How to Pop a Pimple the Right Way

Ideally, you'll be able to take care of your pimple without squeezing. Popping pimples should always be a last resort.

If you feel like you must pop that whitehead, though, it's best that you do it safely. Remember, whenever you squeeze a blemish there is no guarantee that you won't cause damage to your skin. These steps will at least reduce the chance of that happening.

This only works for blemishes with large, obvious white heads that are close to the surface of the skin.

1. Wash your hands well with soap and water.
2. Sanitize a needle or pin with rubbing alcohol.
3. Coming in at an angle parallel to the skin, gently prick the top of the whitehead with the tip of the needle. Don't go so deep that you draw blood. You just want to pierce the very surface of the whitehead. This shouldn't hurt; if it does you're poking too deeply or the blemish isn't ready to extract.
4. Wrap your fingers in tissue or cotton. Place your fingers on either side of the blemish. Instead of squeezing, though, gently pull away from the blemish. This often drains the pimple without you having to squeeze at all. It minimizes the chance of pushing infected material deeper into the skin.

If that works you can stop here, no need to squeeze at all. Cleanse the area with soap or facial wash, and apply a bit of toner or astringent.