popping pimples

Popping a Pimple Can Actually Cause Death

By Anupum Pant

Never ever try to pop a pimple on your face, especially if it is in the danger triangle of the face (explained below).

You wouldn’t believe me if I told you that popping a pimple coming out in a certain area of your face could be lethal. If not lethal, it can cause facial paralysis or meningitis. Of course the chances aren’t that high, but it’s 100% true. If you don’t trust me, or you think Wikipedia is not always right, you could go and ask your physician about the “danger triangle of the face“. For real recorded cases of grave problems caused due to popping of pimples, you could check this link. To quote one…

A moderately stout man of 20, scratched the head off a pimple on his lip six days before admission to the hospital and died 36 hours after admission.

Recent example of a serious problem caused due to popping of a single pimple.

The danger area: The danger triangle is sort of a triangle, more of a rectangle on your face which covers the eyes (and eyebrows), the nose and the upper lip. The diagram is not completely accurate. Pimples in this area of the face should be left untouched.

Why? This area of the face covers something called the Cavernous sinus. In simple words, it is a cavity at the base of the brain which drains deoxygenated blood from the brain back to the heart. Unfortunately, the facial veins which circulate blood to the danger part of the face can drain blood directly drain into this cavity, the same cavity which has a direct access to the brain. Also, since there are no check valves, the blood can flow in any direction in these parts.

Now, if pimples are popped, the bacteria from these pimples can flow back and ultimately reach the brain. Imagine noxious pus flowing into your brain. That’d definitely be dangerous. But it is highly unlikely. Still, there is a chance.

Be careful. Don’t use your hands to pop pimples. Leave them alone.

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22 thoughts on “Popping a Pimple Can Actually Cause Death”

  1. Oh great, I read this now! :/

    Popped a spot, well not really a spot but a lump under my skin filled with calcium I guess. Probably off oils and creams I used over the years. I googled what I should do with a deep cavity left by the hard lump I managed to get out under my skin. Hopefully death isn’t on the cards lol (nervous lol)

    1. Haha no. That’s too rare. You’ll be totally fine. Just remember to not pop them from the next time. I usually put a dab of a simple white antiseptic cream on the pimple for a day or so and the whole thing is magically gone, no pain, no marks.

  2. I popped a pimple near the edge of my mouth on the upper lip…the mark has been there a while…should i be concerned?

  3. I popped a pimple on my nose with a needle, i burned the tip before i did it, applied alcohol, and when i poked the pimple some black from the part i burned got under my skin and i cant get it out should i be worried, and seek medical attention??

  4. I popped a pimple on upper lip and I have a headache on back of head. I slept for 8 hours thought should I be worried?

    1. How bad and huge was the one you popped. I pop many small ones on my upper lip all the time. There’s a good chance that the headache was due to some other reason. You should not be very worried.

  5. I have a pimple on the upper part of my nose and my whole head hurts when I try squeezing it or when it gets squeezed when I push up my glasses…should I be concerned??

  6. If you pop a pimple and it starts bleeding and you squeeze more, is there a chance of the blood going to your eye or brain?

  7. Oh My God, Never thought that a pimple can take your life. Though I am not a fan of Popping Pimples nor I recommend others to do that except when their heads are dried out and almost ready to fall off itself.

    Thanks for sharing such an important post with us, I hope your readers from now will keep their hands off their pimples.

  8. I popped a huge pimple between my inside eyebrow and the top pf mt nose about a week ago, now there a huge patch of super dry skin like rough and scaly…. is this an infection if you dont know do you is this a problem or concern,

  9. Just felt the death. I had no idea a small acne do this. I suggest never ever try to play with it. I fainted for minutes woke up and seen ppl gathered around me. Now I am all ok but jst don’t do it.

  10. Hello,
    I yesterday afternoon visited a saloon for shaving and to have a haircut. It was all ok my hair cut was done when i was shaving the barber saw a pimple and he told me that should i pop it and i said yes then he poped it with a huge force by his hands the pain was so much that tears came out of my eyes then e put a cream to stop the blood because blood was poring out of the pimple. The he started shaving when it was half done my head was spinning and every went blank and i was senseless i didnt know what happened when i woke up the barber shop people told me that suddenly i fainted while shaving and my whole body started shaking i made my head in an odd position my eyes was fully closed and there was foam coming out of my mouth. Then they smell me a leather bealt after few minitues i regained sense..

  11. Hi, I just popped pimple near my ear and having headache now, is that a sign of danger or I need to consult the doctor. Please help I am very much scared… I just read the dangerous outcomes after popping the pimple!! Help!!

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