# Does popping a pimple make it heal quicker? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 28, 2022, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-popping-a-pimple-make-it-heal-quicker/977216 "2022-12-28T12:05:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2022, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-popping-a-pimple-make-it-heal-quicker/977216/1 "2022-12-28T12:05:23Z")
Gross question, I know. But it came to me the other day. There is definitely something satisfying about popping a zit and drawing out the pus, but is it helping the healing process? If one had superhuman discipline, and could forgo picking their dots (as my ex- wife called them), would the pimple heal quicker than if it was excised with a squeeze? ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2022, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-popping-a-pimple-make-it-heal-quicker/977216/2 "2022-12-28T16:25:28Z")
Well, it depends on the stage the infection is at. I’ve had luck with some that weren’t very developed, in trying to heal them. That is, applying medication and cold packs instead of trying to burst the skin open. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2022, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-popping-a-pimple-make-it-heal-quicker/977216/3 "2022-12-30T03:28:33Z")
There is a surgical saying that “if pus is about, then get it out”. So if the lesion contains pus, _id est_ it is infected, expunging pus will probably help healing. However, most zits are blocked sebaceous glands. If you are just getting rid of greasy goo, squeezing may lengthen healing and you are probably better off with a product containing 2% salicylic acid instead. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2022, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-popping-a-pimple-make-it-heal-quicker/977216/4 "2022-12-30T03:37:20Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > That is, applying medication and cold packs instead of trying to burst the skin open. Often, though, popping a zit isn’t bursting the skin open-- It’s just pushing the sebum out of the same pore that it was supposed to come out of in the first place (possibly clearing a small clog in the process). ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2022, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-popping-a-pimple-make-it-heal-quicker/977216/5 "2022-12-30T03:51:02Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > if pus is about, then get it out The principle is so ancient, it’s in Latin. > **[Ubi pus, ibi evacua](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubi_pus,_ibi_evacua)** > > Ubi pus, ibi evacua is a Latin aphorism or adage, often cited in medicine, meaning "where \[there is\] pus, there evacuate \[it\]". It refers to what clinicians should do when there is a collection of pus in the body; that is, to create an opening for it to evacuate. A contemporary expression of the same sentiment is also used: "if there's pus about, let it out". > Examples include what an otorhinolaryngologist will often do in case of a child with chronic recurring otitis media: Insert a grommet in t... ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2022, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-popping-a-pimple-make-it-heal-quicker/977216/6 "2022-12-30T04:02:33Z")
I don’t know about healing, but there are some videos I like to watch. Oddly, when I see the really gross ones I don’t mind the pus the way I do having a needle inserted to reduce pain on the big cysts. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2022, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-popping-a-pimple-make-it-heal-quicker/977216/7 "2022-12-30T04:09:00Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > > [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > > > That is, applying medication and cold packs instead of trying to burst the skin open. > > Often, though, popping a zit isn’t bursting the skin open-- It’s just pushing the sebum out of the same pore that it was supposed to come out of in the first place (possibly clearing a small clog in the process). But if you push to hard, you can damage some of the cells, potentially exacerbating the problem. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2022, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-popping-a-pimple-make-it-heal-quicker/977216/8 "2022-12-30T04:17:26Z")
It might take longer to heal the way a doctor would define it, but if you have one that hurts, and popping it relieves the pressure that is causing the pain, and in your personal experience, you just made it “better.” If you put antibiotic ointment and a Band-Aid on it, maybe it will heal quicker. Might not look better, but again, depends on what you are going for. ---
**Author:** ![brossa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brossa/32/3040_2.png) [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2022, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-popping-a-pimple-make-it-heal-quicker/977216/9 "2022-12-30T13:42:50Z")
In my residency, the line was “where there is pus, let there be steel”. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2022, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-popping-a-pimple-make-it-heal-quicker/977216/10 "2022-12-30T15:05:31Z")
“Conan! What is the riddle of steel!” “Ubi pus, ibi evacua.” “… What?” ---
**Author:** ![brossa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brossa/32/3040_2.png) [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2022, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-popping-a-pimple-make-it-heal-quicker/977216/11 "2022-12-30T15:22:40Z")
The corollary was ‘if you don’t cut it out, you’re just hoping it gets better’. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2022, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-popping-a-pimple-make-it-heal-quicker/977216/12 "2022-12-30T18:24:24Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > I don’t know about healing, but there are some videos I like to watch. It’s not my personal cup of tea and I’m breaking the link due to NSFW grossness but here’s some material: [https://old.reddit](https://old.reddit)[dot]com/r/popping/ ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2023, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-popping-a-pimple-make-it-heal-quicker/977216/13 "2023-01-07T02:42:49Z")
