Is it OK for me to pop my zits?

Q Is it OK for me to pop my zits?

Jackie P., West Virginia

A No way! Popping your pimples actually makes them worse. A zit is like a bubble on the surface of water, only instead of being inflated with air, it's full of sebum (oil), skin cells, and bacteria. On its own, the pimple will gradually deflate. But if it's popped, that gunk gets squeezed into the surrounding tissue, making the zit redder and bigger. And that's the least of your worries: "[Popping pimples] can lead to scarring," explains Dr. Steve Webster, a dermatologist in LaCrosse, Wis.

Nevertheless, a recent survey revealed that 30 percent of teens do pop their pimples, even though 40 percent admitted they know it isn't good for their skin. When it comes to pimples, let over-the-counter and prescription treatments do their work to unclog your pores; don't take matters into your own hands.