A pimple, zit
or spot is a kind of comedo and one of the many results of excess oil
getting trapped in the pores. Some of the varieties are pustules or papules.
Pimples can be treated by various acne medications prescribed by a physician or
purchased at a pharmacy with a wide variety of treatments.
Causes of Pimples
Inside the pore
are sebaceous glands which produce sebum. When the outer layers of skin shed
(as they do continuously), the dead skin cells left behind may become
"glued" together by the sebum. This causes a blockage in the pore,
especially when the skin becomes thicker at puberty. The sebaceous glands
produce more sebum which builds up behind the blockage, and this sebum allows bacteria
to grow, including the species Staphylococcus aureus and Propionibacterium
acnes, which causes inflammation and infection.
Treatment through over-the-counter medications
Common over-the-counter
medications for pimples are benzoyl peroxide and/or salicylic acid and
antibacterial agents such as triclosan. Both medications can be found in many
creams and gels used to treat acne (acne vulgaris) through topical application.
Both medications help skin slough off more easily, which helps to remove
bacteria faster. Before applying them the patient needs to wash his or her face
with warm water and dry. A cleanser may also be used for that purpose. Acne rosacea
is not caused by bacterial infection. It is commonly treated with tretinoin. A
regimen of keeping the affected skin area clean plus the regular application of
these topical medications is usually enough to keep acne under control, if not
at bay altogether. The most common product is a topical treatment of benzoyl
peroxide, which has minimal risk apart from minor skin irritation that may
present similar as a mild allergy. Recently nicotinamide (vitamin B3), applied topically, has been shown to be
more effective in treatment of pimples than antibiotics such as clindamycin.
Nicotinamide is not an antibiotic and has no side effects typically associated
with antibiotics. It has the added advantage of reducing skin hyperpigmentation
which results in pimple scars.
Treatment through prescription medications
Severe acne
usually indicates the necessity of prescription medication to treat the
pimples. Prescription medications used to treat acne and pimples include isotretinoin,
which is a retinoid. Historically, antibiotics such as tetracyclines and erythromycin
were prescribed. While they were more effective than topical applications of
benzoyl peroxide, the bacteria eventually grew resistant to the antibiotics and
the treatments became less and less effective. Also, antibiotics had more side
effects than topical applications, such as stomach cramps and severe
discoloration of teeth. Common antibiotics prescribed by dermatologists include
doxycycline and minocycline. For more severe cases of acne dermatologists might
recommend accutane, a retinoid that is the most potent of acne treatments.
However, accutane can cause various side effects including vomiting, diarrhea,
and birth defects if taken during pregnancy.
Treatment through hygiene
Practicing good
hygiene, including regularly washing skin areas with neutral cleansers, can
reduce the amount of dead skin cells and other external contaminants on the
skin that can contribute to the development of pimples. However, it is not
always possible to completely prevent pimples, even with good hygiene practices
as a number of externalities such as hormones and genetics are at play.
Pimple-Popping
Pimple-popping,
or zit-popping, is the act of bursting or popping pimples with one's finger.
Pimple-popping can lead to the introduction of bacteria into the pimple,
infection, the creation of more pimples, and permanent scarring. Thus, popping
is usually deprecated by dermatologists and estheticians and it is recommended
to let the pimples run through their life span.
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