Pimples That Won’t Go Away, and Their Treatment?
Pimples are a common, usually harmless, type of skin lesion. They happen when your skin’s oil glands make too much oil called sebum. This can lead to clogged pores and cause pimples.
Pimples can take as long as six weeks to go away, but smaller, single pimples may take only a few days to disappear. They aren’t dangerous, but a doctor can help you treat long-lasting or painful pimples.
Causes of pimples
While most pimples will go away within a few weeks, some can take longer. This is especially true of deep or painful pimples. Here are some common causes of pimples that won’t go away.
Acne
Acne is an outbreak of pimples. It can take a few weeks to a few months for an outbreak to go away, but it can keep coming back.
If you have acne, you may also have whiteheads, which are closed clogged pores, and blackheads, which are open clogged pores. Severe acne can cause red and painful nodules under your skin.
Acne usually appears on your face, chest, back, or shoulders. It’s most common among teenagers and often stops occurring naturally by age 20.
Cystic acne
Cystic acne is a severe type of acne. It’s caused by oil and dead skin cells building up deep within your hair follicles. These buildups can rupture under your skin and cause cysts.
Cystic acne should be treated by a dermatologist. They can give you prescription medication to help get rid of your cystic acne and prevent infections.
Fungal acne
Fungal acne is a condition where Pityrosporum, a type of yeast, gets into your hair follicles, then multiplies. It can also lead to acne-like eruptions. These are itchy, pink pimples. Fungal acne most commonly occurs on the chest and back.
Pityrosporum is found normally on your body but can grow out of control. The reasons for this aren’t fully understood, but may be caused by:
- oily skin
- medications, such as corticosteroids
- conditions, such as diabetes
- stress
- fatigue
Because fungal acne is caused by a fungus, it can’t be treated with normal acne treatments.
Treatment for pimples that won’t go away
In many cases, you can get rid of pimples — even long-lasting ones — with home remedies and over-the-counter (OTC) treatments. If they don’t get rid of your pimple, a doctor can give you a prescription treatment.
i. Leave it alone
Avoid popping, picking at, or touching your pimple. Popping may seem like the quickest way to get rid of a pimple, but it can cause scarring.
In addition, touching your pimple can transfer oil and bacteria from your hands to your face. This doesn’t give the pimple a chance to heal.
ii. Wash your face regularly
Washing your face twice per day, especially when it gets sweaty, can keep oil from building up and clogging your pores. But be careful: Washing more than that can irritate sensitive skin and make pimples worse.
iii. Warm compress
A warm compress can help your pimple open, so it can release pus and start to heal. It’s especially effective for pimples under your skin.
Soak a washcloth in warm water, and apply it to the pimple for 10 to 15 minutes. You can do this several times a day until the pimple is gone.
iv. OTC creams, ointments, and medication
Use OTC treatments on your whole face, not just the pimple itself. This helps stop new pimples from forming. Be sure to follow treatment directions exactly and give it at least four weeks to work. Many pimple treatments dry your skin, so be sure to moisturize.
Common types of OTC pimple treatments include:
- Retinoids. This ingredient is made from vitamin A and comes in creams, gels, or lotions. Don’t apply these products every day at first to give your skin time to adjust.
- Salicylic acid. This helps clear mild acne. It comes OTC in lower doses, but you can also get it from a doctor.
- Benzoyl peroxide. This fights bacteria that can cause pimples. You can also get this in prescription form.
v. Cortisone
Cortisone comes in a cream and a shot. It can help reduce redness and inflammation but doesn’t actually treat the root causes of acne.
Hydrocortisone cream works best when paired with another treatment, such as benzoyl peroxide. You can get it over-the-counter, but shouldn’t use anything with more than 1 percent hydrocortisone on your face.
A cortisone shot can be injected directly into the lesion by a doctor. It helps shrink inflammatory acne quickly.
vi. Prescription medication
Some OTC treatments, such as salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, also come in stronger prescription forms. Other prescription treatments, such as dapsone gel, specifically treat inflammatory acne.
Antibiotics may also be used to kill the bacteria that can make acne worse and keep your pimple from going away.
Note:
Most pimples are harmless but can take a long time to go away. If you’re consistently using home remedies and OTC treatment as directed but your pimple still isn’t going away, a doctor can help.
