Dermatologist issues warning about popping pimples in your face’s ‘triangle of death’ – it can lead to serious trouble
A DERMATOLOGIST has revealed what can happen if you pop a pimple on your face’s “triangle of death.”
The board-certified doctor said picking your face can lead to serious trouble if you’re not careful.
TikToker Dr. Shereene Idriss (@shereeneidriss) revealed an alternative way to deal with a breakout.
The beginning of her video showed a patient who advised against squeezing zits.
“Don’t pop your pimples guys,” she said. “I will never pop another pimple on my face ever again.”
She appeared to have an inflamed hole on the top of their right lip.
The wound was covered in cream, and the side of her face was swollen.
The doctor confirmed that this type of infection could occur for real.
“This area over here is known as the triangle of death,” the doctor said, pointing to her philtrum.
The philtrum is “the midline groove in the upper lip that runs from the top of the lip to the nose,” per the National Library of Medicine.
Dr. Shereene said that no matter how clean you are, everyone has bacteria in their nose.
If you have a pimple near your philtrum and you pop it, you could accidentally contaminate the area and it can spread, the doctor said.
If it’s a superficial infection, it could turn into impetigo, a “contagious skin infection that causes sores and blisters,” per the NHS.
If the infection “goes deeper into the soft tissue, it’s known as thrombosis,” the doctor said.
Cavernous sinus thrombosis is inflammation caused by infection, per the NLM.
“It is highly contagious. If you see this you run,” the doctor said. “You do not touch that person.”
“You wear gloves. You wash your hands,” she continued. “That is of the utmost importance.”
The infection could lead to MRSA, which is sometimes resistant to treatment.
“That is when things can get complicated,” the dermatologist noted.
Shereene said if you think you have an infection on your face, get tested as soon as possible so you know how to treat it.
The TikToker advised against popping pimples and offered some advice if a breakout is brewing.
“Take a hot shower, get it to a boiling head, and just cover it with a hydrocolloid patch,” she said.