JUICY ZITS

Celeste says:
"Don't pop your zits!! I am 13 and have acne. I am doing a big research paper on acne and during my research i saw several pages that said if you pop them it damages the tissue in your face and spreads the oil to cause other zits. By damaging your skin tissue you will have scars and everyone would call you crater face the rest of your life. Surgery can help, but it won't clear up the scars. Trust me on this one, don't do it."

LOTHAR says:
"I never had a big zit problem, but knew some people I would like to pOp with a crowbar. "

Marc says:
"To all my children -
I know that popping zits is a good alternative to having a clear face now, but if you really think about it, you will, will, will have pock marks all over your face in the future because when you pop them, the pressure breaks the wall of the pore and it spreads the infection to other parts of your face. Pop them now have huge craters later and sorry, but the craters will NEVER go away.
    -Peace out doggz- "

Chris G. asks:
"Does anyone know whether diet has any effect on zits? Zits really piss me off! "

Errol F. asks:
"help me! my face is in a total mess. i have both zits and scars. you were right. i'd be sorry for popping them. do you know any home remedies to relieve my teenage agony?"

Paul D. says:
"Diet has nothing to do with zits, although iodine has been shown to cause oiliness of the skin, which may result in blemishes."

Spotty says:
"I usually don't get zits but if i get an occasional one i go crazy. I had two on my nose and yes i popped them. Yes I know that was dumb. I have two red spots on my nose!!!! I was wondering if there is anything to make them go away. I would appreciate your help. Thank you."

laura says:
"i say that if you want to get rid of your zits you should or should not pop them because i have zits and i tried to pop them, but it did not work and i dont care if you try to pop them because i know for a fact it did not work for me. thank you."

Lizzy says:
"I think that you should with a store bought pimple poppers. Then afterwards get a warm towel and put it on your face. Then use a good cleanser and cleanse your face (I recommend Clean and clear Daily Pore Cleanser). Then after drying your face put on a facial mask (I recommend Biore self heating mask). Wash the mask off then use an astringent and then an acne cream (I recommend Clean and Clear astringent and Clean and Clear persa gel). That's what I do and my face is pretty clear (it has a couple blemishes if I forget to wash my face twice a day or my mask once a week). You also should drink lot's of water. If you don't like plain water, put sugar in it. That's my opinion. "

walleye says:
"Dakkon`:
Dear, "Your-a-bunch-a-psychos",
I really think you should get yerself a hobby, whomever it would be that thought that question up. Besides, most people don't like zits, let alone hearing about the MANY ways for a person to pop them.. Buncha sickos."

Maze says:
hey... look..
all i gotta say is dont pop your zits ,pimples, blackheads, and all that other bad stuff.... because i had pimples a while back, and i used to pick them... :-(!
now that i have no more pimples.... i have scars from the pimples... soooo whatever you doooo.... dddddoooonnnntttttt pick the pimples, or whatever you have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Frogggy says:
well umm i have suntin to say 1st of all i have had acne before really bad now my face is all clear cept for sum scars and redness. well i am seeing a doctor and i asked about my scars and redness he said they shall clear up soon cuz im on a medication called Benzimicin r suntin like that.

Another contribution from Frogggy:
Hey Stacey (see previous contributions);
hey umm i had pimples and i popped them and my doc said if i keep using my medicine they will go away.

cpotter says:
Um, to not pop it is puss, but best bet is to see a dermatoligist!

A letter from LF:
hi, i went through your website and i thought it was funny yet gross. some of the responses made me laugh others made me sick. [i wonder] what is the best way of getting rid of little blackheads on your nose. i have a million tiny, blackheads all over my nose and was wondering how to make them go away they look so gross and when i try to pop them they wont budge. if i do pop them some of it comes out and it just sticks out (the white stringy stuff) well, i've tried popping, washing, scrubbing and those nose strips, but nothing works !!!!! Please h.e.l.p!!!!! :0 :0

hammytech says:
When I'm pickin' a zit, sometimes it seems like it has a root that reaches down to my knee. I keep squeezin and squeezin and more ooze keeps coming out. It's sickening. A big ol' zit just popped out while I'm typing this out. I'm sick of it. I'll probably still have zits when I'm forty.

