We all want clear skin. It’s the reason beauty products adorn our vanity tables. It’s also the reason for the spa visits and even weird skincare hacks that sometimes work. So we understand the frustration when a pimple shows up after all that hard work. However, popping them is what you should not do.
You’ve probably heard that you shouldn’t pop your pimples because it could lead to more breakouts and cause scarring which is true. However, if you pop pimples in the danger triangle aka the facial triangle of death, acne scarring could be the least of your worries.
What is the danger triangle/facial triangle of death?
OK, so the triangle of death might sound like a conspiracy theory involving the Illuminati but we assure you it isn’t. The danger triangle of your face is the area from the bridge of your nose down to the corners of your mouth.
(Photo: omgfacts.com)
Why is this area called the danger triangle?
It is intricately connected via blood vessels to areas of your brain where infections can spread quickly and become serious. So basically, infections in this area of your face can easily get to your brain and that can be fatal. And by fatal, we mean cause blindness, stroke or even death.
What has this got to do with popping a pimple?
When you pop a pimple, you’ve left a tiny wound on the surface of your skin which should heal in a few days. But if that wound is in the danger triangle and it gets infected, the infection could travel up your brain quickly. Faster than your immune system can say freeze!
But you don’t have to take our word for it. Here’s what American celebrity doctor, Dr Oz had to say:
If that still doesn’t convince you, then this should. Listen to what Dr Sandra Lee, aka Dr pimple popper (because she actually pops pimples for a living and we suspect as a hobby too) has to say.
It doesn’t even have to be a pimple. The idea is to be careful with blisters or cuts in the danger triangle that can easily get infected.
Last year, a lady in America, Katie Wright developed cellulitis after she popped what she assumed to be a pimple under her brow (within the danger triangle). Within an hour, her face was swollen and she was at risk of going blind or having a brain infection, possibly even death if it wasn’t treated immediately! You can read about her encounter here.
Later, she disclosed on social media that she suspected she got the bacteria from not cleaning her eyebrow spoolie.
when you go viral for being ugly pic.twitter.com/anwVTHGusH
— katie ? (@katiewright) August 1, 2017
While this stresses the need to clean your make-up tools, note that the infection only became fatal when she popped the pimple. Thankfully, Katie Wright is alive and well now. But things could easily have gone south especially if it happened in *coughs* Nigeria.
Now you might have been popping pimples in the danger triangle for years and obviously, you’re still alive. But now that you know the dangers (pun intended), you don’t wanna push your luck do you? DO YOU??! Good.
From your bestest friends here at ZUMI, this is an appeal to not pop! Try these acne spot treatments instead.