HOW TO | Pop a spot

YES, I'M really doing a post on how to pop a spot/zit/pimple at home. Having been prone to acne my entire post-pubescent life, I've learned a thing or two about how to and how NOT to pop a spot.

Every magazine you read, every dermatologist you visit will simply say don't do it because it's bad for your skin. Guess what? NO S**T! Did you need a medical degree to figure that one out? Those of us with acne can give you the exact medical reasons WHY it's bad. We pore (heh) over articles and studies about it. We, maybe even more so than you, understand. Yet we still choose to get rid of them because, boy, let me tell you, I'd rather pop it than have a giant whitehead waving hello to the PR Director of a skincare company while I'm walking in for a meeting. Counter-intuitive? Not at all. We ARE judged by our appearance, like it or not. Acne has a detrimental affect on that appearance, especially post-secondary school when it's not an acceptable trait to have. [editor's note: Fully aware that full-on acne is different from an occasional spot. Not downplaying how awful acne can be!]

And, really, you silly dermatologists, where do you get off? Did you go to the George Bush School of Abstinence Is The Only Way? As with teenagers and sex, you can teach them that they shouldn't do it, but it ain't going to stop them from bumping uglies.

Same with acne (although clearly without the resultant illegitimate child)... teaching people to simply not pop a spot because it's bad for your skin results in all sorts of heinous skin atrocities being wrought on poor, undeserving complexions at home due to simple ignorance. I've met people who literally scrape off the whitehead with their fingernail (ew), will go at it with unclean hands and fingers, who don't know what they can and can't pop and thus attack everything on their face with the same zest for destruction. I've even known someone to try to pop... a mole. Preaching pimple-popping abstinence leads to to all sorts of unmitigated skin disasters. Shame on you

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A name to watch: Monique Horsey

You might be familiar with the other super-facialists in London (Sarah Chapman, Bharti Vyas, Vaishaly Patel, Una Brennan, Amanda Lacey et al). Keep an eye out for new talent too. Formerly Kirsty Mcleod's apprentice at the lovely Pimlico studio on Moreton Street, Monique knows her stuff and will have your skin glowing after one of her thorough facials. As Kirsty is now setting up shop between London and Bristol, you can find Monique here:

Monique Horsey
Motcomb Green Hair and Beauty Salon

11-12 Motcomb Street SW1X 8LB

tel: 0207 235 2228

mob: 07984 354859

She definitely features in our regular rotation of facialists and does quick work of our blackheads with her knack for extractions. Give her a bell to get your skin prepped for the party season.