Pimple papules: causes, features

Definition

What are acne papules?

Papules are a type of acne that appears under the surface of the skin, such as cystic acne and nodules. The form of pimple papules can be felt as a solid, painful lump.

In addition, the skin around the lump will appear reddish, but will not have a point of pus at the top.

Pimple papules will appear when blackheads are black (blackhead) or whiteheads (whitehead) left untreated to the point of causing severe irritation. As a result, the skin around the blackheads is also damaged.

This skin damage later causes inflammation of the skin which triggers the growth of pimple papules.

Therefore, this acne is often referred to as inflammatory acne (inflammation). If left untreated, this skin disease can develop into pustules (pus pimples).

How common is this condition?

Papules are acne that can affect anyone, especially adolescents who are going through puberty. Even so, this condition can also occur in adults due to certain factors.

To reduce the risk of this skin problem, try to always avoid risk factors and always maintain healthy skin.

Signs and symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of pustular acne?

Generally, papules are characterized by red, inflamed bumps on the skin. However, there are other signs you need to look out for regarding this condition, for example:

acne sizes that range from small red rashes to large bumps 5 millimeters in diameter,
there is no white or yellow liquid at the top, as well
sometimes causing pain when touched.

There may be other signs and symptoms not listed. If these symptoms worry you, it's best to consult a dermatologist.

When should I see a doctor?

Papules can be treated at home with natural acne remedies, such as over-the-counter acne medications or other natural methods. If there is no progress for several weeks, you should consult a doctor.

Not only that, but when you find that this pimple is getting swollen and accompanied by pain, it may be a nodule. Nodular acne is a more serious type of acne because there is damage to the walls of the follicles (pores).

Acne nodules usually take longer to heal and can potentially leave scars that are difficult to remove.

If you have used certain drugs, your skin becomes irritated, itchy, and causes shortness of breath, go to the doctor immediately. The reason is, this condition may indicate the product used is not suitable or you have an allergic reaction.

Causes and risk factors

What causes acne papules?

Not much different from other causes of acne, papules appear due to clogged pores due to excess oil and dead skin cells.

Human skin has sebaceous glands which produce sebum (oil) to keep the skin moist. However, several factors can trigger an increase in sebasceous gland activity, resulting in excessive sebum production.

Meanwhile, the skin also continues to replace the constituent cells. Old and damaged cells will be replaced with new, healthy cells. Unfortunately, the dead cells that should be wasted actually accumulate in the outermost layer of the skin.

This excess sebum and thickened dead skin cells eventually close the pores. If there is too much, the surrounding cells will experience pressure. Too much pressure can cause the pores to tear around the skin.

As a result, the acne contents also contain bacteria P. acnes causes infection around the pore tear. Then, inflamed red bumps or pimple papules form.

What increases my risk of getting papules?

Apart from hormonal changes, there are various factors that can increase your risk of developing acne papules, namely:

use of certain medications, such as corticosteroids,
consuming too much acne-triggering foods, such as milk and chocolate products,
stress, as well
genetic, had a parent with acne problems.

Diagnosis and treatment

How to diagnose this condition?

As with other forms of acne, the diagnosis of papules is a physical examination. This means that the doctor will examine your skin directly. Then, he will offer you various treatment options to get rid of these pimples.

If the condition is severe enough, the doctor may recommend a combination treatment so that the treatment works more effectively and recovery is faster.

How to treat pimple papules?

One habit that needs to be stopped because it can worsen the condition of the skin is to squeeze pimples or break them by force. The reason is, this habit actually has the risk of spreading bacteria and causing scars when it heals.

There are various ways you can treat papules. However, everything will be adjusted based on the severity of the acne. Here are some acne treatments that doctors usually recommend.

Topical acne medication

This type of acne medication is one of the treatments that is considered effective in dealing with papules. This drug is available in the form of creams, ointments and gels. In addition, topical medications are usually applied directly to the skin in a gentle manner.

In the early stages of treatment, you may be given a lower dose to prevent irritation. Here are some ingredients that are commonly found in topical acne medications.

Benzoyl peroxide to fight and inhibit bacterial growth.
Retinoids to prevent clogging of hair follicles.
Salicylic acid and azelaic acid to treat skin pigment changes and kill bacteria.
Dapsone which is usually recommended for treating inflammatory acne in women.

Antibiotics

If benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid is ineffective within a few weeks, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. The use of antibiotics in acne treatment aims to kill bacteria and reduce inflammation in the skin.

Even so, antibiotics for acne cannot work alone. This medication requires a combination of other drugs to be effective, such as benzoyl peroxide or retinoids. Antibiotics such as tetracycline and erythromycin are usually available in two variants, namely topical or oral.

Birth control pills or hormone therapy

The formation of pimple papules due to excess sebum production is caused by imbalanced hormone levels. To overcome this, treatment is focused on stabilizing hormones with birth control pills, which are a combination of estrogen and progestin.

Can also use hormone therapy with antiandrogen drugs. Birth control pills for acne can reduce the activity of the sebaceous glands in producing sebum.