Luna says:
my brother and i feel the reason we have zits is because if we didn't we would be to cute for out own good. pop your zits but be willing to take the scars if you mess up. as an artist i find besides the fun and pleasure of an exploding zit they are also a very good medium! once i recreated the mona lisa on my bathroom mirror. i also suggest that you have a friend to share your art with. my brother and i have shared many a bonding moment wondering why we are so cursed. does any of us really know?

lapsang says:
I'm at home right now, skipping school because I just CAN'T GO with these zits. And everyone thinks I'm just lazy, the teachers go on about skipping and grades that are dropping, but I can't exactly tell them the reason is that I feel so ugly! Anyways don't pop your zits. The stuff you get out of them isn't a tenth of what is squeezed downwards where it just gets infected. In general it's about being nice to your face which also means: don't use strong creams that dry out your skin. There's no point in starting a brutal war against the pimples, they'll just fight back and win anyway...What really causes acne is the imbalance in the skin. You're just adding to it if you try to "shock" your face by drowning it in alcohol or Clearasil or whatever it might be - get a mild cream from the dermo that restores the Ph, and the zits just won't show up. What these strong creams do is to stop the zits from growing big, which is good 1 hour before prom night, but doesn't help in the long run. Let the skin treat itself = better than any soap. Of course, severe acne has to be treated, but in general the skin is its own doctor, it just needs a little help. Good luck! (I'd need it myself)

Jayde asks:
hey!!!! My name is Jayde and i'm just about 14. I'm just wondering do u have any ideas how to get rid of them for good? My forehead is just like lumps, no puss or not really that red but when i go in the light my entire forehead is filled with the lumps/pimples. My cheeks are clearing up because my doctor gave me a cream but my chin isn't. i have just normal zits on my chin. one other thing is that i am also a gymnast. i train about 20 hours a week in a hot stinky gym. all my teamates faces are crystal clear even when they sweat and get dirt on their faces. Mine on the other hand, is another story. when i get out of training my face is horrible it goes bright red!!!!!!! its gross!!!! i'm so ashamed and i can't help putting myself down over how my face looks. (horrible!) can you try and help me!!!!!!!!!

STAR says:
People, don't pick zits or blackheads or pimples or anything (also closed pores). All you have to do is go to your nearest BOOTS, or chemist and pick up something called AQUEOUS CREAM B.P (this may not be the correct spelling) -- it works for me! Use it twice a day & it'll do wonders for your skin.!!!!

Jose N. says:
I've been having acne problems since I was 13. Three years later, here I am, without any acne problems. When I was 13-15 years old, I tried all sorts of acne products. I spent thousands of dollars, with no significant results. I tried all products from Accutane to Retin-A to Proactiv, which none helped but just destroyed my face entirely. Until last summer, I discovered the BEST way to clear up ZITS, and its free! SUNLIGHT! Sunlight cleared up my zits and zapped them away forever. I went to the beach for three hours a day, two days a week. I exposed all my acne-prone and acne-covered areas to sunlight, and I've never seen a zit ever since. All my scars and marks have disappeared entirely, and I love my results! I recommend it! GO, what are you waiting for?

Alison says:
my name is Alison and um i pop my zits and i don't get scars. i want to know if there are any specific creams that can help me! thanx for your time!

