Like most skin infections, if a person sees a swollen patch of skin that has pus, it is likely a person has an infection, Mohamed A. Jalloh, PharmD, an assistant professor of clinical sciences at Touro University California College of Pharmacy, told Healthline. Popping pimples can cause scarring, hyperpigmentation or dark marks, and infection, Strachan said. Seek medical treatment if youre unsure. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Mom reveals her vagina is better than ever after childbirth, Men have better sex with emotionally unstable women, First-time mom gives birth in nine minutes flat, Ex-anorexic qualifies for Bodybuilding World Championships, Science figures out that the snooze button actually ruins your day. HealthTap uses cookies to enhance your site experience and for analytics and advertising purposes. Dr. Truswell was the first in his area in Western Massachusetts to have an accredited private office surgical suite. Please consult your doctor before taking any action. You can find this zone on your own just by making a triangle with your two thumbs and pointer fingers. It's ridiculously tempting to pop your pimples during an outbreak of acne. Yes, that means popping a pimple could actually kill you. Cover cuts with topical ointments petroleum jelly can work for minor cuts. Infection in this area can often spread from manipulation, such as nose picking, plucking nose hairs, or anything that breaks the skin barrier.. Dr. Vij recommended applying some warm compresses to it before you begin the picking process. Additionally, Dr. Vij noted that you should ensure the spaces underneath your fingernails are clean since bacteria are good at hiding there. Blogs are not reviewed by a WebMD physician or any member of the WebMD editorial staff for accuracy, balance, objectivity, or any other reason except for compliance with our Terms and Conditions. These types of infections are treatable with antibioticsand they would have to rage on for quite awhile before it could make its way to your brain. Elizabeth Millard is a freelance writer focusing on health, wellness, fitness, and food. Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You could also die of a lightening strike. But if the zit is particularly bothersome, your dermatologist can inject the area with an intralesional steroid, says Alan Parks, M.D., dermatologist and founder of skincare site DermWarehouse. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Sometimes, flattening a juicy pimple on your chin is all too rewarding. If you break that barrier, thats when things can turn deadly. You're definitely going to die. The scary name comes from the fact that the blood vessels in this part of the face have a direct link to blood vessels close to the brain. What Top Skin Docs Do When They Get a Pimple, Here's How Pimple Patches Actually Help Get Rid of Zits, Sweat Pimples Aren't Entirely Caused By Sweat Here's What You Should Know, What You Need to Know About Cortisone Shots for Acne, How to Pop a Pimple Without Causing Future Harm, The Best Body Acne Treatments to Fight Blemishes from Head to Toe, Why You Keep Getting Pimples Inside Your Nose, and What to Do About It, Drew Barrymore Revealed the One Trick That Helps Her "Make Peace" with Maskne, These Are the Best Products for Treating Scalp Acne, All I Want This Holiday Season Is a Lifetime Supply of These Pimple Patches. Even so, we think well be keeping away from the triangle of death from now on. Within an hour, her face was swollen and painful. For potential or actual medical emergencies, immediately call 911 or your local emergency service. Thats because it could cause blood clots, which might lead to stroke. If you notice them, see your doctor, stat. It's similar to your chance of buying a single lottery ticket and winning. I popped a pimple on the triangle of death my sister told me that I could get a brain infection is that even possible? The best way to see the triangle is to form one with your fingersconnecting the tips of your thumbs and then the tips of your pointer fingers. NOW WATCH: How to pop a pimple yourself, according to Dr. Pimple Popper's tips. Sure, as long as you don't get an infucktion. However, if you can resist popping, Dr. Shamban recommends to first place ice over a zit you notice. It's called the triangle of death because hypothetically popping a pimple could cause an infection that would easily reach the bloodstream. One such don't pertains to a particularly ominously-named region of your face: the "danger triangle.". It was really close to my mouth so there is s chance that a bit of it went on my lip or inside my mouth. Squeezing a pimple can create an open wound, which can become infected by dirt from our hands and airborne bacteria. Youve likely been told since the first zit cropped up on your chin that you need to leave pimples alone. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Long ago, this condition was a death sentence, but now we have medicine to help treat it. However it's quite rare, if you are worried about infection take some basic sanitation/antiseptic procedures before hand. i woke up specifically because it hurt so much that if i touched any of the areas near it on my face, like my chin, it would feel When accidentally stuck by a needle, its important to report it and follow up with your doctor for testing afterward. Here's what you need to know about the "triangle of death," why you should avoid popping pimples in it, and how (if at all) you can pop pimples on your face safely, according to dermatologists. