Apply French Green Clay
French green clay is an absorbent, mineral-rich clay with healing properties. According to 2010 research , French green clay has potent antibacterial properties. It helps draw out impurities, reduce inflammation, and absorb excess oil that may lead to pimples.
French green clay is available in powder form that you mix with water to make a face mask. You can also add other skin-soothing ingredients such as yogurt or honey to French green clay for a more dynamic natural mask.
Obsessed With Popping Pimples Heres Why
There are two types of people in this world people who love to pop pimples and people who shudder at the thought. Trying to figure out which one you are? Think about these questions
When a pimple starts to surface on your chin , do you get itchy fingers?
Does anxiety build in the pit of your stomach as you stare at the potential extraction?
Or do you feel a rush of excitement about whats to come?
Does the idea of a ripe pimple making that pop noise underneath your fingers give you a little bit of a thrill?
Have you ever spent a Friday night at home going down a rabbit hole of Dr Pimple Popper videos on YouTube?
If you answered yes to any of the above, then we guess youre pro-pimple popping. But dont be embarrassed or ashamed, it turns out youre not alone there are plenty of others out there who obsess over the challenge of popping a giant pimple.
Before we get into why some of us love it, lets chat about all things popping pimples.
Is popping my own pimple really that bad for me?
Think that popping pimples on your face will lead to clearer skin? Sorry to break it to you, but youre wrong! Popping pimples can lead to scarring, more acne or worse an infection. The only person who should pop pimples is a dermatologist, like Dr Pimple Popper .
What happens when I pop a pimple?
Have we convinced you to stop yet?
Ok, okI know its bad for me, but I still want to do it! Why?
Popping pimples releases dopamine
Popping pimples can become addictive
The Popularity Of Pimple
With everyone forced inside during stay-home orders for months at a time in the last year, it goes without saying that people picked up an array of hobbies to stay entertained. This, it seems, was merely one of them. According to Dr. Capanna-Hodge, “Sheer boredom and a lack of stimulation during the pandemic is driving people to watch ‘gross’ and ‘dramatic’ reality television,” like pimple popping.
On the other hand, watching videos of people popping pimples may provide some with a sense of relief and control in a pandemic world where there has been very little of that. “They see someone gaining a sense of control over something they couldn’t control in the first place, like having acne,” Morin said. “They may view the person as gaining a sense of relief as they rid themselves of something unwanted.”
Now, with access to vaccinations and the world slowly emerging back to “normal,” will the urge to watch extraction videos remain postpandemic? Our guess? If Dr. Pimple Popper’s are any indication, yes. Dr. Capanna-Hodge predicts that as more people move away from outdoor activities and cling to their devices and binge shows, reality television shows that have high drama, are grotesque, or have any level of intensity will continue to trend as people aren’t getting the dopamine hit from their own lives.
Don’t Miss: What Is The Disease Concept Of Addiction
Staying Busy And Focused
Know That Picking Your Pimples Inevitably Leads To More Harm Than Good
You might think that popping a zit will shorten its lifespan, but dermatologist Dr. Joshua Zeichner said that’s not the case.
“Red, angry pimples may be uncomfortable and unsightly, but they do not have a clear connection to the surface of the skin and cannot be picked out,” Zeichner told Insider in an email.
By picking at those unpoppable red bumps , you’re disrupting the skin barrier and creating a wound where there wasn’t one.
Aside from making an even worse-looking sore, breaking the skin barrier allows more bacteria to enter, which can lead to infection.
The best case scenario is that the wound will scab and heal without leaving a mark. Picking the scab will only cause more irritation and possible scarring, Zeichner said, so your best bet is keep your hands off your face while it heals.
Read Also: How Long Does It Take To Get Addicted To Morphine
Identify What Your Triggers Are
There is usually something that happens that sends you into the mood where you want to pick your skin and pop your zits, and a really helpful way to defeat this is to try to identify exactly what those trigger points are. Whether is it a particularly stressful day at work, or whenever you have an argument with a partner or a parent, there must be something that inspires you to do it.
How To Stop Picking Your Pimples According To Experts
- Picking your pimples will almost always make them worse, but it can be hard to resist the urge.
- Knowing your triggers and creating physical barriers to touching your face may help you kick the habit.
- If you can’t stop picking and it’s causing you distress, you may want to seek professional help.
I’ve always been a picker pimples, scabs, nails, you name it.
Sometimes I’ll spend what feels like an eternity in front of the mirror, squeezing any bump or blackhead I can find. Even when I’m not consciously trying to pop something, my hands will wander to my face, searching for something to pick.
