Squeeze It or Leave It?
Squeezing Spots is probably not something you like to think about, but it happens and I for one have heard a lifetime’s worth of advice on this one, both in real life and the web.
As I see it there are two camps: the don’t squeeze people and the squeeze carefully people.
The don’t squeeze people say that the white head that comes is a good thing, it means the spot is healing and that if you squeeze it you will
- interrupt this lovely, natural process and
- risk spread bacteria
Hmm, well although I did physics and chemistry in favor of biology, I seem to remember something about white blood cells dying and turning into pus. And that’s what we see when a spot goes from red and headless to having a white head.
Don’t know about you, but that’s not something I want hanging around on my face!
My opinion on the subject is that it reduces overall “visitation” time of the spot if you squeeze it. But, if you try it too early then you will lengthen the length of its stay and make it bigger.
SO squeeze, but only provided that you:
- Do it when it’s ready. i.e. not while it’s still headless red, you must wait for a white head to appear.
- Do it Gently i.e. wrap you fingers in toilet paper and give a gentle squeeze. If it’s ready then there will be very little resistance. If you have to fight, or hurt yourself then it’s not ready. Do not use metal/pointy things on your face!
- Do it Cleanly i.e. clean face, clean hands to start with and dab the area afterwards with some kind of an antiseptic or toner.
Of course, the best acne skin treatment is prevention, but good skin health, just like overall good health is something that you cannot achieve instantly.
