Acne Skin Care

Don’t pop pimples.

Don’t pop pimples.

Don’t pop pimples.

But we all do it sometimes anyways. So if you are going to mess with a blemish, at least do it right.

There is NO reason to be tempted to use your fingers to pick or squeeze a pimple or blackhead if you have this handy kit. You do your skin a world of good to give up poking and prodding your acne with your fingers (even if you washed your hands first, just don’t do it). The key is in addition to a good cleansing and exfoliating routine to reduce acne, invest in a good set of extractor tools when pesky acne crops up, which can happen no matter how much you do to keep your skin clean.

Ideally, one should topically medicate a pimple and ride it out. But, that is easier said than done. If you just CANT wait for a pimple to resolve on its own, extractors get the job done without introducing bacteria into the open area or damaging the skin. This means less redness in the area, no marks or swelling. I have used blackhead extractors for years and also started using long loops in the last couple years. Some extractors are plastic, which is not sturdy enough to apply enough force to get the job done, but is strong enough to damage capillaries. When choosing an extractor, whenever possible, invest in quality stainless steel. It lasts longer, it is durable, and it is more sanitary. This kit is an excellent investment, especially for this great price.

ABOUT THIS KIT:

I like this kit specifically because it is a nice high quality, surgical grade stainless steel, they are easy to hold and handle with grip grids on the tools themselves, and for about the price of one tool from a well-known popular brand name, you can get multiple high quality tools in this kit. It comes in a small zippered case with ample space to hold the tools securely. I like that the tools come in this enclosed case so they are not exposed to open air and stay more sanitary. The loops are large enough and sturdy enough to clean well and therefore can last for years.

The one downside I see to this kit is the lack of instructions, which is fine with me to get instructions elsewhere, or if you are someone who knows already how to use these tools, but someone who has not used such tools should review how to use these tools to remove a pimple or blackhead before use.

HOW TO USE THE TOOLS IN THIS KIT:

There are extractor round and long loops, a blackhead concave extractor, and pointed tips.

COMEDONE EXTRACTOR LOOPS: These are for pressing and extracting, especially on fleshy skin like cheeks or delicate skin.
There are three sizes of round loops. These are ideal for finding the right size and pressure on a sebum plug or puss filled pimple that is ready to come out, and these are especially useful if you know there is more contents underneath the surface. When choosing which size loop to use, you will want to use a loop that is small enough to apply pressure to the immediate circumference of the pimple, but not too small because this can push contents deeper into the skin. Once the correct loop size is selected, apply to around the pimple and drag it across the skin, pressing in only lightly when needed. Lightly sweep across the pimple a few times to pry it out slightly, then, surrounding the pimple, press very lightly to push out the contents.

LONG LOOPS: I personally prefer to use the flat sided long loops for the sides of the nose where blackheads appear and oil lays on the surface of skin. The angled tip loop is useful for hard to reach angles or to try to angle slightly underneath the pimple to urge along deeper pimples, but DO NOT use this tip with too much pressure, you can do some damage by breaking the capillaries and cause scarring. I have not had success with these for fleshy areas of the face like cheeks, but OK on forehead and nose. They are also useful on areas of the body subject to acne such as shoulders and backs.

BLACKHEAD EXTRACTOR: This one is placed with the bottom of the concave bowl over the blackhead and pressed down until the blackhead contents extract. It is for dry pimples that are not filled with puss or fluid, and it releases a hard sebum plug. The pressure on surrounding skin releases the blackhead. It might take more than one try, but dont press down too hard, this can leave a round red mark that can be much more noticeable than the blackhead itself. Steaming the skin beforehand is helpful for blackhead removal. Use this type of extractor for a blackhead on the ear.

POINTED TIPS: This kit has a couple versions of the point, one is like a small thin pin to poke a tiny hole in a whitehead, another one is shaped like a pencil point to lightly drill hole or encourage an existing pimple head to open large enough for the pimple contents to exit, and there is a tiny spade which is duller but thicker and larger than the two former.
For each of these three types of points you need to know what you are doing, never use these in an act of desperation or to dig out the contents of a pimple. Never be aggressive with the points, be gentle.

The point tool heads are for the whitehead puss filled pimple that has not come to a “head” for whatever reason including that it is not “matured” enough to develop a head yet, or if the whitehead has been there for some time, it is more debris than puss or fluid. These will not extract without some help, and the pressure of the loop alone will not extract the contents. If you use these, at least it will be less red and irritated and no infection with the least broken skin possible. The smaller and cleaner the hole, the quicker it will be to heal.

To use a piercing pin point tip extractor, it is just one poke into the top surface of the pimple, no need to drill it in deep or move the tool around in the pimple. If you need to make a bigger hole, use the javelin shaped tool to expand it.

To use the javelin shaped tool, place it atop the new hole in the pimple, and gently twirl it clockwise atop the pimple with the lightest of pressure to drill the opening, but without applying force into the pimple.

Once it is pierced, and if it seems the contents are pliable enough to remove, it is time for extraction. The long, thinner flat loop is more useful than the round loops to very lightly gather the contents and push it towards the new opening.

Use an astringent applied with a cotton ball or cotton swab before and after the procedure.

Dont over-do it. Sometimes even making the hole and then washing your face or using a hot compress will allow the pimple contents to come out without any further prodding.

However, if after piercing the hole the contents do not budge upon an extraction attempt do not make a bigger hole. Use astringent and then apply some pimple medication directly into the pimple so it can treat from within. Some cortisone cream may also be useful to soothe the pimple at this stage.

The smallest point tip also can pierce those teeny tiny poppy seed size whiteheads that never seem to form into a head but lay just beneath the surface of the skin, taunting you. If possible, my dermatologist said it is preferable to treat these over time with a good retinoid cream. I have had some of this type that even my dermatologist won’t extract because they are in a delicate area (such as the skin underneath the undereye), so if a dermatologist wont attempt it, dont be tempted to do it yourself. But otherwise, whiteheads and active pimples that seem as if they are almost ready to burst are good candidates for piercing them to remove the contents.

The third type of point is a tip that is shaped like a tiny spade. It does not pierce the skin but can pry the pimple open a bit, such as if a whitehead is just a hard round sebum ball.

Also use this tip sparingly, I actually only use something like this if I have a splinter that I cant grab with a tweezers, or if I want to lightly poke a pimple to get a sense of how ready it is for potential extraction without grabbing it with my fingers.

A few tips:

• ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS clean off with rubbing alcohol or Peroxide before AND after each use. Wash thoroughly any pimple contents, blackhead plugs, or oil on the tools.
• These are best used after a warm shower or applying a warm hot compress or washcloth to the pimple to loosen up the area, help the pimple draw to a head, and make the skin clean and pliable. Blackheads will extract easiest this way as well.
• Don’t use too pressure, especially with the long loops and just use gentle strokes from different angles, repeat if necessary.

Oak Leaf Blackhead Remover and Comedone Extractor Tool Kit