Picking: the when, how, after care and precautions
Let’s talk holistically about your skin.
While it’s usually encouraged not to pick, I believe that you do not want to walk out the door with a pimple on your face (because neither do I). You are more than just a concept, you are a real whole person.
What is more important than attempting to abstain from picking, is that you know how to pick so that you don’t damage your skin.
Feel free to watch the video linked below or read the post for more detailed info.
When’s
“If you feel like you need to pick, try washing your face first” -Sage Austin
If you wash first, some of the texture from the breakout will soften and smooth out. This is a perfect way to be mindful of picking.
If you wash, and it still feels like you need to pick, the best time is after a shower. If you’ve experienced a facial here at Touch of Radiance, then you know we only do extractions (i.e. when we help relieve debris from your pores) after we’ve washed and steamed your face.
There’s a reason for this. The steam and heat helps to open your pores and prepare them. It softens the surrounding skin, and ensures that there won’t be damage to your skin.
How’s
Once the pore has been prepared with a good wash and steam from a shower you can start to relieve it.
Make sure your hands are clean. Use very gentle pressure. Very very very gentle. If you’re hurting your skin, you’re actually hurting your skin. Redness is also a good indicator that you’re pushing too hard.
Using similar pressure to when you’ve received facial extractions from an Esthetician is a good idea. You always want to be lifting up and not pushing or pinching downward. Use gentle leverage instead of more pressure.
Scroll down to the “DO NOT’s” section to read what to do if nothing is coming out.
After care
This may be the most important part of picking, and the part that’s most often overlooked or skipped all together.
Immediately after a pore has been relieved, apply gentle pressure with a clean washcloth or tissue.
Next, spray an alcohol free toning mist that includes anti-bacterial properties. ALOPOP’s Chamomile + Tea tree Toning Mist works wonders, because it has that Tea tree oil to neutralize the bacteria from the pore.
If you skip this step, often times what just came out of that pore moves to one near by. If you’ve ever picked and then had another breakout pop up next to it in the next couple of days, that’s probably what happened.
Long term care
In about 24 hours or longer, check and make sure it’s on it’s way to healing. Once it’s completely calmed down and healing you can apply ALOPOP’s Papaya + Vitamin C Exfoliating serum on it to make sure you do not scar or have a post inflammatory spot.
Do not’s
Please do not pick throughout the day.
Instead, try to be mindful about when and how you pick.
Please do not pick at any breakout that is not open. If you use gentle pressure and nothing comes out then it’s not ready. Do not pick at deep cystic breakouts.
Instead, soften your skin with a lot of moisture and wait.
Please do not apply the exfoliating serum if there is any redness or inflammation.
Instead, wait until your skin starts to heal.
I hope that these tips help you in your daily life. You are a whole person, and not just a concept. Breakouts are frustrating, uncomfortable and can be stress inducing (which perpetuates more breakouts). These small adjustments can make a huge difference for how long those breakouts stick around.
Often times, coming in for a facial or having a consultation with an Esthetician can help you find out what is causing your breakouts.
And don’t forget, you are not alone, and it will pass.