Pustules are small round lesions that are inflamed and contain visible pus. These appear red at the base with a whitish or yellowish center. These also contain a large amount of bacteria. The pustules are normally caused by chemical irritation from sebum components like fatty free acids. This form of acne is more often called as Pimples or Zits.
Symptoms:
- Persistent, recurrent red spots or swellings on the skin which become inflamed and get filled with pus.
- Mainly occur on the face, chest, shoulders, neck, or upper portion of the back.
- Sometimes appear as dark spots with open pores at the center
- The pustules can also develop from other forms of acne – blackheads or whiteheads.
Common misconceptions
- There are many myths spread about acne and causes of acne down through the years. It was generally thought that acne was caused by dirt. It was thought that improper hygiene causes dirt that forms in the pores of the skin and causes acne. But, in reality dirt has nothing to do with acne.
- There are many other causes for acne. Eating greasy foods such as French fries is found to cause acne. But there is no scientific basis for this. Till now no reason was found on how acne is related to food.
- Moreover there is another common misconception that it is teenagers that suffer from acne. But it is not completely true. Some women even in their twenties or thirties are having acne. It is believed that it is caused due to hormonal changes.
- If you expect the acne to go off by themselves, then you are completely going in a wrong way. If you leave the acne untreated it can cause scarring. So it is very important to treat them at the beginning itself and never expect that acne will go away as they age.
How to deal with pustules?
Leave all these misconceptions and never follow the wrong advice. Till now there is no 100% cure for acne, only control. One can control and prevent acne by using certain skin care products that have acne-fighting ingredients. Benzoyl peroxide is the best ingredient that is found to be highly effective in the control and prevention of acne. It destroys the bacteria that causes acne and also helps a lot in minimizing the number of blocked pores. This ingredient can be found in cleansers, toners and lotions. It can be purchased over-the-counter or by prescription.
Simple tips to help prevent acne
- Cleanly wash your face before going to bed
- Use clean towels and clean pillow cases
- Keep cosmetic brushes clean
- Do not pick or squeeze on the lesions, as it causes infection and also leads to scarring
Today acne sufferers are luckier because there are more treatments available for this problem than in past. The future also looks promising and you can expect 100% cure for this common problem as more and more people are suffering from this problem.