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Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director of Doctissimo)
You’ve already read and reread it: you shouldn’t pierce your buttons. In fact, this risks marking your skin, not to mention the fact that it could cause contamination by certain bacteria. This is even more true in the area known as the “triangle of death”, located between the nose and the mouth.
You probably know: it is not recommended to pierce your pimples and even less those on your face. But according to an American dermatologist, there is an area of the face where piercing your pimples would be even less advisable.
The “triangle of death” area
This area is the one that extends from the nose to above the lips. According to the American dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, it would be the anatomical passage of the cavernous sinus, a “large vein which drains blood towards the brain”. According to him, it would therefore be “a connection between our exterior and our interior“and the risk is that the infection, through the skin, reaches it and”spreads throughout the body through the bloodstream..
A risk of facial “cellulite”
Asked about this, Dr Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor and director of Doctissimo, confirms that you should not pick at your pimples and the risk is more present in this area of the face. “This is particularly due to the nose area, which contains bacteria such as streptococcus or staphylococcus aureus” indicates Gérald Kierzek.
“This can create a risk of infection and more specifically facial cellulitis, which is a skin infection with a risk of necrosis. There is also a risk of malignant staphylococcal disease of the facecan cause tissue destruction and can reach the sinuses and potentially the brain” adds the expert.
The doctor therefore warns once again: you should not crush or manipulate a boil, for any reason whatsoever. And, in the event of a secondary infection, do not wait to consult a doctor, as this may represent a “medical or even surgical emergency”.