Dan says:
I am on my third week of taking Roaccutane, and I am delighted with the results. My acne was primarily concentrated on my back, though I did develop a number of quite prominent spots on my face. Retin-A, minocycline, erythroped, benzomiyacin, Witch Hazel, etc. didn't stop it at all (though I do believe they made it better than it could have been). Anyway, I visited my dermatologist privately (through BUPA) and he put me on the NHS waiting list, and I only had to wait a month before I got the drugs. The evening when I first took my 65mg a day, I could feel my lips getting rougher! It works that fast! The next day, I experienced a little dryness, and my face did go a bit red, but it wasn't a biggie -- I just blamed it on the cold weather.
Unlike many people I have heard about, my face did not flare up whatsoever. It got better immediately, and in fact my face was perfectly clear about 5 days after. I attribute this to my taking one erythroped pill (get it on prescription) in the morning and evening. It doesn't interfere with the accutane, because (a) accutane is just a vitamin anyway, and (b) erythroped is not an acne cure -- it is a general skin medication. Please please go and see your dermatologist about this because it will help you enormously! This could also cure depression associated with the flare up. Now (starting on the second week) my face has indeed become very dry and I have to use moisturising cream a lot (L'Oreal Plenitude), and lip balm (Neutrogena). I take them to college in a plastic bag so none of the lads find out, and I apply them in the toilet cubicle! But compared with my really greasy skin before, it is a godsend.
I don't drink alcohol -- I am not that bothered about it though. I do drink an awful lot of water --often a whole 2 litre bottle of mineral water in the evening (get Safeway's own brand one -- it is nicer than Evian or whatever). I actually like water and drank a lot before hand. In addition to the accutane and erythroped, I take loads of other vitamin supplements: Zinc (15mg); Selenium (RDA); Vitamin B-50 complex; Echinacea; Chromium Picolinate (RDA); Vitamin C-500mg with Bioflavonoids. You can get all these at Holland and Barret in the UK. Another thing I take/eat are linseeds -- you can get linseed oil as well, but the actual seeds taste nice anyway in sauces or whatever.
I also recommend using Witch Hazel if you do get spots still -- it is really cooling, and doesn't dry your skin as much as something like benzoyl peroxide would. For scabs that are pissing you off, I recommend something with a high concentration of glycolic AND salicylic acid (check out MD Formulations -- though they are extortionately expensive).
If you want as good results as what I have experienced, then please take my advice!
Good luck!

Trudi says:
I have a very deep pimple, one that is under the skin where you can't see the puss or anything. I put the neutrogena on-the-spot acne treatment on it, but it didn't work.Ê It has gotten bigger and it is red. I don't know what to do, and it is really embarrassing. Please help me.
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Friend says:
To all those people out there who have acne problems:
See a doctor if you think it is bad enough! I did, and now I am almost cleared up! There is a liquid medicine that is used every morning, a cream about twice a week, and if it's terrible there is a medicine that has stages to use. The stages medicine may stain your teeth permanently if they are not all the way grown in, so check with your dentist. All of these medicines are doctor prescribed only!

Big C in the Heart of Ohio says:
Picking doesn't pay.
I'm 13 years old & am struggling with acne. I get them here & there on my face, but my real problem area is my back. I've had some pimples back there & used a variety of acne medications on them, but nothing has gotten rid of them for good. I'm an athlete so I do sweat quite a bit. Some of thoses pimples back there have been there since I was 11. They've been infected, but I don't think you could call any of them cysts.
My advice, is not to pick or pop. This can give you scars & I already have a few scars on my cheek & chin. What I do is experiment with acne medication for short periods of time. I've found that when you first start using an acne treatment is the time it works the best. For example I'll use Clearasil one week, Oxy the next, then Phisoderm. I also try to take a daily Vitamin A and eat & drink things with Vitamin A (like milk.) I live in Ohio so there's no beaches & it's the dead of winter now so I'm not getting a lot of sunlight. Am I on the right track? What should I do about breakouts on my back & neck? Please let me know.
Keep trying. Hopefully, we'll all get through it.

BYpass says:
Accutane.

olli says:
HELP ME!!!!! I am 9 years old and have a mild case of its-so-disgusting-I-won't-say-it-right-now. i am worried sick because soccer starts Tuesday. ARUGHHHHH!!!! I have to get help now. I have almost tried every-thing except some great rays. But they say on another site that sunshine is not only bad for ya, but skin cancer runs in the family. So d'ya see what I'm getting at??.

Leanne says:
RACHEL,
If you have zits or pimples, try putting toothpaste or egg yolk on it for a couple of days.

