Blind pimples are pimples (zits) that form under your skin. They may stay under your skin's surface, causing pain and inflammation. Or they may erupt through the surface in the form of a whitehead, blackhead or red bump. Treatment includes warm compresses and acne-fighting creams.
Blind pimples in particular may be linked to hormonal issues or reactions to skincare, sunscreen and makeup so don't suffer in silence if you think this may be the case for you.
Drink lots of water. After a shower (the steam assists greatly in the drawing-out process), take a clean face cloth or a thick cotton pad and dip it into a sink of hot but not-too-hot-to-touch water. Hold this compress on the pimple for as long as possible. Re-dip in the water when it cools down.
You don't want to leave your blind pimple alone because the longer it sits there, the longer it can fester and grow more painful. Instead, make a warm compress by taking a washcloth and wetting it with warm or mildly hot water. Place the wet washcloth over your blind pimple for five to 10 minutes.
But in the case of blind pimples, you actually can't pop them. Since they are beneath the skin and have no 'head', there isn't a clear pathway for you to remove the pus or bacteria from your skin [2]. If you try to squeeze a blind pimple, you're only going to cause more inflammation.
Your body can gradually break down pus and reabsorb its components. That's why small accumulations of pus (like in a pimple) often don't need treatment.
Never try to pop or squeeze a blind pimple. Doing so pushes the oil and bacteria deeper, causing more inflammation and increasing the risk of infection. Picking at or squeezing a blind pimple can also lead to acne scars.
Pustules are a type of pimple that contains yellowish pus. They are larger than whiteheads and blackheads. Home remedies and over-the-counter creams may help treat pustules. Pustules appear either as red bumps with white centers or as white bumps that are hard and often tender to the touch.
Putting toothpaste on a pimple won't help it go away faster. Toothpaste is an acne remedy that has no evidence to support it. It may even cause problems such as skin irritation and over drying.
Using ice can help relieve inflammation. Other treatments, such as benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, may help manage acne and prevent pimples from forming. If blind pimples occur frequently or are particularly inflamed and painful, a person may wish to seek advice from a dermatologist.
Causes of a hard pimple
Excess oil on the skin: When the body produces lots of sebum, or facial oil, dead skin cells can stick together and block up the pores. This increases the chances of developing a hard pimple.
Nodular acne is a severe type of acne. It causes hard lumps or knots (nodules) to develop deep under your skin. The nodules start below the surface and appear on the skin as red bumps. These bumps usually don't have a whitehead or blackhead at the center.
The answer is isn't all that simple. Ice doesn't necessarily help clear up acne or pimples — particularly if you're suffering from cystic and nodular acne — but it can help inflammation. This works because acne is an inflammatory condition meaning that it causes flare-ups that contribute to swelling and redness.
Hard pimples are the result of dead skin cells or bacteria getting under the skin. Hard pimples are deep, often large, and occasionally pus-filled. They can be one of the most difficult types of pimples to get rid of.
Dr. Lee uses the video to educate about the difference between a whitehead and a milia, which can sometimes appear quite similar. Milia are bumps containing keratin that has been trapped underneath the skin, and are sometimes called “baby acne” or “Epstein pearls."
The 'white stuff' that comes out of a blackhead or more commonly in pimples is pus. Pus is formed from inflamed debris, dead white blood cells and is also produced as the body's response to bacteria invading the system.
Avoid picking or squeezing the popped breakout to let your skin heal naturally. If you notice any signs of potential infection like redness, increased pain, pus, or inflammation surrounding the blemish, contact a healthcare professional immediately.
Avoid popping new pimples or those that are red or sore,” she advises. When doing this at home, many people choose to pop pimples with a lancet needle or pin.
Milia: Tiny but Tricky
The little whitish-yellowish bump will appear smaller and feel harder than a typical whitehead. Treatment Options: Although it is tempting to squeeze, forget it. Milia won't pop like a pimple because they're encased in a layer of skin.
It's not just the pus that you're moving, you're also moving the core. The pressure from popping a pimple can cause the wall of the pore to burst. This happens below the skin surface where you can't see it.
Spot treatment with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid can help you get rid of pimples fast. However, spot treatments do not work overnight. If you want to get rid of a pimple within 24 hours, your best bet is to see if your dermatologist can offer a cortisone injection or drainage and extraction therapy.
The fluid in blisters may contain serum, plasma, or pus. If there is an infection, it may also include blood.