PIMPLES S.O.S

Pimples


Having pimples on your skin is a very common condition. Almost everyone has pimples at some stage of their life.

Pimples bump on the skin that is inflamed and discolored. Usually, teenagers are affected by pimples due to hormonal imbalance but anyone can have pimples. It usually occurs on the face, neck, chest, and back but it can occur anywhere since sebaceous glands are all over the body except the palm of the hand and sole of the foot.

 

Types

There are different types of pimples. Some are over the skin and some are under.

  1. Blackheads



Blackheads, also called an open comedo, are open pores filled with excess oil and dead skin. The dark color is due to the oxidation(addition of oxygen) of the skin.

  1. Whiteheads



They are bumps on the skin that are closed due to oil and dead skin. It's white or yellow in color.

  1. Papules

They are small bumps on the skin that are inflamed.

  1. Pustules

They are pus-filled pimples surrounded by discolored rings.

  1. Nodules

They are rounded and have a solid bump on the skin. They are often painful.

  1. Cysts



They are large bumps filled with white or yellow fluid containing oil and dead cells.

Causes

           They are caused by different factors. Some common are:

  1. Bacteria

It can be caused due to bacteria on the skin, especially by a bacterium called Propionibacterium acnes. It gets stuck with the oil and dead skin causing pimples.

  1. Clog/inflammation

Pimple is most commonly called by clogging or inflammation of pores due to excess sebum production by the sebaceous gland or abnormal keratin formation.

  1. Irritation

It is also called due to the irritation of the skin.

  1. Puberty

When puberty hits, there is an imbalance of hormones in our bodies. Due to the rise in androgenic hormones, the sebaceous glands secrete more oil than normal leading to pimples or acne.

 

Treatments

            Some medications can help with pimples.

  1. Azelaic acid

Azelaic acid is a natural acid.  Azelaic acid grains like wheat, barley and rye. It helps in killing microorganisms and also reduces swelling.

  1. Retinoid

Retinoids are derivatives of vitamin A. They help in preventing clogged pores. It has some side effects like discoloration and skin peeling.

  1. Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid is used as a cleanser. It dissolves the dead skin cells and helps prevent the clogging of hair follicles.

 

Other remedies other than medication are:

  1. Chemical peels

Chemical peels remove a layer of skin and help open pores. Thus reducing pimples.

  1. Laser skin resurfacing

In laser treatment, a beam of the laser is targeted at the pimple which reduces excess oil.

  1. Microdermabrasion

    It is plastic surgery in which the dermatologists in which dermatologists use an instrument that removes top layers of skin and opens pores thus freeing them of pimples.

        

Home remedies

  1. Tea tree oil

Apply tea tree oil on affected areas to fight acne or pimples. Tea tree oil has special properties that fight bacteria and reduce pimples.

  1. Ice

Ice slows down the blood circulation to the pimple. That is why ice helps reduce inflammation and swelling.

  1. Sugar or salt scrub

Scrub your skin with sugar or salt scrub to exfoliate the skin. This will remove dead cells and prevent clogged pores.

  1. Green tea

 Massaging wet green tea on the face and then rinsing it also helps in reducing acne. It is because green tea prevents excess oil production.

Prevention

Although pimples are totally curable, it is best to prevent them in the first place. Following steps should be taken to prevent it.

  1. Intake of vitamin A, D, E

Intake of these vitamins helps in skin health so taking them helps in preventing pimples.

  1. Low milk intake

It is seen that milk intake also causes pimples mainly due to hormones in milk so eating less dairy products helps prevent pimples.

  1. Stress

When we are under stress, our body releases stress hormones which cause more sebum production which causes pimples. So try to reduce stress.

  1. Fatty acids

Some fatty acids help in reducing acne like omega-3 and omega-6. 

Conclusion

Although pimples don't have any effect on physical health it causes psychological problems, especially in teenagers. So it helps if pimples are reduced. Though you shouldn't apply thongs on your skin if you are not sure. It is better to go to a dermatologist if the condition is severe.