What happens to unpopped pimples?

Pimples are a common skin condition that many people experience at some point in their lives. They form when dead skin cells, oil, and bacteria clog up a pore. This causes the pore to become inflamed and swollen. Pimples can occur on the face, back, chest, and other areas with a high number of oil glands.

There are several different types of pimples:

Whiteheads – these remain under the skin and appear as small, flesh-colored bumps.
Blackheads – these are open at the surface and appear black.
Papules – small, pink bumps that feel tender to the touch.

Pustules – pimples filled with pus that appear red at the base.
Nodules – large, solid pimples that are lodged deep within the skin.
Cysts – deep, painful pimples filled with pus.

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What happens if a pimple goes unpopped?

Popping pimples can be tempting, but it’s generally not recommended by dermatologists. When you pop a pimple, you risk pushing the bacteria deeper into the skin, worsening the acne and increasing the chances of infection. You can also cause scarring by popping pimples.

So what happens if you just leave a pimple alone and let it heal on its own?

In most cases, an unpopped pimple will simply go away on its own within a few days. Here is the process:

The pimple will initially look red and swollen as your body’s immune response causes inflammation around the clogged pore.
Pus, which consists of oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria, will gradually fill up the pimple.
Over 2-5 days, your body’s immune system will work to eliminate the bacteria and inflammation will start to subside.

The pimple will begin to heal, flattening out and eventually disappearing.
Once the pimple is gone, the area may be slightly reddish for a few days but there should be no lasting scar if the pimple was not picked or popped.

So in summary, an unpopped pimple will simply run through the normal cycle – growing to a head, then resolving and healing on its own within a few days. No picking or popping is required for the pimple to eventually disappear.

Are there any risks with leaving a pimple alone?

There are a few potential risks to leaving a pimple alone:

The pimple may heal very slowly and last longer than normal.
It can become increasingly inflamed, painful and swollen.

In rare cases, a pimple may continue to grow and develop into a nodule/cyst.
Bacteria trapped within the pimple could multiply and potentially lead to a skin infection.
Popping the pimple late in the process may be more likely to cause scarring.

However, these risks are quite low for the average pimple. As long as you keep the area clean, avoid picking, and monitor for signs of worsening infection, most pimples will heal just fine if left alone.

When should a pimple be popped by a professional?

While popping pimples at home is not recommended, there are some circumstances when having a pimple professionally extracted by a dermatologist or esthetician may be appropriate:

If the pimple continues to grow larger and more painful.

If it does not show signs of healing after 1-2 weeks.
If you develop a fluid-filled cyst or nodule that feels firm to the touch.
If the area becomes increasingly red, swollen, warm and tender, indicating a possible skin infection.

If scarring is likely because the pimple is overly inflamed and stretched.

A professional can use sterile instruments to open and drain the blemish, reducing the likelihood of pushing bacteria deeper into the skin and minimizing scarring. Prescription-strength medication may also be prescribed to treat severe inflammatory acne.

Tips for safe at-home pimple popping

Again, popping pimples at home is generally not a great idea. But if you decide to DIY, follow these tips to minimize damage:

Never try to pop a pimple early on when it is small, red and tender – wait for it to be ready.
Do not squeeze, pick or poke the pimple – this forces bacteria deeper in.
Wrap two tissues on your fingers and gently press on either side of the pimple to encourage drainage.

Stop if you meet too much resistance or if it is painful.
Never squeeze out all the pus – some needs to remain to avoid further infection.
Apply a hydrocolloid bandage afterward to help draw out pus and bacteria.

Keep the area very clean – wash with an acne cleanser before and after.
Use an ice pack to help reduce swelling and redness.
See a dermatologist if you have recurring cystic acne.

How to heal popped or unpopped pimples

Whether you decide to pop a pimple or let it heal on its own, these tips can help speed up the healing process:

Use a benzoyl peroxide spot treatment: Benzoyl peroxide helps kill acne-causing bacteria and also reduces inflammation.
Try hydrocolloid bandages: These help draw out any pus/fluid from the pimple without the need for popping.

Apply an OTC antibiotic cream: Antibiotic creams can prevent infection in open popped pimples while soothing redness.
Take oral antibiotics if prescribed: For severe inflammatory acne, oral antibiotics may be needed to control bacteria.
Use a warm compress: Applying a warm washcloth to the area can help speed healing and improve inflammation.

Reduce skin irritation: Avoid scrubbing or picking the area, use gentle cleansers, and moisturize to promote healing.
Watch for signs of infection: See a doctor if the area becomes increasingly swollen, painful, warm and red.

With proper care and avoidance of picking/popping, most minor pimples and zits will heal within a week. See a dermatologist if you experience large, painful acne lesions or if pimples leave dark marks or scars after healing.

