A woman has shared the horrific story of how a small spot turned into a painful staph infection after she squeezed it.

Hope Addison was at home one morning when she spotted a new pimple appear on her face.

The 25-year-old took to squeezing it with her fingers, however, it didn't go down as she had hoped.

She later shared the experience to TikTok, (@imlesbianflavoured ), where her post has gathered 2.2 million views.

“There was slight swelling afterwards, but I thought it was due to popping the pimple, because I do also have sensitive skin,” Hope, a receptionist from Louisiana, US, told http://NeedToKnow.co.uk.

“However, I knew something was wrong in the middle of the night because I woke up with my face in so much pain.

“I went and looked in the mirror and saw how swollen my face was.

“I was panicked because I didn’t know what was happening.”

Hope had actually treated a staph infection a few weeks prior due to a mosquito bite, so suspected it could be a similar infection.

Hope said: “The next day I went to see the doctor.

“I suspected it may be staph because I couldn’t think of anything else it may be overnight.

“At first the doctor was surprised, because it swelled overnight and wasn’t presenting the way staph usually does.

“It was more painful, in my opinion, than childbirth, I have a very high pain tolerance, but it was excruciating.

“It was radiating pain through my head, eyes, sinuses, there was so much pressure built up in my face and mouth, even my teeth hurt.”

Hope was soon diagnosed with a staph infection and sent home with medication.

Staph infections are caused by bacteria called staphylococcus, which lives harmlessly on many people's skin, but can cause an infection if it goes into the skin – usually through a bite, cut or tear.

She said: “I have now fully recovered, the infection from my face has cleared, I’ve been clear of staph for almost two months.

“It has definitely affected how I approach things, I haven’t popped acne since, and if I do, I’ll be using extremely sterile tools.”

Hope’s viral video posted to social media was captioned: “Fun little draft from last month lol this was worse than childbirth and I now have a fun little scar from it.” [sic]

In the clip, she can be seen speaking to the camera as she shows the scar from the staph infection.

She says: “Don't pop your pimples you guys, I will never pop another pimple on my face.

“Do you know why? Because I popped this.”

The post has over 158,000 likes, as well as 3,000 comments.

One person said: “You can pop your pimple.

Just don’t be nasty. Be clean.”

Jake added: “Or just make sure you hands and skin are clean, but hope you’re good.”

Brie commented: “Yup. Had to have surgery on my face 10 years ago for this reason.”[sic]

Zach wrote: “This happened to me after a moustache wax and it almost covered my entire lip and nose.Heal well.”

“Staph infections hurt so bad!

“My entire face broke out and staph pimples once.

“They BURN so bad…” said Sarah.

“My bro in law picked a zit near his eye on a cruise and had to be air lifted off the cruise,” added Birdie. [sic]

“I can’t help it. Even knowing this I guarantee I’ll still pop my pimples,” wrote Jen.

“Seeing this after I just popped pimples on my face,” said someone else.

Hope added: “I would like to point out that anyone can get staph infections, there were many comments about me contracting it because I am an unclean person and that’s just not the case.

“My own doctor said she had gotten staph in her armpit when she lanced it and that it is very easy to get.

“Yes it is very important to wash your hands and keep sanitary practice when dealing with acne, however if you already have an infection in your body it can travel through your blood.”

ENDS

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