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. And if popped prematurely or improperly, a pimple "can stick around for weeks since the bacteria contained inside can be pushed deeper into the pore or spread onto the skin surface, as well as a lead to aggravation and scarring," she says. That can create an open wound, and if bacteria get in theresay, you touch your face without washing dirty handsyou can develop an infection. (, Dr. Shamban says you should always avoid popping zits, anywhere on your face. The 19-year-old, known by her surname Yang, felt a persistent pain . First, popping a pimple can push debris deeper into the skin, which may lead to: Inflammation, which can cause redness and swelling that is worse than the pimple itself Pain More pimples Second, squeezing pores can also lead to pits that bleed and become scabs. Popping a pimple above these sinuses can create a chain reaction of infection that leads to the brain, Hartman said. If you pop a pimple within the danger triangle, the skin can become infected and this infection can permeate these blood vessels. Everything seems to be happening at once. These bacteria can quickly enter your body and cause an infection, and because of the proximity to critical portions of your brain, the infection can lead to serious complications quickly. Always be sure to wash your hands before putting them anywhere on your face, don't use your nails to pop a pimple, and always practice good aftercare if you've popped a zit. However, infections are rare. Wash makeup brushes regularly, and avoid hands touching the face. And if all else fails, see a dermatologist for help. However, septic cavernous sinus thrombosis can also lead to other more serious conditions like a brain abscess, a brain infection, damage to your facial nerves, paralysis of your eye muscles, meningitis, pneumonia, septic emboli, a staph infection, and even a stroke. You cant see it, but its there. As published by the magazine, the veins in the "danger triangle" ultimately lead back to the cavernous sinus, located in our brain. While popping your zits isn't recommended, there are a few ways to make the operation less high-risk. Please note, we cannot prescribe controlled substances, diet pills, antipsychotics, or other commonly abused medications. 3. One option? If you're wondering whether that's a real possibility or an exaggeration designed to inspire shock, here's what you should know about the danger triangle. So lets say you pop a pimple there. The veins in your "danger triangle" ultimately lead back to your cavernous sinus, located in your brain, he says. When you pop a pimple in this area, the skin might become infected. Photo: Flickr user SpooSpa, Face_of_SpooSpa.jpg, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikipedia. The triangle of death is the area of your face including your upper lip, nose, and between your eyebrows. There are also important structures around the eyes, nose, and mouth. Treat it like a pimple on any other area of your face. 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You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. For me, it's always been around my nose and my upper lip. Warnings on social media claim you should never, ever pop pimples within the area for risk of causing death (yes, really). It's not a pimple. "That is the signal that the the pus inside is close enough to the skin's surface and ready to be removed or expressed.". Dont pop if you can help it, and if you canthey, weve all been therethen watch for signs of infection. Neutrogena Rapid Clear Stubborn Acne Spot Gel. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Lastly, if the fear of deadly infection isnt enough to persuade you to stop the pop, keep in mind the lasting physical damage pimple popping can cause. You Should Never Pop a Pimple In the "Triangle of Death" On Your Face, This Coffee Shop Provides Free Therapy for Men, Neutrogena Rapid Clear Stubborn Acne Spot Gel, 5 reasons you still get zits as a grown-ass man, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Sounds crazy, but that location actually existsand it can be just as dangerous as it sounds. "The cavernous sinus is the name of a large vein that drains blood to the brain, creating a connection from our outside to our inside," explained Dr. Zeichner. Some of these opinions may contain information about treatments or uses of drug products that have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Popping a pimple, picking at a scab, plucking out nose hair .. all of these things can break the skin and lead to infections like furuncles (boils, which are infections of the hair follicles) and cellulitis (when the layers of the skin are infected.) Get prescriptions or refills through a video chat, if the doctor feels the prescriptions are medically appropriate. No but seriously you'll be fine. According to The Daily Mail, the triangle of death also known as the danger triangle stretches from the top of the nose to a point on either side of the lips, roughly where dimples usually appear. