Acne cysts are the most severe form of pimple. They can be very painful. Like nodules, cysts begin as a deep break in the follicle wall. The body tries to wall off the infection by surrounding it with a membrane.
In his 25 years of practice, Gross says he has seen acne everywhere but the hands and feet, and also, the face, back, and groin are the most painful places to experience acne.
Forehead and nose
It's a prime locale for classic blackheads and whiteheads because this area tends to have bigger pores and sebaceous glands than other parts of your face. This type of acne is called comedonal acne.
The pimples associated with inflammatory acne are deep in your skin and contain pus. They're inflamed (swollen), so they tend to be sore or painful. One type of inflammatory acne is cystic acne. The blemishes associated with noninflammatory acne are closer to your skin's surface and usually aren't swollen or painful.
Cystic acne — the most severe form of acne — occurs when oil and dead skin cells build up deep within hair follicles. The resulting rupture within your skin may form boil-like inflammation.
Acne conglobata (AC) is a rare but severe form of nodulocystic acne. It usually presents with tender, disfiguring, double or triple interconnecting comedones, cysts, inflammatory nodules, and deep burrowing abscesses on the face, shoulders, back, chest, upper arms, buttocks, and thighs.
"When you get it from a medicine, it tends to all look the same. It's all little, red papules or it's all little pustules, and they're kind of all the same shape and size. That's the giveaway that it could be medicine-related." Acneiform drug eruptions can happen in someone with no history of true acne, Garner says.
Hard pimples can be more difficult to remove than other kinds, as they tend to be larger and deeper. They are often blind pimples, which means they do not have a head. Sometimes, hard pimples may occur as a result of acne.
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.
People cannot remove pimples overnight, but home care can lessen swelling and may improve the appearance of pimples. Keeping the area clean, using ice, and hot compresses can help. For persistent or recurring pimples, people may wish to try acne treatments.
Although vaping does not appear to directly cause acne, certain chemicals in e-cigarettes and the device itself could irritate the skin and worsen acne. The liquid inside an e-cigarette contains many substances that may cause skin irritation, such as diacetyl, diethylene glycol, cadmium, and benzene.
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.
Less Common Locations: Acne on the Chest, Buttocks, or Genitals.
A severe type of acne called nodular acne can cause multiple blind pimples along with raised red bumps. These painful blind pimples, or nodules, contain pus and bacteria and feel hard under the skin.
Pustules: These are pus-filled pimples that look like whiteheads surrounded by discolored rings. Picking or scratching your pustules can cause scarring. Cysts: These are pimples filled with a thick, yellow or white fluid composed of dead white blood cells, small pieces of tissue and bacteria (pus).
A gentler approach is to use a warm wash cloth or compress. This softens the pimple and helps it form a complete head, which makes it easier to remove. Apply gentle pressure to remove the pus, then apply ice to reduce inflammation.
Increased water intake often leads to improved skin clarity and reduced acne severity. Many people report fewer breakouts and a more even skin tone after consistently increasing their water consumption. Hydrated skin may appear plumper and healthier, making existing acne less noticeable.
Acne is a common issue for many people, especially for teenagers and young adults in their 20s. Some have mild symptoms, while others can have very severe issues. Acne effects around 90% of adolescents with the prime age across all genders being the teenage years of 14-19 years old.
While acne cannot be permanently cured, proper skincare routines and dietary changes can help control and prevent further breakouts.
Milia are bumps containing keratin that has been trapped underneath the skin, and are sometimes called “baby acne” or “Epstein pearls."
High-dose vitamins B6 and B12 have also been linked to rosacea fulminans, a condition that looks like acne. Rosacea is marked by large red bumps and pustules that typically appear on the nose, chin, and/or cheeks.
Ibuprofen possesses anti-inflammatory properties that reduce swelling and alleviate pain caused by the pressure from the cysts. Ibuprofen and other pain relievers are not intended for topical use and should not be applied directly to a pimple in any form.