6 Best Practices For Popping Pimples, According to Dr. Pimple Popper Herself

"As a doctor, I need to say that you really shouldn't pop them on your own," said Dr. Lee. She recommends bringing your extraction needs to a trained professional. "But if you're going to anyway, it's my responsibility to share how to do it best." Think of it as another tool in your manual skin manipulation toolkit: gua sha, lymphatic drainage massage, jade rolling, facial reflexology, and now an extraction tutorial care of Dr. Pimple Popper herself.

Take a hot shower or safely steam your face by making a tent over a pot of hot, just-boiled (no longer boiling) water. Ideally you'd cover your face and the pot or bowl with a towel to trap the steam, but if that causes anxiety or discomfort, simply hover for a few moments. "If you soften up debris that's clogging pores, [the extractions] will come out easily with less trauma to the skin," said Dr. Lee.

Dr. Lee recommends using a loop tool to extract rather than your hand, so it's worth investing in one. Her namesake extractor is the one she uses and costs $20. "Using the tool feels like scraping against the skin, but it's actually relieving the pressure from the skin and trying to 'pull' out the contents of the pore," rather than squeeze, said Dr. Lee. Along with proper prep, using an extractor can seriously reduce the trauma caused to the skin.

We're all for getting dirty and wilding your microbiome, but risking an infection on your skin isn't worth it. Wash your hands thoroughly and make sure all your tools are clean before you begin. This is a must! Dr. Lee uses rubbing alcohol to clean her extractors and recommends the same for anyone using a tool.

"Know when to pop and when to stop," Dr. Lee told mindbodygreen. Well said. One of the biggest traps when getting in front of a mirror, whether it's magnified or not, is picking at the skin for too long. It starts with one innocent blackhead, and 10 minutes later you have a raw, red, ragged complexion. We recommend setting a timer for a minute or two and really abiding by it to avoid doing more harm than good.

If you're going to pop with your hands, avoid using your nails (or cut them) and stick with the pads of your fingers, and always cover them with tissues before squeezing, said Dr. Lee. Always approach the area gently, and if it's not coming out easily or feels particularly painful, stop popping. "Some things just aren't meant to be popped at home," she said.

To be clear, we're aware that the anti-extraction movement in facials is only growing, and we still fully embrace skin positivity. But sometimes, the urge to pop is too strong to pass up. The more you know!