Why, according to a dermatologist, you should never pop a pimple that is in the ‘triangle of death’
When faced with a new pimple on the face, you have an ultimatum: top pop, or non-pop?
But when it comes to pimples that are in the “triangle of death,” it’s better to leave them alone and let them heal on their own, experts say.
Also known as the warning triangle, this area extends from the tip of the nose to a point on either side of the lips, approximately where dimples usually appear.
A dermatologist has revealed how popping a pimple in the triangle of death can lead to serious infections.
New York-based Dr. Mark Strom said: ‘Picking pimples in the center of the face can be particularly dangerous.
“The area of the face from the bridge of the nose to the corners of the mouth has veins that communicate directly to the brain through a blood vessel called the cavernous sinus.”
Introducing bacteria through your fingers into the veins behind our eye sockets can cause the germs to travel to the brain.
This can put pressure on the brain, leading to partial or complete paralysis and in some cases even death.
The ‘triangle of death’ extends from the tip of the nose to a point on either side of the lips, approximately where dimples usually appear.
If left untreated, a sinus infection can also lead to total vision loss, brain abscesses, and meningitis.
Experts have previously told DailyMail.com that in the worst case scenario, if inflammation spreads from one spot to the inner part of the brain, there is a risk of blindness and a major stroke.
The condition, known by medical professionals as Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis, kills 30 percent of those who contract the disease.
The chances of this happening are “small to zero,” but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take every precaution possible when dealing with pimples.
Dr. Lee recommends dabbing hazel on stubborn spots in the warning triangle to disinfect the area and reduce swelling.
New York-based Dr. Mark Strom said: ‘Picking pimples in the center of the face can be particularly dangerous’
But while picking at the skin within the triangle can certainly lead to serious infections, you are much more likely to experience significant facial scarring because infections must first develop in severity before they become life-threatening.
The controversial famous doctor Dr. Mehmet Oz warned that even plucking a hair from your nose can predispose you to infections in the triangle, as a small volume of blood leaks from the disrupted follicle.
To prevent this, Dr. Erich Voigt of New York University suggests trimming nose hairs instead of plucking them.