Infected Pimples - Causes, Signs, Symptoms, Treatment, and Precautions

Introduction

Simple activities like popping, scratching, or squeezing can cause skin infections. Infection in pimples is mostly due to bacterial causes. A popped pimple is more susceptible to infections. When a pimple is popped, the bacteria invade the skin causing pain, reddening skin, and swelling. Getting a pimple is normal in puberty and hormonal changes. Pimples develop when the pores on the skin are clogged (blocked) due to oil, sebum, dead cells, or bacteria. In puberty, acne can be seen, and cystic acne can cause infection in pimples.

What Are the Causes of Infected Pimples?

Pimples are caused by bacterial invasion in the skin. Propionibacterium acnes bacteria is found on the skin and normally lives on the skin. When sebaceous glands become very active and become blocked, the bacteria start to reproduce, and this, in turn, will trigger the immune response. This results in bigger and larger pimples. The main problem is caused due to popping of the pimple, which leads to the bacteria entering the deeper surfaces of the skin.

Pimples can appear due to changes in hormones, soaps, cleansers, or even lifestyle changes (like changes in place, water, or lack of sleep). Cystic acne is large pus-filled pimples, the most severe form of acne. They can cause permanent scarring of the skin. Another bacteria is Staph bacteria which causes skin infections like boils and impetigo. This infection is very difficult to treat.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of the Infected Pimples?

Infected pimples are larger and more painful and penetrate the skin more deeply than normal pimples.

• Larger than regular pimples.

• Red in color.

• Painful to touch.

• Warm to touch.

• Filled with pus.

• It will take longer to heal than normal pimples.

• OTC (over-the-counter) medicines, anti-acne face wash, will not help clear the infected pimples as they run deep in the skin.

Infectious pimples caused by Staph aureus can be contagious, resulting in boils. Other signs are:

• Fever.

• Fatigue.

• Feeling unwell.

• Painful, red lumps are on the neck, face, and buttocks.

Staph infections also cause impetigo. They are highly contagious skin infections. With treatment, the infection clears in ten days. Rosacea also causes pimples. Along with pimples, it can cause redness of the face with some burning sensation.

How Are Infected Pimples Diagnosed?

It can be self-diagnosed: if the pain and swelling are very severe or a pimple does not go away means it is an infected pimple. To confirm it, visit a dermatologist (skin care specialist).

What Are Blood Filled Pimples?

Blood-filled pimples do not exist. Popping or picking of pimples will create a blood-filled pimple. The squeezing trauma to the skin will first push the pus (white or yellow bacteria in a liquid state), followed by blood, thus contributing to infection.

How To Treat An Infected Pimple?

• Pimples should not be popped or squeezed, as it will only cause or worsen the infection.

• It is important to clean the skin regularly. Avoid touching the zit or pimple.

• Compresses can help. Place a clean, wet hot towel on the infected area for about ten minutes, several times a day, to ensure the towel is not too hot. Heat makes pus dissolve and helps it rise to the surface.

• Meditation, like antibacterial (antibiotics) drugs, can help treat the pimple.

• Acne-clearing devices are portable hand-held devices designed to kill bacteria-causing infected pimples.

• Hydrocolloid patches are tiny dot bandages placed overnight, commonly used in case of pimples.

• The topical application of Benzoyl peroxide kills the bacteria. Use the cream under the doctor's recommendation and guidance. Benzoyl peroxide acts as a slow-drying and cleansing agent.

• Zinc creams can be effective when combined with other acne remedies or treatments.

• One side effect of popping a pimple is scarring. If the scars are visible, certain treatments help reduce the scar, like chemical peels (an acid safe on the skin will remove the surface layer of skin), retinoids, laser treatment, and microdermabrasion. These treatments will improve the skin texture and minimize scarring.

How Can Pimples Be Avoided?

• Practice Good Hygiene: Keep the skin clean, and wash hands before touching the face. Use a reputed and medically proven face wash twice daily. Change the bed sheets, pillowcases, and towels regularly. Make sure to clean the makeup brushes and sponges and replace them if necessary.

• Please Avoid Popping Of Pimples: Popping pimples generally does not have a good outcome. It creates an open wound for bacteria to sip in.

• Be Careful About The Makeup Products: Avoid applying makeup if there is an acne breakout or an infected pimple. Also, some people have allergic reactions, which lead to pimples. Makeup can irritate the skin, resulting in more pimples or non-healing pimples.

• Avoid Tight Clothing: If the pimple is on the body, avoid tight clothing like gym clothes.

What Are the Complications of Infected Pimples?

Acne scars (caused by infection), boils and carbuncles (caused by Staph infection), rosacea, eczema, and cellulitis (an extremely dangerous skin infection, if left untreated).

When Should a Doctor Be Visited?

Most of the time, there is no need for a doctor to intervene as it heals on its own by improving hygiene and medications. But the doctor should be visited in the following events:

• If the pimple takes a long time or does not heal independently.

• It is a recurring pimple.

• If there is an acne breakout.

• Pimple is very close to the eyes.

• Unexplained fever.

• If there is tiredness.

• Severe pain is associated with pimples.

• If the area of the pimple is red and swollen and warm to the touch.

Severely infected pimples can be treated with antibiotics. The infection will disappear in several weeks.

Conclusion

Pimples get better with home treatments. A normal pimple takes a day or sometimes a week to heal. Certain precautions like avoiding touching the pimple and hygiene are important in eliminating the pimple. It is very hard to resist the popping and squeezing pimples, but it will only increase the problem. Please do not try and mess with pimples. Visit the doctor in case of severe pain and pimples near the eye or in case of acne breakout. Certain infections need antibiotics.