Social media influencers say iodine can help with breakouts, but it can actually irritate your skin more. Here's what a dermatologist says you should use instead.

To help prevent infection and reduce acne, some TikTokers swear by iodine, a disinfectant. But it can also cause rashes and discoloration.

• Iodine is a disinfectant used in medical settings, and TikTokers are also putting it on zits.
• A dermatologist says it can be effective, but also lead to skin irritation and inflammation. 
• He recommends using benzoyl peroxide instead for drying out pimples and preventing infection.

Despite common knowledge that you should never pop a pimple, sometimes a tender cyst hypnotizes you in the bathroom mirror. Against your better judgment, you squeeze. Moments later, eyeing the spot where you just mauled your own forehead, you promise yourself to never do it again — until, of course, you do.

But for those who know they can't resist temptation, a new hack has been making the rounds on TikTok: Users claim that iodine, a disinfectant, can prevent worsening infections caused by bursting zits — and even shrink existing pimples.

"So obviously I have a scab on my chin because I murdered myself but I have like no irritation anywhere else," TikTok user Nico Olsen said in a video where she dabbed iodine on her pimples after popping one of them.

Another user tried the trick on a small pimple and reported less redness and inflammation. If scratching or touching acne can cause oils and bacteria to worsen it, the logic is that iodine can speed up the healing process or reduce active whiteheads.

While that's true, Dr. Joshua Zeichner, the director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital's Department of Dermatology in New York City, told Insider that iodine can be tricky to use — and even exacerbate your skin issues.

Iodine kills acne-causing bacteria — but has some big drawbacks

According to Zeichner, iodine has antimicrobial effects, hence why it's so often used in healthcare settings. Citing a 2022 study, he said that it's also effective in killing acne-causing bacteria.

But while iodine may sound like an easy solution for pre- and post-popped zits, Zeichner warned that iodine "is potentially associated with skin irritation, inflammation, and rashes" and, in severe cases, has been associated with developing blisters.

Plus, "you can still develop a scar even if you pop a pimple and use iodine," he said, "because trauma to the skin from picking can cause damage to collagen." While iodine may potentially heal scabs faster, it won't prevent acne scars or hyperpigmentation. 

It's also just messy to use. Iodine is dark orange and can stain clothes or even your skin (though Zeichner said you can use rubbing alcohol to fix the latter). 

Benzoyl peroxide has similar benefits without the risks or mess

Zeichner recommended using products with benzoyl peroxide instead, which he considers "perhaps the most effective topical ingredient we have to treat breakouts," and works similarly by lowering levels of acne-causing bacteria.

He really likes the Jori Daily Leave-On Acne Treatment Mask, which he said goes deep into the pores and contains brightening ingredients like niacinamide and zinc.

Sadly, there's no safe way (yet) to pop your pimples. But, with great patience, you can at least dry them out.