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. But the chances of it really happening are exceedingly low, he says. Learn about her 3 point plan to help keep it regulated. A 49-year-old member asked: Popped pimple in death triangle what do i do? While popping pimples is tempting, it isn't worth the risk for pimples in that area. Symptoms involve inflammation and may affect multiple. There are many triangles that weve been told to be wary of Bermuda, love, isosceles. Learn about some, Pus is a normal part of many common infections, including skin abscesses and tonsillitis. Popping a pimple above these sinuses can create a chain reaction of infection that leads to the brain, Hartman said. The triangle of death is the area of your face including your upper lip, nose, and between your eyebrows. Maggie ONeill is a health writer and reporter based in New York who specializes in covering medical research and emerging wellness trends, with a focus on cancer and addiction. Clean your face and keep and eye on the area. Newsweek. bleeding. If you do pop a pimple clean it well with a gentle cleanser. In other words, this operation needs your full attention. You can repeat the ice step if desired, and your pimple should shrink within a few days. "In the event that you pick a pimple, and an infection develops, the worst-case scenario is that the infection spreads from the skin through this sinus [and] has the potential to infect the brain and even spread through the bloodstream to the entire body," said Dr. Zeichner. Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Of the utmost importance is realizing when to stop. Before popping, thoroughlywash your hands, as Dr. Vij recommended. I went to the emergency room and they said it was a very serious case of cellulitis, which is a version of a staph infection, but instead of having a head like staph, it effects the deep cellular tissues with no main source to attack, she wrote in a social media post. But if your immune system is reasonably normal, that chance is infinitessimal. These days, many bacterial infections are harder to treat because of antibiotic resistance, especially certain kinds of staph infections, so its best to try to prevent them from happening. I have painless lumps between eyebrow, like a triangle shape and it's not going away. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Is It Really Dangerous to Pop a Pimple In the Danger Triangle? Statistically, there is a chance that you will develop an infection and die. Learn more about what its made of and how to get rid of it. "Seek the help of a board certified dermatologist or licensed aesthetician to extract, inject or otherwise treat problematic pimples that prove to be persistent and resistant to topical therapies," Hartman said. New warnings are issued after a woman developed cellulitis after popping what she thought was a pimple on a sensitive part of her face. The triangle of death is from the area between your eyebrows down the the sides of your nose. Still, since it can happen, he advises caution with pimples in this area. What Are Plantar WartsAnd How Do You Treat Them? Jeremy Brauer, clinical professor of dermatology at NYU Langone Medical Center, explains that the veins here lead back to the cavernous sinus located in the brain. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. RELATED: What It Means If You Have Acne Around Your Mouth. It's called that because it's the area that is closest and leads to your sinuses. It takes a bit of imagination to identify the "triangle of death" on your face. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency. They usually come with symptoms such as redness, swelling, tenderness, drainage and bleeding, or the spot will keep coming back and filling with pus. It sounds very dramatic, I know. An infection in the. "Theoretically, it can lead to meningitis and other infections of the central nervous system since there is proximity to the brain," Hartman said. From there, she recommends using a hydrocolloid acne patch that contains salicylic acid. Educational text answers on HealthTap are not intended for individual diagnosis, treatment or prescription. Could it make me sick? Neha Pathak, MD, is a board-certified internal medicine doctor and part of WebMD's team of medical editors responsible for ensuring the accuracy of health information on the site. It's called that because it's the area that is closest and leads to your sinuses. (Here are 5 reasons you still get zits as a grown-ass man.). We've received your submission. In her spare time, she likes meditating, watching TikToks, and playing fetch with her dog, Finnegan. It's highly unlikely, but technically possible. When they do, it can be tempting to squeeze the suckers once they've turned white in hopes of getting rid of them faster. You can pop all the pimples you want on your forehead, or attack the acne on your chin with ruthless abandon, but leave the deadly triangle alone. ; It sounds terrifying, but doctors say these serious complications are really rare thanks to . Just make sure everything is clean. Better yet, Dr. Zeichner recommended cutting your nails before you decide to take down a zit. Directly beneath the nose and mouth are four major cranial nerves that control functions in and around the face. But that may be easier said than done. My mom was hospitalized three times because her blood pressure was dangerously high. Wash and replace makeup products regularly. If the skin inside this triangle is broken from a cut or popped pimple, for example bacteria can enter your body. