Pimple poppingis a hard habit to quit.

Dermatologist Zakiya RiceWhen, MD, explained toWebMDthat your pimple contains bacteria, oil, and other gross stuff.

Cystic acne, on the other hand, should definitely be left alone.

A woman looking in the mirror and popping a pimple

The individual lesions are often bigger than regular acne bumps."

Likewise, it lasts considerably longer than a regular breakout.

Don’t be fooled by cystic acne bumps that come with whiteheads either.

A closeup of a person with cystic acne

Instead of picking at or popping cystic acne, you should take effective measures to treat it.

A dermatologist can also offer a relatively quick fix for the problem.

If that’s not an option, you’ll need to change up your skincare routine ASAP.

A dermatologist speaking to a patient

Ideally, you should craft one that’s tailored towards reducing cystic acne.

To begin with, you gotta find the perfect spot treatment for you.

A good, old-fashioned cold compress can also reduce pain and swelling.