Tigyawat: To Pop or Not To Pop?

Tigyawat (pimple) popping can be tempting to do for someone who has acne, and once they see that small white pus emerging, people get more and more tempted to squeeze it out. Now, tigyawat popping can lead to several problems, especially when it is not done by a professional.

What Should You Do If You Have a Tigyawat (Pimple)?

According to Shilpi Khetarpal, MD, the best treatment a person can do when they have a tigyawat is to apply benzoyl peroxide on it. This would be the fastest way to treat pimples and the product is readily available in most drug stores. Benzoyl peroxide is an effective treatment for this skin condition because it eliminates the bacteria that is clogging the pores.

Different treatments apply to varying types of acne as well. These can be categorized into three types: mild acne, moderate acne, and severe acne.

Here is how you can treat acne according to its severity (remember to seek the advice of a dermatologist, especially for severe cases):

Mild Acne

• Treat blackheads and whiteheads by using resorcinol, salicylic acid, and sulfur).
• Eliminate bacteria, reduce sebum production, and add a peeling product to a skincare routine to clear pores (benzoyl peroxide would be the best product for this).
• Treat acne inflammation by using products with salicylic acid.

Moderate Acne

• Continue to use OTC treatment for acne. If the acne still persists, contact a dermatologist.
• Most of the time, moderate acne treatments would include the use of topical gel or cream products and antibiotics to keep flare-ups at bay.
• For those who are taking antibiotics, strictly follow the prescription given by your doctor.

Take note that there are several types of antibiotics that have side effects like staining the teeth. Make sure to contact your doctor and ask what side effects the antibiotics will have on you.

In addition, some acne products have an ingredient called retinoid and this has a few side effects such as skin irritation and UV sensitivity. Do take note of this and try to reduce exposure of your skin to the sun.

Severe Acne

This type of acne severity would be difficult to treat using OTC products and other topical treatments, so the best treatment for this type of acne would be having it looked at by a dermatologist.

Should I Pop My Tigyawat or Not?

You should never pop your tigyawat by yourself because this would do more harm to your skin than good.

Tigyawat popping can lead to the following:

• Permanent acne scarring
• Painful acne/inflammation
• Spread of bacteria and infection
• More noticeable acne

There are a lot of reasons why dermatologists advise against tigyawat popping at home.

First off, there is a big possibility that some may do this with unsanitized hands. And this could cause the spread of bacteria and push the pimple’s contents inside the pores, causing inflammation or outbreaks.

Second, tigyawat popping could slow down the healing process of the body, so the pimples on your skin may stick around a lot longer than usual.

The best thing to do to a tigyawat is to leave it alone because it will disappear on its own over time.

If you would like to speed up the healing process of your tigyawat then you may apply a thin layer of benzoyl peroxide directly on it.

In addition, there are several products to avoid when treating tigyawat: toothpaste, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda are some of them. These are too abrasive on the skin and would only worsen the condition.

When Should You See a Dermatologist?

If topical treatments, OTC medications, and home remedies do not seem to have any effect, then this would be the best time to visit a dermatologist.

The sooner you visit a dermatologist and have your skin checked the better, this is to avoid the tigyawat on your face from becoming too severe (possibly from popping them).

Dermatologists would then give a diagnosis of your skin condition and recommend the best treatments to improve your skin.

Learn more about acne prevention and management here.