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Then, Dr. Shamban recommends using a tea tree oil or a bentonite clay product to draw out and absorb excess sebum and oils. When it comes to acne, we all have certain spots where we are more likely to get a pimple. Video chat with a U.S. board-certified doctor 24/7 in a minute. But what makes squeezing zits in the triangle of danger so much riskier has to do with its location. This is the zone known as the triangle of death, or the danger triangle of the face. In "Triangle of Death" what should I do. The veins can then form clots to contain infections, which puts pressure on the brain, leading to partial or full paralysis and, in some cases death. What could this be? Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. So, how do we stay sane and grounded at this time? The veins in your danger triangle ultimately lead back to your cavernous sinus, located in your brain, he says. Is This Rash Contagious? Do not consider WebMD Blogs as medical advice. That said, there are "other lesser complications" that are more common, which can happen when you pop pimples anywhere on your face, says Dr. Shamban. If you pop a pimple in the "triangle of death," you risk an infection that could travel to your brain and bloodstream. Still, it's there: "The area of the face connecting the nose to the corners of the mouth is thought to be a particularly dangerous area of the face because of their close connection to the brain," saidJoshua Zeichner, MD, an associate professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. I mean, it was already a part of you. The face's 'triangle of death' consists of the area from the nose bridge to the upper lip which is full of blood vessels and nerves that are directly connected to the brain. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Yeah I washed it afterwards and I will not be doing this again next time. Should I schedule a doctors apt? I searched up the first question on google and all the results started talking abot a triangle of death!! Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. A staph infection is one of the most common types of infection on this area of the body. Then, tone the area using witch hazel. Why? Hey so I had a white head on my upper lip for a few months, and it wasnt going away so I kind of squeezed it out. Please note, we cannot prescribe controlled substances, diet pills, antipsychotics, or other abusable medications. (Popping a pimple in other places like your cheeks, chin, or forehead could still lead to an infection, but the effects of that would likely only be .css-16acfp5{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.125rem;text-decoration-color:#d2232e;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-16acfp5:hover{color:#000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;background-color:yellow;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}scarring or pigmentation changes, since the those areas lack the direct blood supply route to your brain.). While infections of this area are rare due to antibiotics the triangle of death is a particular area of the face that if the skin is broken and the inside of our body is exposed to bacteria, it can invade and have access to the bodys control center, Heather Free, PharmD, a spokesperson for the American Pharmacist Association, told Healthline. I thought once I kissed my teenage years goodbye that I'd be kissing acne goodbye, too. Because the blood vessels in this area drain to the back of your head, if you innocently pop a pimple in the danger triangle and it becomes infected, this can lead to loss of vision, meningitis, a brain abscess, or even death. Prior to her time at Health, her work appeared in the Observer, Good Housekeeping, CNN, and Vice. According to the AAD, it isn't recommended that you pop your own pimples. The content produced by YourTango is for informational and educational purposes only. Touch the tips of your thumbs together, then bring your pointer fingers together, forming a triangle. Learn how we can help. She was a fellow of the Association of Health Care Journalists 2020 class on Womens Health Journalism and 2021 class on Cancer Reporting. Dermatologists recommend using ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and retinoids instead of popping. