How To Pop A Spot Properly: A Step-By-Step Guide For Tackling Zits Without Damaging Your Face

How To Pop A Zit Without Messing Up Your Skin

There's nothing worse than developing a huge spot right in the middle of your face.

Of course, many skin specialists will tell you to leave the spot alone because it'll eventually disappear of its own accord.

But, for those who don't want a volcano sitting on their face for an entire week, there's a proper way to pop that pimple. And this video from BuzzFeed shows you how.

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Here's how to pop your zits properly:

1. Make sure that your pimple has a white head.

2. Use a flame to sterilise a needle and rub alcohol on it.

3. Pierce the centre of the pimple with the needle.

4. With clean fingers, grasp the pimple's surrounding skin and, if there's pus, squeeze it all out.

6. Clean the area with warm water and leave it be.

14 Tips For Glowing Skin
Slop On Sunscreen (01 of14)
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As the temperatures rise, you may be eager to start lounging under the sun and working on that youthful summer glow. But too much sun exposure can actually have the opposite effect on your skin, speeding up the aging process (think wrinkles, dark spots and scaly patches), and increasing your risk of skin cancer. So to combat skin damage, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that’s at least SPF 30 before heading out for fun in the sun. Not only does applying sunscreen daily have great anti-aging effects, but if you also add a vitamin C serum to the mix, you'll get extra protection and even reverse UV damage. (credit:Shutterstock / Maridav)
Wash Your Face Daily(02 of14)
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After a long day at work or a night out, you may be tempted to crawl into bed with a face caked in makeup. Bad idea. Over the course of the day, makeup, oil and dirt build up on your face and clog your pores. If your goal is glowing skin, then the last thing you want to do is to allow that build-up to rest on your skin overnight. Doing so can lead to acne, blackheads, premature aging and other skin problems. Use makeup remover before washing to ensure your get all the makeup off your face. Find a gentle cleanser that’s right for your skin type, and won’t strip your face of its natural oils. And remember to pat (not rub) your skin dry with a gentle towel. You'll be grateful you did in the morning. (credit:Alamy)
Exfoliate (03 of14)
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Gently exfoliate your skin about once or twice a week to scrub away built-up dead skin, oil and dirt. The keyword here is gentle, because exfoliating too often or too roughly can damage your delicate skin. Try using an exfoliating konjac sponge to prevent yourself from overdoing it. You can also create your own natural exfoliant using sugar, sea salt, coffee grinds, oatmeal, cinnamon or raw honey. (credit:Shutterstock)
Hydrate From The Inside Out (04 of14)
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Drink plenty of fluids -- water, tea and vitamin and antioxidant-packed vegetable and fruit juices -- throughout the day to stay hydrated and flush toxins from your system. But drinking fluids alone won't lead to supple,hydrated skin. Apply a daily moisturize directly after washing, to prevent dry, tight skin, fine lines and wrinkles. Coconut oil, olive oil, argan oil, jojoba or other natural oils also help to moisturize and rejuvenate your skin. And to keep your skin hydrated and looking dewy throughout the day, spritzing your skin with a facial mist is a must. (credit:Shutterstock / Lorraine Kourafas)
Tone (05 of14)
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Toners help to moisturize, tighten pores and to remove any makeup, soap residue or water impurities left on your skin after washing your face. There are plenty of natural toners you can create right at home using items straight from your kitchen, including lemon, salt, rosewater, honey and vinegar. (credit:Shutterstock)
Back Away From The Sweets (06 of14)
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And the booze... and the dairy... and the greasy fast food. Hey, no one said getting healthy glowing skin would be easy. Sugar can weaken your immune system's ability to fight off bad bacteria, and cause digestive issues -- all of which can take their toll on your skin. Alcohol also contains sugar, dehydrates skin and damages the liver, which detoxifies your body. The hormones in dairy can lead to inflammation and increase oil secretion, resulting in a breakout. Find out what other foods you should avoid for healthy glowing skin here. (credit:Shutterstock / Anton Gvozdikov)
Maintain A Healthy Diet (07 of14)
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What you put into your body will reflect in your skin. A diet rich in DHA Omega-3s fatty acids (found in sardines and walnuts), vitamin C (found in citrus fruits and veggies), and high-fibre foods (such as dark leafy greens and whole grains) all work to help you glow. Find out which other foods you should be eating for a healthy glowing complexion here. (credit:Shutterstock)
Chill Out(08 of14)
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As relaxing a as hot shower may be, using steamy water to shower or wash your face strips your skin of its natural oils and leaves it feeling dry, tight and irritated. Your best bet is to aim for warm or lukewarm water, and to rinse with cool water after washing. (credit:shutterstock)
Unwind(09 of14)
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Speaking of chilling out… stress increases the amount of cortisol and other hormones in your body that signal your sebaceous glands to pump out more oil. This leaves you more vulnerable to breakouts and flair-ups of other skin conditions. Schedule some downtime each day for meditation, a walk, a bath, yoga -- whatever it is that will help ease your mind. (credit:Shutterstock / Jose AS Reyes)
Get Moving!(10 of14)
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Whether it's yoga, jogging or dancing, scheduling in a daily dose of exercise that gets your heart pumping will help to reverse the signs of aging and improve blood circulation to your skin. So get up and get moving! Just remember to shower immediately after a sweaty workout and to re-hydrate with plenty of water. (credit:John Fedele)
Clean Your Makeup Brushes (11 of14)
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When was the last time you washed your makeup brushes? We could all benefit from doing this more often. Bacteria builds up on brushes overtime and wreaks havoc on your skin. Set a reminder on your phone to clean your brushes at least once a month. Soak your brushes in sudsy shampoo and warm water (I add a few drops of tea tree oil to help fight bacteria), rinse until the water is clear of any makeup, and air dry or gently blow dry using low heat. Your face will thank you for it. (credit:Mark Mainz via Getty Images)
Change Your Pillowcase(12 of14)
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While we’re on the topic of cleaning, don’t forget your pillowcase. Seriously. You're basically sleeping on your toilet. And there’s no point washing your face before bed only to cozy up to a pillow that's covered in oil and dirt, and crawling with bacteria, now is there. (credit:Shutterstock / VGstockstudio)
Keep Hands And Hair Away From Your Face(13 of14)
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Pull back your hair before pulling over the covers to avoid getting oil from your hair on your face as you sleep. And don't even think twice about popping that pimple or putting your hands anywhere near your face for that matter. Not only can picking lead to scarring, but your hands are swarming with bacteria that will transfer to your face and worsen skin problems.Remember to give your filthy phone (and anything else your put near your face) a wipe down using a mix of water and vinegar, before picking it back up and pressing it against your face. (credit:Bellurget Jean Louis)
Catch Your Zs (14 of14)
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They call it beauty sleep for a reason... You've probably noticed the toll just a few nights of poor sleep can have on your skin. Sleep helps to rejuvenate our bodies -- including our skin. Sleep deprivation impairs repairs and causes skin conditions to flair up, premature aging, dehydration and pesky dark circles. So close your laptop, get that phone out of site and start sleeping earlier. (credit:Shutterstock / wavebreakmedia)