Got a pimple to pop? Leave ‘triangle of death’ alone, says Dr. Oz

It sounds like the name of a bad horror flick or grunge band, but Dr. Mehmet Oz claims the "triangle of death" is something we all need to take seriously, especially when grooming.

While popping pimples always carry a risk of infection, picking a pimple in that zone can lead to more serious consequences if infection does set in.

The famous surgeon and host of "The Dr. Oz Show" explains that the blood vessels in the triangular area on the face that extends from the corners of the mouth to the bridge of the nose drain to the back of the head and up to the brain.

"Since veins in the facial area lack protective valves, the bacteria could theoretically enter your bloodstream and lead to infections elsewhere in the body," Oz writes in his magazine, The Good Life.

Also see: How Dr. Oz stays healthy

"You pick in that area, that triangle of death, you have a risk of that infection transcending the skin and going up to your brain," Oz says on CNBC's Squawk Box.

Plucking nose hairs is just as risky, he claims.

According to CNBC, bacteria can find its way into plucked nose-hair follicles, "breed infection, which can travel to your brain and cause cavernous sinus thrombosis."

Severe infection in the cavernous sinus can cause vision loss, paralysis, headaches and even death.

It should be noted that, while serious, retrograde infections that spread from the nasal area to the brain are very rare.

So, how to we avoid messing with the triangle of death?

Also see: Model's tricks for covering up a pimple

In a 2009 blog post, Oz outlined a few tips to keep infection at bay:

• Instead of plucking nose hairs, trim them with a rotary trimmer.

• Use a nasal rinse to clear nasal passages, and wipe any crust from the nose with a clean tissue instead of with your fingernail.

• Avoid facial piercings altogether in that area.

• Treat all facial cuts, sores and infections immediately.

And if you must pop a pimple, steal a few tricks from the pros:

Wait until a white head surfaces. Sterilize a straight pin, hold it parallel to the surface of your skin, and lightly pierce the surface of the pimple's head. Then gently press around the area of the zit with clean fingers or a cotton swab. Finish with a swipe of rubbing alcohol over the deflated pimple.

When in doubt, just leave it alone. (And/or cover it up.)