How To Use A Pimple Popper

How to Safely Use a Comedone Extractor on Blackheads and Whiteheads

The comedone extractor tin can easily push blackhead- and whitehead-causing gunk out of your pores—if you lot use information technology properly.

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In the "important memories" binder stored in the back of my brain, you'll observe life-changing moments like waking upwardly with my first period, passing my road test and picking upwards my driver's license, and dealing with my kickoff blackhead. The gnarly zit sprouted on my correct nostril, exactly where you'd detect a nose piercing. Being a 13-year-sometime with no beauty or skin-intendance expertise, I scrubbed the night and mysterious bump with face up launder, smeared concealer on information technology before I went to school, and crossed my fingers it would magically disappear on its ain.

Months passed, the blackhead only grew larger and larger, and I became so embarrassed that I finally relented to my aunt. Her advice: Get a comedone extractor. I took her tip with me on my first trip to Ulta (an experience that's also filed in that memories folder), and after that nighttime, I gently pressed the metal contraption against the monstrous breakout. In that grossly satisfying, Dr. Pimple-Popper way, the dead pare that was clogging the pore exploded outward. And all at once, my wish for a blackhead-gratuitous olfactory organ came true. (Related: The ten Best Blackhead Removers, Co-ordinate to a Skin Skillful)

The comedone extractor (Buy It, $13, dermstore.com and ulta.com) has been my get-to, zit-zapping tool always since. It'southward basically a iv-inch metal rod with wire loops—one small and thin, the other long and thick–at each terminate. When you accept a whitehead or blackhead that's just dying to be popped, yous encircle the opening of the pore with one of the loops and gently printing the skin to extrude the contents (usually expressionless skin and sebum), says Marisa Garshick, M.D., F.A.A.D., a dermatologist based in New York City.

Some comedone extractors have a sharp point on one end that's designed to create a small opening in the blackhead if i isn't easily accessible. This volition open up the pore and let whatsoever's clogged to come out. That said, Dr. Garshick cautions against using this function of the tool by yourself, as piercing the breakout likewise securely can increase the risk of injury to the skin—aka inflammation, swelling, bleeding, or scarring.

Comedone Extractor

Credit: Ulta/Sephora/ Narintorn Pornsuknimitkul/EyeEm/Getty

Every bit unproblematic and quick as the process sounds, dermatologists and peel experts *typically* don't recommend using a comedone extractor at home. (Pitiful, Dr. Garshick!) "I recollect the reason that many dermatologists are often in the army camp of 'don't attempt this at dwelling house' is because if you put as well much pressure, you can sometimes cause further injury to the peel," she says. Bated from the potential to do more impairment than adept, it's difficult to achieve the same level of sterilization that a dermatologist can provide at an in-role appointment, which helps reduce the potential for infections. (Related: The Best Acne Spot Treatments to Get Rid of a Pimple Fast)

For particularly stubborn breakouts, a pro is able to prevent damage and injuries caused by comedone extractors by applying the proper amount of pressure level to relieve the buildup below the skin–and knowing when to stop. Plus, attempting to excerpt inflamed breakouts and cystic acne (large, sore, deep breakouts) at home can cause some serious damage. "I think those tend to be the ones that people run into the most trouble with when they endeavour to pop," notes Dr. Garshick. "Oftentimes, not a lot wants to come out, so they go on excavation. That's when they run into more problems with scarring, inflammation, or even develop a little scab because they're actually trying to push at it." For these types of breakouts, you're improve off getting a cortisone injection or prescription medication to alleviate information technology, she adds.

Merely if you lot practise have a blackhead that needs to be popped ASAP and you tin can't brand information technology to the derm (whether it's due to a hectic work schedule or a pandemic), don't start squeezing it with your fingertips. Not only practice you run the hazard of infection, but y'all are also putting force per unit area on more skin than necessary for a pocket-sized breakout, creating more inflammation and swelling, points out Dr. Garshick. "If you're gonna popular it and you have access to a comedone extractor, that's definitely better than your fingers," she says. "I would say when used the correct way, the tool can help and facilitate a more positive extraction feel." (Related: Why Salicylic Acid Is a Miracle Ingredient for Your Peel)

Here'south how to safely use a comedone extractor and where to buy 1, if an appointment with your md simply isn't an choice.

How to Safely Apply a Comedone Extractor

Apply a warm compress (such as a damp, warm washcloth) to the affected area to soften and open up up the pore.
Clean the skin and the comedone extractor with alcohol.
Select the wire loop you'd like to use. The smaller, more narrow loop is typically the better option since it doesn't put extra pressure level on the affected area. The larger loop can be used, with caution, on a larger breakout, says Dr. Garshick.
Place the wire loop around the blackhead or white caput. Printing gently to extract the dead skin and sebum that'due south bottleneck the pore. If nil immediately comes out of the breakout, terminate pressing and let it residuum. If haemorrhage occurs, cease pressing. In this example, information technology'south probable that the contents of the chock-full pore have already come up out and there's nothing left, or the spot itself wasn't ready to be popped. A little bruise may develop effectually the breakout from the force per unit area of the comedone extractor, which will go away on its own.
Gently wash your face with soap and h2o to remove whatsoever remaining bacteria from the surface of the pare. Avoid spot treatments, which can further irritate the peel. Wait until the following twenty-four hours to resume your normal skin-care routine.

Tweezerman No-Slip Skin Care Tool - Comedone Extractor

Sephora Double-Ended Blotch Extractor - Comedone Extractor