When I had acne I hated the lumps, the pain of the pus and inflammation, the rough feeling of my skin and the scabs. So I squeezed and picked and scratched. I’ve since learned that it’s pretty normal not to like irregular skin because we subconsciously associate smooth, clear skin with health and fertility. Needless to say, my bad habits contributed a lot to the amount of scarring I developed.

NEVER let anyone who isn’t a professional extract your blackheads, whiteheads, papules, or pustules. Nodular and cystic acne cannot be helped by squeezing or picking, so don’t even attempt it.

6 Nasty Outcomes from Squeezing/Picking/Scratching:

1. They promote more redness and swelling
2. They force bacteria into the tissue
3. They leave your skin open and vulnerable to bacteria
4. They disrupt the healing processes that have begun
5. They remove the collagen base of the healing and make scars worse
6. They contribute to the development of red and brown spots.

10 Tips to Stop Picking, Scratching, or Squeezing Breakouts:

1. Avoid mirrors or stay at least a metre away from them.
2. Try not to touch your face.
3. Keep your skin clean and keep using your skincare
4. Put any utensils you might use like extractors, tweezers, or cotton tips out of sight and reach.
5. Alternate a warm and cold compress, 20 minutes on, 10 minutes off for each one.
6. Apply a very light dab of benzoyl peroxide or azelaic acid cream/lotion, or use a pimple patch.
7. Do something to distract yourself for one to two minutes.
8. Do a light-emitting diode treatment.
9. Cover it with non-comedogenic makeup, that is a cosmetic that is formulated so as not to block pores.

Have fun and get on with your life.