“To pop or not to pop?” That is the question that hundreds of thousands of teenagers ask themselves every day.  For most highschoolers appearance is everything, and pimples are one of the most frustrating parts of growing up. Blemishes become the bad guys in our (Instagram) stories, and sometimes it feels hopeless. 

So what is the solution, are we supposed to pop them? Or do we wait to let them disappear on their own? Well Dr. Shadi Kranitz, owner of Dr. Shadi Medspa, provides some insight on this. Dr. Kranitz explains that popping your pimples “can lead to inflammation, scarring, infection, and potentially worsen your acne by pushing bacteria deeper into the skin.” Yet where do these blemishes even come from? A lot of student’s find themselves in a state of shock when they wake up with a pimple, yet do not understand that most of the time they themselves are the root cause of its appearance. Most pimples form when “pores in the skin become clogged with a mixture of sebum, dead skin cells, and bacteria” (Dr. Kranitz). This can occur when you don’t wash your face properly, which ends up causing buildup in your pores. They can also be caused by genetics, hormonal changes, friction and pressure, or certain medications.

Today, when most students see a pimple, they slap on a pimple patch to cover it up. Yet, do they actually help? Dr. Shadi Kranitz explains that  “The effectiveness of pimple patches can vary depending on the type of acne and the individual’s skin.” They are generally effective on surface level pimples and small isolated pimples, but not as much for larger pimples that are farther inside the skin. There are many types of blemishes. Closed comedones (whiteheads) are small white bumps that form when clogged pores remain closed. Inflammatory Pimples such as Papules are small, red, and tender bumps that are caused by inflammation. Pustules are Papules that have a pus-filled center, appearing as white or yellow bumps. Lastly, Nodules are larger, deeper, and more painful bumps that can be located beneath the skin (my least favorite). 

Yorba Linda High School student, Sophia Jones (11) explains that “

Well, luckily for Sophia and so many other students, Dr. Shadi MedSpa offers laser treatments, chemical peels, acne facials, and skincare products. So next time you wake up with a pimple, make sure to think before popping it!