A blood-filled pimple is a red, swollen bump on your skin that contains blood. It can happen when you pop, squeeze, scratch or over-exfoliate a pimple, breaking the surrounding blood vessels. If you have frequent blood-filled pimples or other acne problems, talk to your primary care provider or dermatologist.
If you pick on the pimples repeatedly, it may lead to scarring of the affected area. Also, if the blood-filled pimples reach deeper into your skin, they will leave a scar upon healing. If the pimple scars bother you, you may consult your dermatologist for an appropriate solution.
All-natural products such as tea tree oil applied to affected skin can work similarly to benzoyl peroxide, acting as a slow drying and cleansing agent. Zinc may also be an option when trying to treat blood-filled pimples. Zinc creams and ointments can be effective, especially when combined with other acne treatments.
One reason a pimple keeps popping up in the same place is that the pore it developed in is damaged -- usually the result of too much picking. Prodding at a pimple can loosen the cell lining of the pore and cause the clogged oil to slip deeper into the skin, creating an inflammatory reaction.
Nodules are hard lumps that form deep inside the skin. Cysts are large, soft, and filled with pus.
Because popping isn't the way to go, patience is the key. Your pimple will disappear on its own, and by leaving it alone you're less likely to be left with any reminders that it was there. To dry a pimple up faster, apply 5% benzoyl peroxide gel or cream once or twice a day.
A sebum plug can look like a tiny bump under the surface of the skin or it may stick out through the skin like a grain of sand. When a sebum plug forms, bacteria that normally lives harmlessly on the surface of your skin can start to grow within the follicle. Inflammation follows, causing a breakout.
If bacteria living on the skin also become stuck in the follicle, this can cause inflammation and infection. White blood cells flow in to fight infection, and, as a result, dead white blood cells, bacteria, and other debris form pockets of pus. Pus filled pimples do not reflect an individual's cleanliness.
If your pimple contains infected pus, popping a pimple can spread bacteria into other pores and hair follicles, creating a bigger acne outbreak.