Showing posts with label different types of pimples. Show all posts
Showing posts with label different types of pimples. Show all posts

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Pimples that scar

Scarring is one of the worse things in the world of acne because it can affect your skin and appearance much more than acne itself. Those with scars on the face are most likely caused by acne in their youth. A lot of scars are very visible and is sometimes hard to cover up with make up. It is important to understand by scarring occurs and how to prevent it from happening in the future. Even though there are cosmetic procedures for treating scars, it is still not that effective because it cannot get rid of all of them completely.

There are many different types of pimples, see a complete list here. Moderate to severe acne has a tendency to scar. Scarring varies for each person and the location on the face. It is very hard to whether a pimple will scar based on its appearance. But as we age, our skin tends to repair itself slower and less effectively. You might have lots of moderate to severe pimples in your youth and it might not leave any scar behind. But five years later, it is another story. Even moderate acne will have the possibility of leaving some types of scar.

Pimples on the forehead tend not to scar even when they are relatively severe. Most teenage acne occurs on that part of the face at an earlier age. Pimples on the nose have a moderate to high tendency of scarring especially when you pick at it. Pimples on your cheeks have the highest tendency of scarring even when you don’t disturb it. That’s why you see a lot of post-acne sufferers with many visible scars on the sides of their faces. Pimples on the chin usually do not leave scars but redness can be there for many months.

Pimples that are not inflamed, with no red around it will usually not scar on any part of the face unless you disturb it by squeezing. When you hands are not clean and touched the pimple, the acne itself can get infected and takes the skin longer to heal. Anything that takes a lot time to heal is more likely to scar than a minor little pimple.

Most people believe that picking an acne lesion when the white head pokes through can accelerate healing. While it is true when done right, it does have the risk of making the problems worse if you don’t know how to properly squeeze your pimples. Here is why, if you squeeze the pimple when it is not “ripe”, acne will get into deeper layer of skin which will increase the chances of scarring. Whiteheads are the only type of acne that you can pop when you have lots of experience.

Other types of acne especially severe acne (nodules & cyst) shouldn’t be disturbed. They are already really severe and picking it can cause a very noticeable scar on the face. You should see a dermatologist and ask for a cortisone injection to heal it fast.

The best way to avoid scarring is to treat your existing acne and prevent new ones from forming. For most people, acne is the worse in their late teens and sometimes early twenties. A few that are unfortunate can experience breakouts even in their thirties. There are so many ways to treat acne and lots of daily routine skin care methods to try out. What works for one person might not work for another. Acne prone skin is all about trial on error.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Types of acne and your options for treatment – explained in details

There are so many different types of pimples that affect the face and body. Some are minor and will go away without any treatment, whereas other types of pimples are more severe that might require extensive treatments and care. I am listing very common types of acne and what you should do in each case to properly treat / care for them. This list is in the order of mild to severe forms of acne.

Whiteheads – it is very small pimple that is not inflamed at all. They are small bumps and not very visible to the eyes unless you look closely. It is not painful and heals very quickly without using any over-the-counter or prescription medicine. They don’t scar even when you pick at it. However, it is still not recommended that you pick any kind of acne. Our skins are different and what scars for one person will not for another. Over-the-counter face washes that unclog pores (active ingredient: salicylic acid) should be enough to treat this kind of acne.

Blackheads – these are acne that is not inflamed at all. They are mild acne that is mainly on the nose and part of the cheeks. It takes a long time for them to go away because it is a very stable structure under the surface of the skin. Your best options here are using a gentle exfoliating scrub or a strip that pulls out the blackheads. These pimples will not scar but are the hardest to permanently get rid of among all types of acne.

Papules – these are moderate acne that is inflamed. These are a small bump in the center that is surrounded by an area of redness. This type of acne needs treatment such as benzoyl peroxide gel. The most important thing to remember about this type of acne is absolutely do not pick these lesions. It will cause the bacteria to go into deeper layers of the acne which has very high risks of scarring. Popular acne system sold on the market today such as Proactive is sometimes effective at this type of acne. If no treatment is effective and amount of acne increases, you should seek a dermatologist’s advice.

Pustules – these are very similar to papules with the exception of having a white center. The acne is pus filled and the visible pus in the middle will get bigger. Most of these pimples will break open by itself and many people speed up healing by squeezing out the pus. If you do it wrong, it has the risk of scarring. Again, depending on the severity and amount of pimples, you might need to consult a dermatologist when it doesn’t respond to over-the-counter treatments. Theses are moderate to severe type of acne.

Nodule – this is one of most severe type of acne that you can get. It is red, huge and hard. It can be under the skin for months without anything happening. Most over-the-counter medicines will have no effect on this type of acne. Your best bet is to see a dermatologist for a cortisone injection that can help it go down. If you don’t do anything to it, it can take several months to up to a year for the nodule to heal. Fortunately, Accutane is an extremely effective drug for people suffering from severe acne. Most dermatologists will prescribe it to you when all the other treatment options failed. For more than half of the people, Accutane will completely get rid of your acne. Other people will see a dramatic reduction in the severity and amount of acne that they suffer from. At the very least, skin will be a lot more manageable with Accutane treatment.

Cyst – this is also one of the most types of acne that you can get. It is very similar to nodule because it is very painful as well. It differs from nodule because it is pus filled. And it has a lot of pus. This type of acne is large and very noticeable. Not even makeup can cover all of it. You should visit a dermatologist for this type of pimple. Effective treatments are similar to what people use for nodules.