However, in addition to acne, other skin conditions can cause pustules. These include psoriasis , chickenpox , and even insect bites. A pustule that's exceptionally large may be a boil. A dermatologist—a doctor who specializes in conditions involving the skin, hair, and nails—can differentiate between acne pustules and those caused by another condition.
Acne pustules typically heal on their own if left alone. However, because they're unsightly, especially when they appear on the face, most people don't want to wait for them to clear up naturally. To get rid of acne more quickly, you can try over-the-counter products, but sometimes, a stronger prescription medication may be needed.
OTC and prescription-strength creams or gels may be used as spot treatments that you can apply to individual blemishes. Other options include cleansers and body washes. The active ingredients in most acne products are:. Antibiotics such as tetracycline , erythromycin , minocycline , and doxycycline are commonly used for acne.
For very severe acne, a powerful oral retinoid called isotretinoin formerly available under the brand name Accutane is sometimes prescribed.
It must be used with caution because it causes severe birth defects. For severe acne pustules, a procedure called photodynamic therapy PDT may be used. This combines light and a special light-activated solution to shrink the skin's oil glands. This can drastically reduce the amount of oil within the pores to shrink pimples.
Some natural products may also help treat acne pustules, although there is scant research to prove they're effective. These include tea tree oil, bovine cartilage, zinc, jojoba oil, and aloe vera. Although it's tempting, popping pimples can lead to scarring and infection. It can also prolong the amount of time it takes for a blemish to clear up. There are several types of pustules. Acne pustules look different than other common forms, so doctors can usually diagnosis the condition just by examining you.
Often these pimples go away on their own, but you can try over-the-counter medications to help speed up the healing. For severe acne, your doctor may prescribe stronger treatments. You also might need an antibiotic to clear up the pustules. For people who are prone to frequent acne breakouts, there are measures that can help prevent blemishes such as pustules.
These include:. Acne pustules can be a minor annoyance or a significant problem that affects your quality of life. These blemishes are a type of pimple that develop when pores get clogged by oil and dead skin cells. They differ from other pustules, which might be caused by a virus, infection, or insect bite. Cleaning and moisturizing your skin can help prevent breakouts Following a healthy diet can also keep acne under control. Some risk factors such as genetics and hormonal changes aren't as easily managed.
However, there are a variety of treatments that can help clear up pustules when they appear. Acne pustules are common and harmless, but they are also unsightly—and that can be upsetting. Interestingly, it's not junk food that medical science is linking to breakouts, but some of the "healthy" food groups. This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing. Papules are inflamed blemishes that appear on the skin's surface. They look like red bumps or lumps on the skin; they don't have a white head.
Papules can be large or small and can occur anywhere on the face or body, including your:. Papules result when the wall of the hair follicle, what we often call the pore , ruptures. This allows cellular debris and bacteria to spill into the dermis the deepest layer of the skin. A break in the pore wall happens when the follicle becomes blocked and engorged with dead skin cells and oil.
Pressure from squeezing a blackhead or blocked pore can also cause the rupture. No matter what causes the break, it triggers inflammation in and around the follicle.
The area turns red and swells, creating that firm red bump we call a pimple. First things first—don't squeeze a papule to try to make it come to a head. You'll likely not extract any debris from the pore, but simply make the blemish more inflamed. Most papules will heal quickly and without scarring, since they are not deep lesions. Over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide treatments can help heal acne papules and prevent new blemishes from forming.
If OTC products don't improve your breakouts after 10 to 12 weeks, though, it's a sign you need a prescription acne medication. Pustules are your "typical" pimple—red and inflamed with an obvious head. Quite often the head is white that's why these blemishes are also called whiteheads but it can also be cream to yellow color. Sometimes a brownish spot can be seen in the middle of the blemish's head.
This is the comedonal core, or plug of debris within the pore. Acne pustules range in size from small to fairly large. They develop in the same areas that papules do—namely the face, back, and shoulders.
Pustules follow papules. After there is a rupture in the pore, the body rushes to defend against bacteria and help heal the wound. To do this, it sends white blood cells to do the job. The aftermath is the creation of pus. It's the mixture of pus, dead skin cells, and excess oil that gives a pustule its white cap. That is also what you are squeezing out of the pore when you pop a pimple.
Popping pimples is never a good idea, by the way. When you squeeze a pimple you can inadvertently drive the contents deeper into the pore, making the blemish much worse. Just like with papules, mild acne or occasional pustules can be treated at home with OTC benzoyl peroxide creams or cleansers.
Acne spot treatments containing salicylic acid can also help dry out the occasional pustule. If you have many pustules, or if they are very inflamed and hard to control with OTC products, you should see a dermatologist. Prescription medications, like topical retinoids or combination acne treatments , can help get these breakouts cleared up. Nodules are serious types of acne pimples. People should try to keep the skin around the pustules clean and free of oil.
They can do this by washing the area with warm water and mild soap twice a day. Over-the-counter OTC creams, ointments, and soaps can help, particularly those that contain any of the following:. It is important to avoid picking at or popping a pustule. Doing this can cause further damage and extend the healing process.
If home remedies do not work, people can speak to their doctor about prescription treatments. These stronger medications can often remove the pustules. Acne products can dry out the skin. People with sensitive skin should look for products that are less irritating and could help moisturize the skin.
If the skin becomes inflamed, a person should stop using the product. Read about home remedies for acne here. People can often prevent pustules by cleaning the areas of skin that are prone to pimples and keeping them oil free. Cleaning should occur at least twice a day and include a mild soap. It is best to avoid using products that contain oils. These products include many types of moisturizer and some sunscreens. The oil can clog the pores and cause pustules to form.
Pustules are irritating but otherwise harmless, and they usually go away on their own. People can often prevent them or reduce their severity by keeping pustule-prone areas clean and oil free. In recent years, adapalene 0. You must use it regularly for at least 3 months before you see effects. Apply a pea-sized amount every other night in the beginning.
This will help prevent new acne from forming. When using retinoids, you may become more sensitive to the sun and experience some dryness. A daily moisturizer with an SPF can help. Some people may be able to treat their acne with OTC medications, such as the topical retinoid Differin or benzoyl peroxide. However, other people may benefit from a consult with their primary care doctor or dermatologist to determine what prescription medications would be best for them.
Prescription medications for acne can be both oral and topical. Your specific prescriptions will depend on your type of acne, including the location and severity of your acne. The bacterium P.
Your dermatologist may prescribe a round of antibiotics if they suspect this to be the case. Antibiotics in dermatology are widely used for their anti-inflammatory effects, in addition to their ability to suppress P.
Oral antibiotics are also not meant to be used long term. Some women can benefit from taking oral contraceptives , especially if acne breakouts are more common around menstruation. There are several Food and Drug Administration approved combination oral contraceptives that are used specifically for acne. Some studies suggest birth control is just as effective as antibiotics in treating acne.
Like retinoids, this oral medication is a vitamin A derivative. Isotretinoin is the closest thing to a cure that dermatologists have for acne. Commonly used as a blood pressure and heart failure medication, this anti-androgen medication is also used in dermatology as an off-label acne treatment.
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