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Pimple patches seem cool, Ive heard of them before but never bought any. 2023byTango Publishing Corporation All Rights Reserved. Trim instead. However it's quite rare, if you are worried about infection take some basic sanitation/antiseptic procedures before hand. Dr. Brauer says the danger of popping in other areaslike the cheeks, chin, or foreheadcould still be infection, but that would lead toward scarring and pigmentation changes, not flirting with death. First, apply a warm washcloth to open up the pores. Popping them can cause scarring and make the bump worse, you were warned. Next time if you get a pimple spring for some hyloraunic pimple patched to cover the blemish and help minimize the size and shade. It has access to our control center.. Ple. Popping a pimple in this area can lead to major infections because of its location. That means keeping the area clean, putting antibacterial cream on it, and not overpicking. and it only seemed to be getting worse. The earlier the diagnosis and treatment, the better, Jalloh said. Your lips aren't included in that area. ", But if you refuse to take heed for the sake of your skin, you can at least use the best technique possible. Rebecca Jane Stokes is a freelance writer and the former Senior Editor of Pop Culture at Newsweek with a passion for lifestyle, geek news, and true crime. The area includes the bridge of the nose and corners of the mouth. Therefore, picking at or scratching pimples on that area isn't wise since it can allow bacteria to enter and cause infection, according to theAmerican Academy of Dermatology (AAD). While popping pimples is tempting, it isn't worth the risk for. If you've got a pimple in the danger zone and have to get rid of it, though it's not recommended, there are lots of ways to do so without popping it. So, skin infections in this area have the potential to spread and cause dangerous complications in reality, though, serious brain infections are incredibly rare. Overnight drying creams are also a great option, along with just plain old steam (from a steam facial machine or just in the shower) to help pores open without putting dangerous force on your face. Dermatologists recommend using ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and retinoids instead of popping. Doctors typically provide answers within 24 hours. Exactly How to Prevent Adult Acne, According to Dermatologists. In that vein, you could trigger "a multi-layered cellulitis infection [a type of serious bacterial infection] or a boil-type infection in the hair follicle both of which can be more difficult to treat depending on the bacteria," she says. What Causes Warts and How Can You Get Rid of Them? Popping a pimple in the "death triangle" is dangerous is because it's near blood vessels with a direct link to areas of the skull where infections can spread rapidly and become serious, says Dr. Shamban. When you get a zit slap bang in the middle of your face, your reaction is usually to squeeze it immediately. Addressing acne in this area of the face should be handled with care. Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. One reason? If shit starts to hurt, swell, turn red and feel hot to touch go see a dr. The eventuality you are worrying about is rare. Hartman said the deeper the pimple and more infected it is, the more likely it is to lead to severe infection or death, though death is still rare. Your fingers are now outlining the danger zone the triangle of death.. The area underneath the triangle contains major sinuses that connect to the brain. If you got some pus in your mouth, it's not dangerous in any way, just a bit gross. The triangle of death, also called the danger triangle, is a specific area on your face where many medical professionals warn against popping pimples. This sound stupid but I have pretty bad anxiety and this is torturing me right now do you think Ill be ok? Thanks for contacting us. If you do, and the pimple still doesn't pop, that's a sign that it's not ready and that you should abort mission.) The Triangle of Death, also known as the Danger Triangle, stretches from the tip of the nose to a point on either side of the lips, roughly where dimples usually appear. While these symptoms certainly arent pleasant, theyre definitely noticeable, so youd probably seek treatment before anything serious occurred. These spots can leave noticeable scars when they finally heal. He or she will determine whether you need an antibiotic. Now bring this triangle to your face so that the tip of the triangle is above the bridge. New warnings are issued after a woman developed cellulitis after popping what she thought was a pimple on a sensitive part of her face. (Note: You should only have to apply gentle pressure. Razor Burn In 9 Easy Steps, What It Means If You Have Acne Around Your Mouth, The 3 Things People Immediately Judge You On When You First Meet Them, 5 Immediate Signs Of A Toxic, Passive-Aggressive Person, 10 Little Habits That Make You IRRESISTIBLY Attractive. You shouldnt pop a pimple on your face. Breaking the skin's surface anywhere (on your face or body) poses a risk of bacteria entering the bloodstream, which is the main concern with the "danger triangle," she notes. It's called the triangle of death because hypothetically popping a pimple could cause an infection that would easily reach the bloodstream. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Your better option: holding a hot washcloth to the spot for one minute, then applying a 10 percent benzoyl peroxide cream, as we reported.