Pop or Patch?: The Pimple Predicament
Picture this: you wake up in the morning, the sun is shining, a cool breeze flows from your air conditioner, and your face is dotted with pimples. “Ugh,” you think, but luckily, you realize you can put on pimple patches. You pull out the sheet of the miraculous ointments, wash and dry your face, and put them on. Even if they (can) look evident at school, your facial skin is as smooth as a baby’s bottom after just a few days.
But wait, you may ask, “Why go through all this wait time when I can just pop or pick away at them? What’s wrong with popping anyway?” The answer lies in a putrid, yet purifying mix of biology and chemistry.
One must analyze where and how they are formed to understand how to get rid of pimples. Pimples form when excess body oils mix with dead skin cells at the entrance of one of the many pores of your body. These microscopic pores, which usually allow for the growth of hair and the secretion of the aforementioned oil, or sebum, are thus blocked, proving ripe for bacterial infection and pus formation.
Let’s go back to the primary pimple-popping possibility posed. Although squeezing your pimple until it explodes with pus seems like a quick – albeit disgusting and painful – way to get rid of the zit of your nightmares, the process poses more risks than rewards. Popping and picking yield the likelihood of an infection in the now-open wound by the still-remaining bacteria, the danger of which is heightened when the injury is located on the so-called “death triangle” area of the face.
Infection in the area roughly defined as a triangle with corners at your cheeks and nose bridge above the lower lip is more easily transported by a network of veins known as the cavernous sinus to the brain. As such, even surface-level injuries, say, an infection from a wounded pimple, can quickly spread to the brain and cause permanent damage or even death.
Additionally, popping can also simply push pus downwards, leading to an even larger pimple. And even if the initial aftermath of the bursting can be considered “successful,” what remains is often a permanent scar or scab, raised or lowered from the rest of your skin.
Pimple patches, on the other hand, provide more success. These are commonly hydrocolloids, which is a fancy word for a polymer (something that is made up of a bunch of the same building blocks, such as plastic) that absorbs water to create a gel. The inclusion of hydroxyl (consisting of a hydrogen atom and an oxygen atom) groups also increases the rate of absorption. Patches can thus suck up excess oils from a pimple, decreasing inflammation and promoting the already ongoing natural healing process. They also provide a protective cover against picky fingers. This creates a conducive environment for a pimple to slowly, but surely, subside.
Despite these wonders, pimple patches have several limitations. They may cause further swelling to those with sensitive skin due to the adhesive in the mix. In addition, they don’t work on blackheads or whiteheads and those with cystic acne. Most importantly, they cannot prevent pimples from popping up, whether from an isolated incident or a major outbreak. The best ways to lessen your chances of a zit disaster include regular face-washing, moisturizing, and removing makeup after use or using non-comedogenic (non-pore-blocking) makeup products. Lastly, refrain from frequent face-touching, as dirty hands can transfer ick and microorganisms to your facial pores.
In the end, although popping pimples possessing pus may seem preferable, precisely placing polymeric pimple patches on your precious pores is the proper procedure. Furthermore, periodically purging a person’s pelt from possible puny provocateurs will precipitate a precedent in preventing the prospect of potential protruding pimples for perpetuity. Otherwise, the alternative path poses the possibility of a pilgrimage to purgatory.
Translation:
In the end, although it seems better to simply pop your pimples, applying pimple patches is more beneficial. Furthermore, regularly cleaning your skin from microorganisms will help prevent further pimple outbreaks in the future. Otherwise, you pose the risk of death.
Sources:
https://www.nyp.org/healthlibrary/multimedia/how-pimples-form
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4337418/
https://www.dermatologynwhouston.com/why-you-shouldnt-pop-a-pimple/
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/danger-triangle
https://www.britannica.com/science/polymer
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-do-pimple-patches-work
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12233-acne
Additional Sources:
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