Not a zit, but something similar-- I once got an infected cuticle when I was in basic training, and it hurt so fricking much, that it was keeping me awake. There was a woman in my unit who was an RN, and a Specialist, and going straight to leadership school after basic in a “stripes for skills” program. So I got her advice. She said don’t go to sick call for it. Get alcohol, if someone had some, and bleach as a last resort, and sterilize the area, and a needle from my sewing kit, and lance it. Then put triple anibiotic ointment (which she had) and a Band-Aid over it. She was absolutely right. Got isopropyl alcohol, lanced it, and **TMI ALERT** : a pea-sized glob of pus popped out when I pulled the needle out . Immediately it felt SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much better! Used the ointemnt and Band-Aid all day and night, replaced next shower, and discarded after second day training. No problems. IANAD, or even an RN, or CNA. I was a Girl Scout, and did first aid in basic, but we never covered this. However, I also took Freshman biology-- I would hazard a guess that popping a zit with dirty hands and leaving it is an open invitation to all kinds of bacteria, and could drag a bad situation to hell. But washing one’s face and hands-- maybe even in this particular case, with antibacterial soap, then putting a bit of antibiotic ointment on each zit popped, might help. And a lot, if one is experiencing discomfort. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2023, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-popping-a-pimple-make-it-heal-quicker/977216/14 "2023-01-07T04:12:26Z")
I had a similar situation. I had an infection at the edge of my fingernail, and it was swollen and incredibly painful. And it was a weekend and i was busy. So instead of going to urgent care, i carefully cleaned everything (soap, water, and rubbing alcohol) and lanced the infection. After draining it, i soaked it in hot water for a bit, applied a little bacitracin ointment and a bandaid, and went back to my regularly scheduled activities. Mine, also, mostly stopped hurting after i lanced it. I told my doctor, expecting to be chided. But instead, he told me it was good that I’d treated it, because untreated, the pressure in the enclosed area of the finger tip can prevent blood flow and cause serious problems, like gangrene and/or losing part of the finger. That being said, most pimples aren’t full of puss, nor blocking blood flow. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2023, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-popping-a-pimple-make-it-heal-quicker/977216/15 "2023-01-07T04:26:31Z")
I would qualify that if you rupture or lance a pimple/boil, you need to (with clean sterile fingers) keep expressing any pus, blood or serum that refills the cavity. This will flush out bacteria and help the cavity close without leaving an acne scar. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2023, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-popping-a-pimple-make-it-heal-quicker/977216/16 "2023-01-07T04:31:40Z")
I would also qualify that if you are poking anything into your skin, like a needle or the point of a knife, that thing needs to be sterilized. Otherwise you can make matters worse. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2023, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-popping-a-pimple-make-it-heal-quicker/977216/17 "2023-01-07T05:26:26Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I had an infection at the edge of my fingernail, and it was swollen and incredibly painful. Ah, good old paronychiae. > **[Paronychia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paronychia)** > > Paronychia is an inflammation of the skin around the nail, which can occur suddenly, when it is usually due to the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, or gradually when it is commonly caused by the fungus Candida albicans. The term is from Greek: παρωνυχία from para 'around', onyx 'nail', and the abstract noun suffix -ia. > Risk factors include repeatedly washing hands and trauma to the cuticle such as may occur from repeated nail biting or hangnails. > Treatment includes antibiotics and antifungals, ... I seem to come down with one every few years. The last one was in my pinky and opened up on its own before I had to do anything about it, but I had one on my thumb a few years back that was so swollen and painful I went to the ER thinking I’d broken it somehow. They cut me open and sent me home with antibiotics and a bottle of Hibiclens. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2023, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-popping-a-pimple-make-it-heal-quicker/977216/18 "2023-01-07T11:26:54Z")
I’m guessing military showers are a risk factor too, not to mention how dirty you can get at basic. I’ve had a few (very few) infections around a toenail that needed to be lanced, and I’m pretty sure were from clipping too closely, but that was the only fingernail infection I ever had to lance. I once had a hangnail that was either mildly infected or very irritated, but no lancing-- antibiotic ointment and overnight Band-Aid fixed it. Relevance to pimples is probably that if it hurts, go for it, but if it doesn’t, leave it alone. Irrelevance: I knew a guy once whose last name was Pimple. Poor guy. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2023, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-popping-a-pimple-make-it-heal-quicker/977216/19 "2023-01-07T15:14:47Z")
I’ve had a few of those, too (once with a finger, twice with a toe). The finger one, I wasn’t sure what the heck was going on (it wasn’t all that uncomfortable, but it was greenish), and it eventually broke open on its own (and the pus that came out was green). The two toe ones, I lanced, and was very glad I did, because those were uncomfortable. IIRC, one of the board’s doctors (@Qadgop_the_Mercotan ?) once described a list of the five ailments for which a doctor is able to provide immediate and welcome relief, and all five involved relieving a buildup of extra fluid in some way. As for the pus vs. sebum thing, how does one easily distinguish between pus which should be gotten out right away, versus sebum or lymph that’s supposed to be present? ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2023, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-popping-a-pimple-make-it-heal-quicker/977216/20 "2023-01-07T22:29:10Z")
I used to have semi-serious acne when I was younger, and as an appearance-conscious guy I became quite the expert pimple assessor / experimentalist. Popping mature whitehead pimples absolutely made them heal quicker; if left to their own advice, the whiteheads would turn into hardened, very long-lived, cyst-like bumps. Trying to pop a pimple too early, when the whitehead wasn’t quite ripe, would also result in a prolonged, painful infection site. It was mandatory to get the popped pimple empty, which was pretty impossible with the young’uns. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-popping-a-pimple-make-it-heal-quicker/977216.md?page=2)