tempted to squeeze a pimple to drain out the pus but that could result in making matters worse! 

Squeezing your pimple or zit might be a temptation too hard to resist but also bear in mind that the unwanted pressure can also cause the wall of the pore to burst beneath the surface of your skin. This only results in even more damage, and in the end, you realize it would’ve been better if you’d had left the thing alone. The more the skin gets damaged, the more chances there are of you developing acne scarring.

A zit or a pimple isn’t something that is technically okay to be popped, however, there are times and occasions when there just isn’t any another option! A tiny mistake while doing it can easily result in making matters worse for you. You could be left with a scar, more pimples, or even an infection! However, we understand that there are times when popping a pimple just cannot be avoided - for desperate times call for desperate measures!

For all those times when your concealers and all your trusted tricks of hiding the pimple have failed, we’ve brought to you this detailed guide on how to pop a zit safely and in an effective manner!

Ever Wondered How to Pop a Zit the Proper Way?

When it comes to popping a zit or a pimple, certainly there are right ways and wrong ways to doing the task. Although, you should always steer clear of popping pimples, but given that it is one of those occasions where you just have no other option left, you to want to be sure that you do it the right way. It might sound like an uncomplicated and simple task, but one tiny mistake can have disastrous consequences. Instead of no pimples, you could easily end up with more pimples or zits, inflammation, scarring, or might even end up getting the area infected –which could have very unpleasant outcomes!

But you do not need to be afraid, just cautious! There are certain right techniques on how to pop a pimple and given that you follow each step, you do not need to worry about any of the dreaded consequences mentioned above. However, it doesn’t end with just the popping of the pimple, as there are precautions to be taken and things to be done after you’ve popped the zit that will ensure that your attempt has been a success!

The Best Ways to Pop A Zit

If you’re looking to take things in your own hand when it comes to popping a zit, then we don’t blame you. Provided that you are cautious and follow all the instructions, you can be assured of the results! Here we are going to detail all of our tried and tested methods on how to pop a zit. However, before we continue, here are a few additional precautions you need to keep in mind.

Make sure that the zit you want to pop isn’t a blind pimple or any sort of cystic acne! If the area you’re looking to deal with has a visible and soft whitehead, then it is okay for you to proceed. A pimple that is in its initial stages will not have a whitehead, but might show signs of redness on the affected area. This is the kind of a pimple you do not want to pop.

The second most important thing you need to keep in mind is that you need to thoroughly cleanse your face before popping the zit. The idea here is to pop your zit in a germ-free environment. The more careful you are in keeping the whole process germ-free, the higher your chances of success. So, without further ado, here are the best methods on how to pop a zit!

Method #1: Apply A Warm Towel on the Blemish

Use this method only if the pimple you’re dealing with has a large and visible whitehead. Take a clean and soft towel and soak it in warm water. The towel should be warm and not hot enough that it feels unpleasant on your skin. Wring it so the excess moisture drips out, you want the towel to be wet and not dripping. Hold the warm towel over the pimple for a few minutes. The warmth will help loosen and open the pore while softening the head. This will lead to a pimple draining naturally. Rewarm the towel when it gets cold.

This method will not work for blackheads, as its core is much harder and stickier. For pimples, however, you could also try to spot treat them if you have a day or two to spare. All you need is a spot treatment or blemish relief product, apply a small amount on the pimple and leave it overnight. Depending on your pimple you might get rid of it overnight or might require a few more applications of the product before it dries up and disappears.

Method #2: Pop it with a Needle

This is one of the more daring and adventurous methods on how to pop a zit that you could opt for. What you need is a needle, rubbing alcohol, and a steady hand. Make sure to wash your hands well before the procedure. Then proceed to sanitizing the needle with rubbing alcohol. You could also sterilize the pin with fire. Then proceed to hold the pin parallel to your skin and not pointing towards it. Now gently pierce the surface of the whitehead with the pin. This should cause no pain and if it does you are either piercing too deep or your pimple isn’t ready to be popped. Afterwards, wrap your fingers in a tissue, place them on either side of the blemish and try to pull away from the blemish. If all has gone right, this will effectively drain the pimple.

Method #3: Squeeze Gently with Two Cotton Swabs

If the previous method on how to pop a zit worked but you haven’t been able to get rid of the whitehead, then you can proceed to method number three. Get two cotton swabs and place them on either side of the pimple. Now apply gentle pressure causing the whitehead to drain. The pressure shouldn’t be so much that it draws blood. Continue pushing from different sides, but if a pimple isn’t draining easily then it just means that it isn’t ready to be popped yet.

Method #4: (for blackheads) Gently Squeeze the Blackhead with a Tissue

It is safer to extract a blackhead than it is to do so with a pimple, as there are much lower chances of it causing an infection or scarring. As before, wash your hands with soap and wrap your fingers in a tissue. Apply gentle pressure on either side of the blackhead and try to get underneath it. Now push up very carefully and use a slight massaging motion to help loosen it. Again, be careful not to apply too much pressure that you draw blood.

How to Take Care of the Aftermath

Now that you know how to pop a zit, you also need to know what steps to take after you’ve successfully done so. Taking care of the zit you’ve just popped is equally important to ensure that it heals faster and does not scar.

Step #1: Ice it

Whichever method you’ve used, be prepared for the inflammation and redness that comes after. To counter it, simply hold an ice cube in a plastic bag or paper towel to the affected area for around 10-15 minutes.

Step #2: Apply Rubbing Alcohol or Toner

The zit you’ve popped is now an open wound and disinfecting it is crucial. Use a cotton ball to apply rubbing alcohol or a toner that contains alcohol to finish off the job.

Step #3: Apply Acne Spot Treatment

Acne spot treatments are very effective at drying out and getting rid of the pimples and zits effectively. If you don’t like the methods on how to pop a zit, then these blemish eliminating products can do the job for you without any scarring.

Step #4: Apply Neosporin

Neosporin is a great antibacterial for your zits and pimples, as it helps in preventing infections. Once they’ve been popped, apply a Neosporin ointment or cream to ensure that your skin remains protected.

Now that you’ve read our detailed guide on how to pop a zit, we hope that you feel much more confident and comfortable with the task. However, if every one of the methods seems too risky or scary for you, then you can opt for the safer and just as effective method of spot treatment. Not only will it dry out your frequently occurring blemishes, but it will also improve the texture of your skin.

Are you aware of any fast-acting methods to get rid of those pesky pimples? Let us know in the comments below!