Brianna says:
Hello chaosKids.
I have a big problem. Zits keep popping up.
Once one goes away here comes another one.
And now you know people wiil pick on you because of your problem.
Well, if you have any suggestions, please let me know.

Kristin B. says:
I myself haven't found an acne treatment that works in one day, though I do wish there was. But I do know buying lots of acne products and applying them right after the other is bad for you. The best stuff i've found is Retin-A, but you need a prescription to get that. If you find a really good product, please let me know.

Kristin B. says:
You should not pop zits -- it will only make them bigger. And to Nicole about how the girl in your class has zits ready to pop-- you need to shut your damn mouth. Zits are normal and everybody gets them. If you don't, you're just premature.

letise says:
hi i just thought i'd pop in to say hi and zits really suck. if anyone has n e remedies please let me know.

CAT asks:
i got bad cycsic acne that wont go away . do we have any professionals in the house ???

penny p. says:
Get over it -- i have a lot of blackheads.

Deity says:
Find any medication with diferin -- it works!!!!

Jenny G. asks:
I just need to know, cause I've tried it all, what do you think is the best cleanser and routine to clear up t-zone acne?

Lara says:
Hey, guys. A couple of things that I have found to work in my fight against acne:
1. BE NICE TO YOUR SKIN! It doesn't appreciate lots of drying agents (astringents, creams). Find a face wash that is gentle, even non-foaming. These clean w/o drying.
2. Black heads are evil, but I have found that (Freeman's?) avocado and oatmeal mask does wonders to get rid of them.
3. I have figured out how to keep my back and chest clear of zits: when you're in the shower, wash these areas with a gentle soap (oil of olay) AFTER you have rinsed the conditioner out of your hair. I know this can be a problem especially for girls with long hair; the conditioner goes down your back, and leaves this nice zit-causing film that water doesn't wash off.
4. Someone mentioned the benefits of sunlight - yes, light is good for you (you need it to make vitamin D) but please be careful. Dying of skin cancer (which will spread just about anywhere, brain, etc.) when you're in your thirties is no trade for clear skin. Best of luck.

Marissa A. says:
hi! i'm 13 and never used to get pimples, it's just in the past 1 month that i'm starting to break-out with pimples on my forehead and cheeks. They're not big, they're just tiny little bumps and now i'm embarrassed to show my face around my gilfriend and mates because they have perfect skin and i don't. I went to the doctor and he prescribed me a gel called isotrex and antibiotics and its kinda working even though i've been using it for 4 days but i've got a bit of a problem when i use the gel, when i apply the gel and rub it in softly it BURNS and i mean really BURNS and the next morning the area where it buned is red!? if anyone has any tips like anything i can use around the house please let me know, because u know, and i know and everyone knows that pimples suck and we all want to get rid of them!

ferkdajerk says:
I used to have acne problems and still do. One thing that I found that helps alot is swimming. I don't mean go to a beach and go swimming, but maybe a public pool, a pool at your local gym center, or even at hotels.

Samantha says:
I have this really big thing on my nose. It could be a zit or a pimple it's red and it really hurts. Oh and if you want to temporarily zap pimples put eye drops on a cotton bud and apply.

Daniel B. says:
Hallo everybody, My name is daniel and I also have spots, I have no advice for you on how to beat spots but I do have some advice on your esteem. Don't be embarassed by spots, they are a part of growing up and 99% of the time they just clear up on their own when you reach about 17, it may sound a long way off but in the meantime just ignore them. If people cannot accept you for the way you look then that is their problem and they can't be very nice people, because it is not what is on the outside that counts, but what is on the inside, and anyway, ask yourself how many people have actually made fun of your spots. I know I never have been made fun of, because most people have them.

