KOR
ENG
CHNAcne & pores
How is squeezing acne yourself different from extraction at a clinic?
There are times when you look in the mirror and feel the urge to squeeze a pimple that has come up. Squeezing seems to clear it quickly, but you also hear that it left a mark, so it is confusing which is right.
Extraction at a clinic and squeezing at home may look like the same action, but the conditions are different. This article sets out what is different, and separates the cases where extraction is needed from those where it is not.
Why shouldn't I squeeze at home?
If you squeeze with force using your hands or a tool, the sebum may not come out of the pore and may instead be pushed into the surrounding tissue, which can deepen the inflammation. Bacteria on your hands can also enter the wound.
As a result, red marks or pigmentation, and in severe cases pitted scars, can be left behind, so in some cases you end up worrying for a long time about a spot you squeezed once.
How is clinic extraction different?
At a clinic, the type and stage of the acne are checked first, and it is judged whether extraction would help in that condition. Only when needed, it is carried out with sterilized tools and according to a set method.
The table below shows the distinctions generally described, and what is actually done is decided after looking at the condition at a consultation.
| Category | Squeezing at home | Clinic extraction |
|---|---|---|
| Whether to do it | You decide on your own | Whether it is needed is judged after looking at the condition at a consultation |
| Tools and hygiene | Risk of infection when hands or ordinary tools are used | Carried out with sterilized tools in a controlled environment |
| What is treated | People often end up squeezing everything without distinction | Carried out after confirming that the condition is suitable for extraction |
| Care afterward | Hard to get guidance on care | You are given guidance on how to care for it |
How should I care for my skin after extraction?
Right after extraction, the skin may be temporarily red or sensitive. Wash your face gently with lukewarm water, apply a mild moisturizer, and also use sun protection when you go out. For the specific method, follow the guidance of the clinic where you were treated.
If the redness lasts a long time, if there is pain or oozing, or if it keeps getting worse, please contact the clinic.
Frequently asked questions
Q. I have already squeezed it. What should I do?
A. Do not rub it or squeeze it again. Wash your face gently with lukewarm water, then moisturize and use sun protection. If the redness or pain gets worse or oozing develops, please contact a clinic.
Q. Is it okay to squeeze blackheads or small, grain-like acne bumps at home?
A. Even if they look small, forcing them out can leave irritation and marks. The approach differs by type, so it is safer to decide after having the condition checked at a consultation.
Q. Won't extraction leave a scar?
A. It depends on the method and the condition, and it is hard to say that no scar will form. Whether and when to extract is decided after looking at the condition at a consultation.
