For a better part of the last decade I have been sheepishly on the defensive at most times in the off chance that some raging maniac who lurks in dark alleys at night will finally succeed in his goal of murdering me. I do not know anyone, nor has anyone personally relayed such a story to me; however it seems like a truly rational thing to fear in my mind. There are, however, several legitimate threats that I simply disregard as outlandish and downright absurd. As a teen, growing up in the cold, hard suburbs of Pittsburgh, there was one risky behavior in particular that I feel was a serious threat to my life: pimple popping.
The area between the corners of the mouth and the bridge of the nose has come to be known as the “danger triangle of the face.” The blood that flows in and around the nose in particular has the chance, albeit quite small, to share localized infections picked up from this danger zone with the brain. Starting at the point directly between your eyes, a tributary of the facial vein known as the supraorbital vein associates with the superior ophthalmic vein, which runs into the cavernous sinus.
Don’t get me wrong, when you look past how gross of an act popping zits really is, there is a distinct sense of accomplishment that comes along with successfully performing zit removal surgery. There are however many far less life threatening options out there that don’t invoke the possibility of suffering from a brain hemorrhage. Using one’s hands opens up an entirely larger array of bacteria to wreak havoc on the complexion of the skin. It is some of the most backward logic that I can think of as to why people insist on doing this.
Better skin with few to no blemishes can be obtained with lifestyle changes. A healthy diet with little sugar, sun exposure, exercise, drinking lots of water and using dermatologist recommended facial cleansers are all starting points for acne-free skin. However, typically for maximum results to be achieved, you must put in time and effort by implementing each of these things.
I do not know of anyone who would want to be remembered as that guy who died from wounds resulting from his battle with acne. The only positive that I can see coming from this is that in death your memory will probably be forever revered on a Wikipedia page that doesn’t even include your picture. The danger triangle of the face is a real thing. Although it is incredibly rare for things like this to happen, it still isn’t worth risking it. Plus, if you live in a dorm it just makes the bathroom a little grosser than it already is. Is there really any need for 75 percent of the guys on my floor’s infected skin cells to be on the mirror?
Absolutely not. There are many healthy options out there that increase the quality of the skin.
Dan Maloney is a sophomore studying biological science and a columnist for The Post. What are your solutions to acne? Email him at dm933612@ohiou.edu.