Angela B. says:
I wanted to know how can I lighten my acne scars? I already used prescribed medication which cleared up my acne really well ,but now I am stuck with acne scars and I wanted to know if there are any bleaches or anything that I can use to lighten them up, I'm really tired of using make up all the time just to lighten and hide my scars. Summer is almost here and i want to go to the beach without feeling ugly with my scars and i wanna go without any make up. I really miss looking at my skin and just smile=)

Katherine D. says:
To pop or not to pop; THAT is the question! Whether it is nobler in the mind to release the insane tension housed right under a tiny layer of your skin or let the epidermal army fight it own battle, leaving its dead and decaying to be displayed little by little upon your exterior person. I, ladies and gentlemen of CyberSpace, pop. Responsibly so, now that I am older (17). It is a family tradition I originally picked up from a cousin. I was horrified that such hideousness was just sitting in his body and the same was dwelling in mine. That night, I set out to irradicate the little monsters. Amazing was the amount of oil, dirt, etc. from the blackheads that emerged from their respective pores. My early adolescence was filled with bloody, swelled masses here and there on my face. I learned how to minimize the trauma done to my face. At night, after a shower (this is a time when your skin is soft and pliable, and therefore less likely to scar), I examine my skin. Those that need immediate attention (you know the kind I'm talking about), are taken care of by a handy fine-pointed tweezer. I've learned to use it almost expertly. The angle of the metal, the precise, slight change of pressure, all coming from years of experience. Am I scarred? Not hideously so. A tiny spot on either of my temples is all I have to show for my "bloody-days". Am I red? Only in the areas that have recently become inflammed. Either by my own hand and is now recuperating, or by a bacterial battle raging on underneath my skin. Do I regret "popping my zits"? No indeed. It has created a bond between me and my father, a 6'4" man who arms cannot reach the middle of his back, the Mecca of Various Blemishes. I and my expertise have aided him in getting rid of several painful pimples and massive blackheads. After I treat him, my step-mother puts Neosporin on the once-pimple or blackhead until it heals. My father has only two scars. One he developed while in New Mexico on a job and tried to pop it himself with pliers (it was a blackhead that had become infected and had amassed). The other was one my own mother (not one familiar with zit-popping technique) tried to irradicate, not very successfully. Special medicines and dermatologists cost quite a bit of money these days. This back-woods girl has developed a way to deal with her acne without spending an extra dime on frivolous products.

Ryan says:
My name is Ryan. I am 13 and get zits here and there. I usually pop almost every one I see, but I am even more embarrassed to show a popped zit than an unpopped zit. So I was reading this page on Zits and i found on that most people said don't pop them, and that is what I believe. But the habit! It is so tempting. I wash my face with a towel and hot water every night. I still get zits even though I take Zinc vitamins and take showers every night and wash my face once a day. Please help me.

Brian says:
I have had zits since i was 12! The best way to treat zits will be to see a Dermatologist. Why wait?! Zits come from hell and really piss me off!

Ersatz says:
I am so completely fed up with pimples!! All of my friends have perfect model skin while I walk next to them feeling like a worthless piece of crap. I am 17 and have had this problem for 4 years. Once I was on benzoyl peroxide and my skin was flawless, now if I go within 10 feet of that stuff my face becomes bright red and inflamed. Now I am on some antibacterials that haven't produced any miracles yet. I am ready to rip off my epidermis!!! Also I pop those suckers left and right and all I get are scabs and more zits! There is no way that I will go around with puss hanging out of my face. My parents and my older brother had bad acne and i don't know how much more of this I can take! I have become extremely depressed and I'm also left with red marks no matter if I mess with them or not. And all of you babies that whine and complain about having 1 or 2 zits need to realize that there are plenty of people out there who would trade places in a heart beat. Nobody can help it, it's not their fault, so leave them alone!

Nirvana says:
I'm 13 years old, and I sometimes get a pimple here or there, but nothing really serious. It seems like I have tried everything but nothing seems to help. I get really frustrated when I look in the mirror and have one. It really pisses me off and sometimes I get mad at my family for that reason, even though they had nothing to do with it. I am currently using Brevoxyl - 4. If anyone could tell me if this stuff works, I would be very thankful. Thanks a lot.

