Pop that pimple or go in for a cortisone injection

What can you do about that zit that sprouted overnight? Don’t pick it which is about the worst thing you can do to a pimple. You may squeeze something to the surface, but you’ll only end up squeezing the infection deeper into the skin. It could also result in a more serious infection. The bacteria-filled pus oozing from the insides of the pimples could spread all over your skin and this, in turn, could cause more pimples. It's best  to just leave them  until they go away on their own, unless, of course, you know the right way of popping a pimple,  which actually does heal a pimple quickly.
Contrary to popular belief,  picking pimples rarely causes scars (scars are depressions in or bumps on the skin...you can actually feel them), says Dr Schultz of DermTV.  But do not rejoice on hearing this. Picking pimples, in fact,  causes something worse, he says --- stains (flat dark or brown spots that you can't feel) and stains are extremely hard to remove, difficult to hide with makeup, and they take a very long time to fade, even with aggressive bleaching regimens.

But one fine morning, a casual look in the mirror alarms you as you discover a huge, prominent, white zit  dominating your face, more so, as you are all set to attend a big event that day. Nothing can convince you from keeping your hands off that offending pimple and popping it. So what should you do in such a circumstance? First or all, think of popping it only if you are absolutely certain that the zit is superficial,not very painful and is a whitehead bulging above the surface of the skin. To begin with steam you face to soften the skin and open the pores.Wash your hands well with a good hand sanitizer like Dettol to make them germ-free, just in case. Then  gently rub on and around the area surrounding the pimple with a clean, warm washcloth soaked in mild astringent/toner (or any acne lotion with an ingredient like salicylic in it) for a few minutes to gently exfoliate and help bring the pimple to a head. Then, you can prick the head with a sterilized needle. Then wrap two tissues on your index fingers and gently squeeze from the sides. At this point some pus may ooze out. Stop at once if blood also starts oozing out. Then with a cotton swab soaked in antiseptic lotion, gently wipe the area and apply a benzoyl-peroxide product on the popped pimple. For more detailed instructions watch this video.

If the pimple is deep and painful, you shouldn't attempt to pop it. Instead, go to a dermatologist, they often accept have an "Emergency Pimple Policy" to fix an unsightly zit. Usually they do this with a cortisone shot directly into the nodule. The best thing about this injection is that it produces fast results. It quickly heals the lesion by destroying bacteria, as it is injected directly into the nodule.Normally, this eliminates the redness and swelling within a few hours. Over the next few days, the blemish softens and flattens out and most lesions heal within a week after treatment. However, this therapy is recommended only if you have one or two acne nodules begging to be popped, that too in an emergency. If your face is full of acne lesions, you may have to take dozens off injections, which will not only be painful, but you will also be at the risk of having deeper injuries and other side effects.

You may wonder, what this cortisone actually is? It's is a chemical naturally produced by your body to help with inflammation. However, the amount of cortisone produced by your body is relatively short acting, but its healing properties can be harnessed by administering it in the form of a shot. This is the same type of shot that is given that athletes and people with joint problems. In either case, the cortisone is injected directly into the problem area to reduce inflammation and stimulate the healing process. When used on cystic acne, the cortisone shot also breaks up the infection and begins working immediately. Most people who have had their cystic acne treated using cortisone injections see noticeable results quickly. However, cortisone shots can only be used on existing nodules and not as a preventative measure.Because cortisone is produced naturally by your body, there is no risk of an allergic reaction. One known side effects is a condition in which the cortisone crystallizes and become painful, but this only lasts for a day or two and can be treated by icing the affected nodule; however, this is the exception, not the rule. The only other unwanted side effect that comes from cortisone injections is a small white spot that develops where the shot was given, but this seems to only affect people who with dark complexions; this reaction is very rare, but it does happen. Also if too much cortisone, or too strong a dilution is used, the fat around the injection site can atrophy. You’ll notice depressions, or pitting, of the skin in the area. Fortunately, these depressions usually go away. But this can take a long time, though (up to 6 months), so it's better if you get this injection shot from a skilled dermatologist.

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