Why popping acne around the nose and top lip could lead to serious infection and even death: dermatologists give their top treatment tips
- The area from the nose to the corners of the mouth is closely connected to the brain; the deeper a pimple here, the more likely it is to cause severe infection
- Preventive measures, like a skincare routine that includes acne-fighting ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide, hydroxy acids and retinoids, work best
Never pop a zit in the “triangle of death”, dermatologists say, no matter how tempting it is.
The triangle of death is the area of skin that starts at the middle of your eyebrows, includes your nose, and ends at your top lip. You can identify it by creating a triangle with your hands and touching the tip formed by your index fingers to the middle of your eyebrows and the bottom corners to the corners of your mouth, according to dermatologist Dr Corey L. Hartman.
“Theoretically, it can lead to meningitis and other infections of the central nervous system since there is proximity to the brain,” Hartman says.
What makes the ‘triangle of death’ so dangerous?
At-home pimple popping is generally frowned upon by dermatologists, as it can lead to scarring and more acne. But what makes squeezing zits in the triangle of danger so much riskier has to do with its location.