Dr. Teen says:
Don't pop um'
*************If you want some good advise please take the time to read this*********
yes, I know you probably have this deep zit that's more like a boil on your face, but if you pop it not only does it cause severe pain, it can cause deep scar tissue in it's place. And for those whiteheads all over your chin, don't shave em' It bleeds! And they leave a rash of zit's over them. And don't be like my brother who squeezes his nose, even though there no zits there, just to get a thrill out of seeing a load of puss come out of your pores. I don't like going to a bathroom and seeing a yellow/white gunk driping off the mirror into the sink. Just stick your head in hot water and it'll clear up. Oh and for you nerds who are looking for the recipe for the face mask that clears zits in 2 hours. Forget it! It' just doesn't exist. If you have to pop the zits because of habit or just to get rid of them use a pimple popper, just ask for one at Boot's or something. Oh and mothers who are looking for way's to cure there kids... Don't! If you complain about it they get insecure and 99.9% of all kids who commited suicide had zits. And if you got zits under your nose, still don't pop them. mainly for the pain. but also for the risk of it spreading. If you do pop a zit... Stick your head in as hot water you can and stay there till your face just about burns off. Then Use the most skin drying soap you can then put lemon juice over it... it will sting a little. Ok you'd wish you were dead but it drys the broken pimple and bang! no more problem till you realize you have a scar so big you mother wears it...
p.s. Sunlight! Get a tan... Skin Cancer runs in the genes they can cure the the first 2 stages of skin cancer out of the 3 stages. God put the sun for a reason... thats the reason.

Razor says:
There is a cream called "clean and clear acne medicine" it has 10% benezil peroxide and it works real good.

Brandon says:
I have found out that it helps if you boil water put it in a cup and put a bag of tea in it and dunk it a couple of times and then dip a cotton ball in it and put it on your spots.

rayhana says:
i am 15 years old, almost turning 16. Yes i do have zits or shall i say ACNE. i hate them...i mean who doesn't right?! well a lot people have told me not to pop my zits, but i don't listen...and to tell u the truth...POPPING ZITS WORKS!!!!!!!! But it depends when you are going to pop it. if u wait too long, after the zit appears, then when u will pop it, u will have a scar. So the best thing to cure zits is to pop them while they are fresh, not when they are all "wrinkly". be sure to take all the puss and the blood as much as possible out of the zit, or u will then get an infection or u will have a worse zit or a scar. so BE CAREFUL!! that is my personal experience. My skin isn't crystal clear, (wish my face was), but i don't have pimples, and when i do, i pop them at the right time.

Donna Bell says:
To all dear Acne Endurers: I want to help you with natural products. Please go to these 2 websites for the help you so desperately need. You don't have to spend a lot of money to get the relief you are looking for. The first site: www.acne-power-wash.com, features a soap to use for GENTLY, but COMPLETELY cleansing your skin. There is NOTHING more important than this step. This product is also totally unbelievable in clearing up the bumps and irritation. You will be pleased to see that a high-school class tried the product, loved it, named it and designed its packaging. The key ingredient in this formulation is tea-tree oil, an excellent antiseptic that has been used for hundreds of years. The second website: www.tendskin.com, features a fantastic product to clear up and eradicate the bumps, acne and pock-marks from your skin. It was introduced as a product to clear up razor bumps and miraculously, it was found to be extremely effective against acne also. Investigate these 2 websites very carefully, discuss them with your parents and friends, and decide if you would like to try the products. If you do order them, please mention my name, which is Donna Bell. I wish each and every single one of you the best of luck and the most beautiful and clear skin you have ever wanted or imagined in life. I hope I will hear from all of you very soon to tell me of your excellent adventure in Acne Land...NOT! Remember that God loves you dearly!!

Gldnhamr4you asks:
i am a 15 year old freshman, and i get ingrown hairs on my face, i have no idea why, and then i pop them, they leave a giant red mark for about 1 to 2 weeks. how do i get rid of the ingrown hairs? and also stop the redness of my skin ?

Reply to CAT from emt:
My brother had cystic acne - the doctor prescribed Minocycline twice a day and Retin-A. It worked good for him, and I used it too.