Why can’t you squeeze out pimples on your face and cover them with iodine?
Most often, iodine for acne on the face is used by people after squeezing out an abscess on the face. Especially in the evening before going to bed, or in the morning hastily getting ready for work or school. This is absolutely not allowed!
So, let's immediately look at the reasons why you can't squeeze pimples and then cover them with iodine:
- Insufficiently cleansed face and hands are foci of infections that can easily get inside pimples;
- Even if you thoroughly clean your hands and face first and then “squeeze” the pimple, you still risk harming yourself . In order for the whitish pus or yellow sebum to come out, the skin needs to burst. Because of this, a traumatic rupture of the skin occurs, which then rots and grows into a scar;
- Iodine dries the skin, but when it gets into an open wound, it irritates it and, on the contrary, slows down healing.
Different types of acne
Why is burning a pimple with iodine a bad idea?
The opinion that you can burn a pimple with iodine comes from a misunderstanding of its properties. Most often in medicine, its 5% solution is used, which has drying, antiseptic, disinfectant, and wound-healing effects.116
Under no circumstances should the drug be applied to an open wound, so do not treat the skin after squeezing out a pimple*. This can lead to tissue necrosis. The iodized solution is used as a decongestant, which is misunderstood by acne patients and they stock it in their acne medicine cabinet. 116
Long-term external use of iodine can lead to the development of the following side effects115:
- irritation;
- rhinitis;
- lacrimation;
- excessive salivation;
- Quincke's edema;
- acne.
Remember that iodine is a drug, so it is important to use it correctly in accordance with the instructions.
How to properly remove blackheads on the face?
Wondering if iodine is needed for acne on the face? It all depends on what kind of acne it is. If these are black dots, then the action plan is as follows:
- Clean your face from dirt, dust, cosmetics;
- Treat your hands and face with chlorhexidine to remove all kinds of bacteria;
- Steam your face or open the pores with a gel;
- Use special tools for facial cleansing to remove blackheads, helping if necessary with sterile hands;
- Wipe your face with chlorhexidine and apply an anginal mask to shrink pores.
Important: for blackheads, iodine is useless and can only cause harm.
Methods of application
Application in its pure form: is it possible to cauterize rashes on the face?
For internal (subcutaneous) acne and isolated manifestations
- Cleanse the skin with an antibacterial agent, which a dermatologist will help you choose. Soap can disrupt the acid-base balance of the epidermis, so its use is not recommended.
- Dip a cotton swab in iodine and quickly touch the rash 1 to 3 times.
- Process each formation in this way.
- If you experience a feeling of tightness, you can lubricate the affected areas with an antibacterial agent containing salicylic acid. The use of moisturizing and nourishing creams after applying iodine can negate the effect of the drug.
Carry out the procedure once a day for 5 days. If necessary, repeat the course after 1–2 months.
Iodine is applied to pimples pointwise: using a cotton swab
For whiteheads (“piglets”)
Such formations have no exits to the outside. It is recommended to treat them spot-on in the evening before going to bed, and lubricate them with salicylic alcohol the next morning.
The duration of treatment is no more than 5 days.
The method is effective only for single formations. Application over large areas of damage can only aggravate the situation.
Water-salt solution for blackheads
Stir a tablespoon of sea salt in half a glass of warm water and add iodine (4-5 drops).
Treat areas covered with black dots with the solution 2 times a day. Duration of use: no more than 3–5 days.
To achieve an analgesic effect, you can add an analgin tablet crushed into powder to the product.
To prepare the product, you need to use salt that does not contain dyes or flavoring additives.
Lotion with egg white and vodka for acne
Add 3-4 drops of iodine to the egg white and pour 100 ml of vodka into the mixture. Using a whisk, beat the mixture. Soak a cotton swab in lotion and wipe the areas of skin affected by acne. After the composition has dried, wash with warm water.
Repeat the procedure 2 times a day for 3–4 days.
Recipe with aloe for purulent acne
- Before going to bed, cleanse your face.
- Wash the fresh aloe leaf well, remove the pointed edges and cut in half lengthwise. Apply the plant pulp to the formation and secure with a band-aid. Leave the compress on all night: the aloe should “pull” the pus out.
- In the morning, remove the bandage and wash with clean water. Treat the pimple with iodine.
Aloe “pulls out” the pus accumulated in the pimple, and iodine prevents re-infection of the skin
Masks
With cream
Some sources recommend a mask with iodine to eliminate acne. It is necessary to mix a teaspoon of iodine in a tablespoon of any cream and apply the substance to the skin of the face for 10 minutes.
It is not advisable to resort to this method, since the fats contained in the cosmetic preparation block the effect of iodine.
With analgin
Grind 4 analgin tablets into powder and combine with 4-5 drops of iodine.
Apply the composition to clean skin for 15–20 minutes, rinse with warm water.
Use the mask no more than once every 3-4 weeks.
