Pimples happen—and with those pus-filled bumps often comes the urge to pop them.

Most dermatologists recommend against popping your own pimples, according to Ife J. Rodney, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founding director of Eternal Dermatology + Aesthetics. But there are certain situations where popping a pimple may be an acceptable option, like if the pimple has a visible whitehead or a blackhead that’s close to the skin’s surface.

If you choose to pop a pimple on your own, here’s how Rodney suggests you can do it safely to minimize further infection and scarring:

Cleaning your face and hands before popping a pimple reduces the risk of introducing new bacteria to the site.

This can soften the pimple making it easier to extract. If you don’t have a warm compress you can expose your face to steam in the shower or over the sink.

Use the pads of your fingers or cotton swabs to gently squeeze the pimple at its base. Do not use your fingernails, since this can cause additional trauma to the skin. You may also use a small sanitized needle to softly poke a whitehead to make an exit point for the pus inside.

After you’ve pushed the pimple’s contents out, direct it away from your skin and and gently wipe away any remaining pus.

This will remove any bacteria from your face or hands that resulted from popping the pimple.

Hold a cold compress or ice cube covered in a cloth over the popped pimple to reduce inflammation. 

It’s recommended to pop pimples sparingly if you must, and to never pop pimples that are red or painful, or pimples that don’t have any pus that comes out.

Pimple-popping can damage your skin, causing discoloration, scarring, or changes in texture. Some of these changes, scarring in particular, can be permanent. It can also spread the inflammation and bacteria from the pimple to the skin surrounding the pimple, said Rodney.

Popping a pimple may make it more pronounced, as well. “That site can become larger and even more noticeable than the pimple itself,” said Rodney. “Even though you’re popping it in an attempt to make it go away or become less noticeable, it actually becomes worse.”

Instead, Rodney suggests using safer, less invasive techniques on all pimples, including spot treatments with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, or pimple stickers. You can also apply pimple stickers to recently popped pimples to aid in healing.

If you frequently struggle with pimples or acne, make an appointment with a dermatologist; they may be able to determine an underlying cause and help you come up with a treatment or prevention plan that may include a combination of prescription medication, diet changes, and skincare products.