I thought once I outgrew my acne I’d be able to kick the habit. But it’s become clear to me that my picking is prolonging my years of bad skin.
I spoke with a dermatologist and a psychiatrist about how to end this harmful habit for good.
Recommended Reading: Why Am I An Addict
Try To Keep Your Hands Busy
One of the best ways to stop popping pimples is to try to keep your hands busy as much as you can. The urge to pop can often come when you are bored and doing nothing, so get on the computer and do some typing, play a game on your phone, do some spring cleaning around the house – anything that is going to occupy the fingers that otherwise would be all over your face trying to pop as many zits as possible!
Leave Yourself Encouraging Notes
If you are trying to tackle this problem alone, then make sure that you can have a word with yourself by leaving handwritten notes in the most dangerous places like the bathroom that encourage you not to give in to your temptation and start popping. Finding a note telling you to stop just at the moment where you are about to start can be the little bit of motivation that you need.
Also Check: How To Overcome Any Addiction
Hands Off 3 Surefire Ways To Break Your Picking Habit
Kick your picking habit with these easy tips.
If you dont think theres anything wrong with popping your pimples, think again. Although its tempting to take a hands-on approach with your acne, picking at your breakouts will only make them worse. Touching your skin can contribute to the spread of p. Acnes, the bacteria that causes pustules and cysts. Plus, poking at your zits may further irritate them, causing breakouts to last longer than they would otherwise.
Here are some easy ways to break your picking habit once and for all.
I Couldnt Avoid The Problem
People tend to talk about acne like something thats out of their control. I figured my skin was the same if my acne werent so bad, I wouldnt have anything to touch.
It wasnt until about two years ago that I realized that wasnt the case: My boyfriend matter-of-factly mentioned that I would end up with craters on my face if I kept picking at my skin. He forced me to talk about it.
Saying out loud that I had an issue was simultaneously helpful and terrifying. Hed managed to put words to the behavior I struggled against.
He couldnt understand how I could keep doing something that so obviously harmed my skin. I couldnt either.
Once we moved in together, I couldnt avoid the problem. He would knock on the door if I had been in the bathroom too long, and he would cheer me on when I left my skin alone for more than a few days in a row.
Having this kind of unavoidable accountability helped enormously, but it didnt solve everything. I love my boyfriend for calling me out on my picking he was the reason I started searching for solutions.
As much as he helped, though, he couldnt understand how I could keep doing something that so obviously harmed my skin. I couldnt either.
Recommended Reading: Can You Get Addicted To Advil
Try Not To Touch Your Face
This can be a tough one, but touching your face can transfer bacteria and those pore-clogging impurities onto your skin. Try to be mindful of how often youre touching your face and catch yourself in the act as best as you can.
Do your best to wash your hands regularly so that if you do touch your face, your hands are clean.
Whats The Difference Between Acne And Pimples
Although acne and pimples are terms that are often used interchangeably, acne is considered to be a skin condition, while pimples are a symptom of it. Acne refers to an ailment that affects the skins hair follicles and glands.
Different symptoms of acne can indicate the cause of breakouts. These may include:
- blackheads
- whiteheads
- papules
- pustules
- nodules
- cysts
Read Also: Is Heroin The Most Addictive Drug
Is Picking Scabs Bad
Scabs might not seem important, but they play a crucial role in protecting wounds against infections. Beneath the scab, your body is repairing damaged skin and blood vessels. The area under a scab also contains white blood cells, which help to destroy any germs in the wound. They also draw out any old blood and dead skin cells that are still in the wound.
When you pick off a scab, you leave the wound underneath it vulnerable to infection. You also increase the amount of time itll take for the wound to completely heal. Repeatedly picking off scabs can also result in long-term scarring.
Dermatillomania is sometimes referred to as skin-picking disorder or excoriation disorder. Its main symptom is an uncontrollable urge to pick at a certain part of your body.
Common targets of picking include
- nails
- acne or other bumps on the skin
- scalp
- scabs
People with dermatillomania tend to feel a strong sense of anxiety or stress thats only alleviated by picking at something. For many, picking provides an intense sensation of relief or satisfaction.
Keep in mind that picking isnt always a conscious behavior. Some people with dermatillomania do it without even realizing it.
Over time, picking can lead to open sores and scabbing, which provides more things to pick. These visible marks can also leave people feeling self-conscious, which can contribute to anxiety. This creates a cycle of behavior that can be very hard to break.