Iodine for purulent acne on the face
But if you have pustules on your face, especially those with white or yellowish caps, you absolutely cannot squeeze them out. The maximum is to sterilize the needle and pierce the cap so that the liquid pus can come out without tearing the skin.
If there are purulent formations on the face, it is recommended to apply iodine for acne to the face, both on the pimple itself and 1-2 mm around the perimeter around the pimple.
Diseases of the internal organs are often the cause of rashes on the face
The benefits of iodine in the treatment of pimples
Rashes on the face immediately catch the eye. The foundation only partially masks the inflammation. Dermatologists do not recommend getting carried away with concealers. They clog pores and prevent processes from occurring naturally. As a result, new pimples and acne appear.
To hide rashes, use a drying agent. Iodine is suitable for this task. The benefits of iodine include the following properties:
Bactericidal action. Getting on the skin, iodine removes harmful microorganisms that provoke the appearance of acne and the formation of inflammatory foci. Oily skin is prone to breakouts because it attracts impurities. Iodine eliminates greasy shine, preventing the appearance of new pimples.
The benefits of iodine in treating pimples are obvious. It is important to adhere to the rules of use. We should not forget that iodine dries out the skin. If your face is dry, then it is better to avoid this product. To avoid causing a negative reaction, perform an iodine tolerance test. To do this, apply the product to an open area of the body. If there are no rashes or itching, then it is allowed to use iodine to remove pimples.
Contraindications of iodine for pimples on the face
Everything is medicine, and everything is poison, said Paracelsus and he was completely right. Iodine, like other medications, has a number of contraindications. And if you observe one of them in yourself, change the method of treating the rash.
- You have been diagnosed with iodism. With this diagnosis, it is strictly forbidden to allow iodine into the body, even applying it to pimples;
- Chemical burns from iodine. The first rule is that iodine is applied locally and not all over the face. But even in this case, you can get a chemical burn. In this situation, you need to immediately stop using iodine, and if the burn is severe, seek help from the hospital;
- The amount of rash began to increase - a sure sign that this type of treatment is not suitable for you;
- Peeling, tightness, and roughening of the skin are a sure sign that iodine is excessively drying the skin.
Iodine for acne on the face: before and after
Will it be possible to remove a pimple* with iodine?
The idea of using an alcohol solution of crystalline iodine to cauterize pimples* is not new. It has a number of useful properties184:
- Antimicrobial action. Capable of destroying up to 90% of bacteria that contribute to the development of inflammation.
- Drying effect. Due to the presence of ethyl alcohol in the composition, it helps dry out inflammation.
- Regenerating action. Helps speed up the healing process of wounds.
But experts do not recommend smearing pimples* with iodine, despite its benefits. Treatment of acne, even local, must be medicinal and only prescribed by a specialist.
Iodine for acne on the face: reviews
Inna : My mother taught me to cauterize ulcers with iodine. Cauterize and never squeeze. Youthful acne is over, and there is not a single scar on your face! Now my sons are growing up, I teach them not to squeeze pimples, but to burn them with iodine, like I once did in my youth.
Nina : I get ulcers on my face regularly before the onset of menstruation. There is only one thing that saves – iodine. I don’t know how he does it, but the subcutaneous tissue disappears overnight with a bang. I recommend to everyone!
Beauty is taking care of yourself. Do you want to take care of yourself? Then our articles will be interesting:
- Why you can’t squeeze out pimples on your face, then how to get rid of them;
- Red, painful pimples that itch appeared on the neck;
- Why do pimples appear on the face - the causes of inflammation.
Contraindications and precautions
External use of iodine is contraindicated for:
- dry and sensitive skin;
- individual sensitivity to the drug.
If you have dry skin, treating acne with iodine is contraindicated.
Before using the drug to combat rashes, you need to consult a doctor and conduct an allergy test. Apply a little iodine to the crook of your elbow and observe the skin reaction. The product can be used only if after 24 hours no undesirable manifestations are detected (irritation, dryness, burning, redness, etc.).
You cannot treat the entire face with iodine, as this leads to burns and severe drying of the skin: the drug is applied only to the rashes.
Long-term use of iodine has a detrimental effect on the condition of the epidermis.
Using the drug to treat large areas of skin can provoke iodism, which manifests itself:
- lacrimation;
- Quincke's edema;
- increased salivation;
- lacrimation;
- hives;
- rhinitis;
- acne, etc.
If dry skin or other undesirable reactions are observed during use of the product, its use should be discontinued.
Pros and cons of using iodine for acne
Treatment with iodine, like any method of combating inflammation on the skin, has its advantages and disadvantages.
Pros:
- effectiveness. A couple of weeks after proper use of iodine, the effect will be noticeable. The iodine solution will eliminate pus and heal the lesion,
- cheapness and availability of the product.
Minuses:
- the ability of the drug to cause an allergic reaction,
- the possibility of getting a skin burn (if iodine is used incorrectly),
- An overdose of the drug can provoke a deterioration in the general condition of the body.
Iodine is not recommended for use by women during pregnancy and children under two years of age , regardless of the location of the inflammation.