Home remedies to get rid of pimples

In addition to standard acne medications, there are some natural remedies that may help get rid of pimples faster and reduce the chance of scarring:

Remedy	Method	Benefits
Tea tree oil	Use a cotton swab to apply diluted tea tree oil directly to pimple 2-3x per day	Has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties
Green tea	Apply cooled green tea bags or green tea extract to skin for 10 minutes 2-3x per day	Green tea polyphenols reduce inflammation and fight bacteria
Apple cider vinegar	Dilute ACV with water and use a cotton ball to apply to pimple for 5-10 minutes daily	Contains acetic acid that kills bacteria
Honey	Apply a small amount of raw honey directly to the pimple and leave on for 20 minutes before rinsing	Honey has natural antibacterial effects
Aloe vera gel	Apply fresh aloe vera gel to the pimple twice daily	Helps reduce inflammation and redness
Spot treat with lemon juice	Dip a q-tip in fresh lemon juice and dab onto the pimple. Leave on for 10 minutes before rinsing.	Lemon juice is antimicrobial and exfoliating.

Keep in mind that many natural treatments can cause skin irritation, so test on a small area first. They should never replace acne medications prescribed by a dermatologist.

How long do pimples take to go away?

On average, pimples take 2-7 days to go away if left alone to heal naturally. Here is a breakdown of the typical healing timelines:

Day 1 – 3: The pimple is at its largest and most inflamed. Pus development at the core begins.
Day 3 – 5: Surface inflammation starts to subside. Pus and oil continues draining from the pore.
Day 5 – 7: The pimple flattens out, shrinks in size, and starts drying out as your body reabsorbs the fluid.

Day 7+: The pimple continues to heal and may leave some residual redness for a few more days after the pimple is gone.

However, the timeline can vary based on multiple factors:

Factor	Impact on Healing Time
Type of pimple	Deeper cysts and nodules can take 1-2 weeks to fully heal
Level of inflammation	Highly inflamed pimples tend to take longer to resolve
Location	Pimples on thinner facial skin heal faster than body acne
Your skin type	Dry or sensitive skin may prolong pimple healing time
Immune health	Illness or impaired immunity slows the healing process
Medications applied	Effective topical/oral treatments speed healing

No matter what though, picking or popping pimples will always delay the healing process and make pimples last longer.

Can pimples heal without coming to a head?

Yes, pimples can sometimes heal without ever forming a visible whitehead. Here’s what happens in this case:

The clogged pore becomes inflamed deep under the skin.
Your body is able to fight off the bacteria before a significant accumulation of pus occurs.

Inflammation and swelling resolve as your immune system eliminates the infection.
The pimple heals without progressing to a pus-filled whitehead.

Pimples that don’t surface often appear as small, red, tender lumps under the skin. They tend to be less painful and heal more quickly than pimples that are clearly visible on the surface.

While coming to a head demonstrates the normal progression of a pimple, it’s not strictly necessary for a pimple to eventually disappear. Any type of pimple can clear up without forming an open lesion if treated early and properly.

Can you pop a blind pimple?

Blind pimples refer to pimples developing deep under the skin that never rise to the surface and come to a head. Attempting to pop them is nearly impossible:

There is no visible whitehead to pop since the clog remains deep within the pore.

Applying pressure will not effectively squeeze out any pus.
Picking at the skin may cause bleeding and scarring.
You’re more likely to push pus and bacteria further in, worsening the pimple.

Dermatologists do not recommend trying to pop a blind pimple. This forces infection deeper into the follicular canal. Plus, blind pimples often resolve on their own if left alone. Applying a warm compress can help speed up the healing process.

See a dermatologist if a blind pimple becomes excessively painful or swollen. They can expertly lance and drain deep blemishes that don’t surface on their own.

How to pop a pimple correctly

Again, popping pimples is generally not recommended. But if a pimple comes to a head and you decide to pop, follow these steps:

Wait until the pimple is ready – white, soft and full of pus.
Wash your hands and face thoroughly with antibacterial soap.
Sterilize a small needle with rubbing alcohol and open the pimple gently at the surface.

Use two cotton swabs to apply gentle pressure and push out the contents.
Stop if you meet too much resistance or if this causes pain.
Do not squeeze out all the pus – leave some behind to avoid infection.

Apply benzoyl peroxide cream and a hydrocolloid bandage.
Never pop pimples that develop cysts or nodules – see a dermatologist instead.

Conclusion

Allowing pimples to heal on their own, without picking or popping, is the best way to avoid complications like scarring and infection. While popping can be tempting, most pimples will resolve after running through the normal cycle of coming to a head then draining. With good skin care and resisting the urge to pop, pimples generally disappear within a week. However, severe inflammatory acne may require professional drainage or prescription medications to treat and prevent scarring.