It’s a hard no on the nose, folks.
Board-certified NYC-based dermatologist Dr. Mark Strom has taken to TikToK to reveal the one place where he would never pop a pimple.
Strom refers to the center of the face as the “triangle of death,” also known as the danger triangle, and warns potential poppers to avoid performing at-home extractions of this area.
“Popping pimples in the center of the face can be particularly dangerous. The area of the face from the bridge of the nose down to the corners of the mouth has veins that connect directly to the brain via a blood vessel called the cavernous sinus,” he said.
Strom explains that traumatizing the skin in this critical area can introduce “a nidus of infection into the bloodstream.”
This infection can be carried directly to the brain, causing infection and, in rare occurrences, even death.
How does it happen? Squeezing a pimple can create an open wound, which can become infected by dirt from our hands and airborne bacteria. The veins can then form clots to contain infections, which puts pressure on the brain, leading to partial or complete paralysis and, in some cases, death.
Left untreated, an infection of the sinus cavity can also cause total vision loss, brain abscesses, and meningitis.
The condition, known as Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis, kills 30 percent of those who contract it.
Strom notes that while mortality is unlikely, the threat of death by pimple is enough to make him avoid popping any pimples in the triangle of death.
Last year, a TikTok user named Hope who goes by @imlesbianflavored revealed to her followers that she contracted a staph [staphylococcus] infection after popping a zit in the triangle of death.
“This was worse than childbirth and I now have a fun little scar from it,” she said, warning others not to pop their pimples.”I will never pop another pimple on my face, not ever.”
Beyond the threat of death and staph, extractions are best left to professionals to avoid scarring or worsening a breakout.
In an echo of Strom’s advice, skin expert Zoe Devine previously told The Post, “Never touch a deep, red, inflamed, and very painful breakout. It is likely that you will worsen the redness and inflammation.
“If you squeeze an inflamed lesion, you could potentially rupture the follicle wall under the skin and spread the acne-causing bacteria, resulting in a worsening of your acne or more acne popping up nearby. If inflammation worsens as a result of trauma from squeezing, this can increase your risk of scarring.”
Scarring and the possibility of death? Pass on the pop, folks.
In the absence of popping, experts recommend a spot treatment for pimples that includes a glycolic-based product followed by an anti-inflammatory gel to alleviate redness and irritation.
