Got a Blemish? To Pick or Not to Pick – That Is the Question

As some of you may know, I am a recovered “picker.”  That’s right.  Whenever a blemish would appear on my face, I couldn’t resist picking at it to make it go away faster.  Both absent mindedly or intentionally I picked at my skin, and what I ended up with was oozing, scabbing marks that would remain red for months.  Being an esthetician only made things worse, as that is how I justified the act.  I told myself that I was licensed and knew what I was doing.  So why did it just seem like I was making things worse?  Read: Are you Guilty of Picking at Your Skin?

When a blemish appears, it is embarrassing.  The whole point of picking it is that you don’t want anyone to see it, so you are trying to get rid of it.  The problem is, if you don’t want anyone to see it, ask yourself what is more noticeable: a closed bump or a scab?  A bump is smooth, can be camouflaged with makeup and is only glaring in certain lights.  A scab on the other hand, is a rough surface that doesn’t take well to makeup and becomes impossible to hide during the healing process and for a long time after.  What I thought was helping me was actually detrimental for my looks.  Not only that, but picking is rough on the skin.  Need more reasons to sit on your hands?…

-It is Unsanitary:  An open wound is open to infection
-It is Unattractive: Scabbing is a drawn-out process filled with dried flakes
-It is Damaging: Take it as a sign that pitting sounds suspiciously close to picking

I’m fortunate that during the time I treated my skin in this way, it all came out okay in the end.  One thing I can say for sure is that in the short run it may seem satisfying to pick, but long-term it is logical to leave things alone.

Read: How To Heal Blemishes—Fast!

Read: How Can I Fade My Acne Scars?

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