How To Stop A Pimple From Growing
Everybody desires a clear and fresh skin without any blemishes, pimples or wrinkles. Pimples are particularly a nightmare to many people. They are red, ugly and sometimes infectious. Clearing pimples is difficult but it can be easier if you know how to stop a pimple from growing. Read on and discover the best ways to get rid of pimples.
Don’t Miss: How To Cure Internet Addiction
Blunt Your Weapons By Keeping Your Nails Short
If your nails are short, sure, you are still going to be able to pop a zit if you really want to, but with short nails it is a lot harder to just sit there and get on with the incessant skin picking that can begin a habit like this. Sometimes a zit popping obsession can lead to a more general skin picking issue, but with short nails, this side of the habit is much harder to achieve.
Trichotillomania And Skin Picking
Trichotillomania is a disorder in which people pull out hair from various parts of their body , or sometimes from their pets. In many instances the hair pulling results in bald patches. The strength of the urge varies. For some, the urge is incredibly strong. In addition, some people dissociate or zone out while they are pulling and lose track of time.
Compulsive skin picking is diagnosed as Impulse Control Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. It is a disorder in which people compulsively pick pimples, scabs, and other imperfections on their skin. Depending on severity, skin picking results in red marks, scab, scars, and disfigurement.
Hair pulling and skin picking are usually preceded by an emotional feeling of tension or anxiety. During episodes of pulling and skin picking, feelings of relief, relaxation, or even dissociation usually occur. After episodes of pulling and skin picking, feelings of guilt, shame, and depression are common. Hair pulling and skin picking frequently result in disruptions to ones life such as lateness or avoidance of social interactions. There are many different triggers of pulling and skin picking and the specific triggers vary from person to person. Common triggers include:
Treatment of trichotillomania and compulsive skin picking
Also Check: What Is The Meaning Of Addiction
Properly Wash Your Face
To help prevent pimples, its important to remove excess oil, dirt, and sweat daily. Washing your face too much may make acne worse, however.
When we strip our skin of its natural sebum with excess washing, it actually causes the skin to produce even more oil in order to rebalance your skin, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Anar Mikailove, MD. Thus, washing your face excessively can indeed make acne worse, as does using cleansers or astringents that dry out the skin too much.
Mikailove suggests using cleansers that are sulfate-free, fragrance-free, and gentle enough for twice-daily use, rather than using harsh physical scrubs or drying foaming cleansers.
To wash your face:
Why Picking Your Acne Is Bad
You dont have to take our word for it. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, popping your own pimples can cause a multitude of problems, including acne scars, more pain, making the acne more noticeable, or even an infection.
Popping the pimple may seem like its expressing the contents out of your skin, but doing it wrong can actually force the zits contents deeper into your skin, which can create inflammation and increase the chances of infection not to mention permanent scarring.
Who should pop it, if anyone? A dermatologist. But extraction is rarely the ideal treatment anyway, save for blackheads and whiteheads.
And other treatments for acne are no more safe for home poppers. To extract more serious types of acne, they may need an injection of corticosteroids to speed healing, which should only be injected by a doctor.
Dermatologists know the proper technique for popping a zit, essentially, and whether its a white head or a nodule, they have the appropriate tools, techniques, and safeguards to make sure the problem doesnt get worse.
Also Check: Can You Get Disability For Addiction
The Psychological Reasons Why Your Girlfriend Cant Stop Popping Your Blackheads
A few weeks ago, I was in bed with my boyfriend in Palm Springs, acting like a weird, emotional brat after our sweet time together in the pool, but not providing any explanation as to why. As we air-dried via AC, I reached for his body to rest against minean indication of my love for him despite my mood. Thats when I saw it: A somewhat large, extremely defined blackhead at the center of his back. Wed never talked about picking at one anothers skin before, but the next thing I knew, I was smiling ear-to-ear as the corners of my acrylic nails applied pressure to the base of his clogged pore.
My euphoria peaked the moment a thick burst of oxidized sebum erupted through its top. My boyfriend, on the other hand, winced in pain. That was so close to my spine, he said as I finished.
No longer did it matter if we were non-monogamous, stuck to a relationship schedule or adhered to any of the other relationship boundaries Id previously tried to impose on us. Now, all that mattered was that I got to extract one of his blackheads again.
This sort of joy is hardly unique.
I have to bribe my boyfriend with a blowjob to get him to let me pop his face, a female redditor commented on r/popping back in 2014.
A post shared by Sandra Lee, MD, FAAD, FAACS on Jul 30, 2018 at 5:00pm PDT
Wash your hands. I cant stress this enough. Its what makes or breaks a flawless extraction. Dirty hands can cause the extraction to get infected.
