What to Do After You've Popped a Pimple

We've all been there, done that. The urge to pop a pimple is often difficult to overcome: It's staring at you in the face, and especially if you've got a big day coming... you just know that all you have to do is squeeze. 

Related article: All About Popping Pimples - Should I Pop My Pimple? How to Properly Pop a Pimple?

A popped pimple can easily turn into a nasty scar, so it's important to have a post-care routine that will help soothe and repair the skin. Here is what you need to do after you pop a pimple so you're not left with acne scars or damaged skin:

STEP 1: Cleanse

A popped pimple is basically an open wound, so the first thing you should do is disinfect it like you would with a scrape or a cut. Take a cotton swab or wet cotton pad, and carefully clear the pus or blood to make sure the bacteria doesn't spread all over your face, inviting more zits. 

Next, follow up with a soothing cleansing water or gentle foam cleanser. Benton's Tea Tree Cleansing Water is an excellent choice for this. It will whisk away impurities that could infect the newly popped pimple, while acne-fighting tea tree leaf water and tea tree leaf oil control excess sebum, and prevent any new pimples from forming.

STEP 2: Soothe & Treat

The priority is to quickly calm your inflamed skin to reduce the chances of scarring. You can do this by icing the area to reduce inflammation and prevent scarring.

The skin is also extra sensitive and vulnerable during this time, so you should stay away from using products like exfoliants or vitamin C serums. Instead, use a soothing serum like Beauty of Joseon's Calming Serum, which contains traditional Korean hanbang ingredients like green tea and centella asiatica to soothe skin and help stop the appearance of acne marks. 

STEP 3: Moisturise

Another way to make sure that your skin will heal properly is by ensuring that your skin barrier is healthy and intact. When your protective barrier is disrupted, your skin will take longer to repair itself, and it also becomes more prone to irritation or redness. Moisturising your skin properly will actually help increase your skin's resilience.

Barr's Centella Calming Barrier Cream is a moisturiser that contains centella asiatica and jojoba seed oil to hydrate, soothe irritation and repair skin damage. It's formulated with only the most essential ingredients, and is perfect for reinforcing your skin barrier.

The Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream is another option to hydrate your skin without causing further inflammation. This lightweight, blue-hued cream contains guaiazulene, a powerful skin-calming ingredient that soothes and cools down inflamed skin.

STEP 4: Protect

Remember: Sun exposure can actually darken acne scars, so it's important that you remember to apply sunscreen before heading outdoors! 

Other than SPF, another way to protect your skin is by simply not touching it! We recommend using the COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch over your popped pimple to protect the area from bacteria. Just apply it to your blemishes and it will help absorb any gunk overnight, while protecting it from your wandering hands.