Pustular acne (pus pimples): symptoms, medications, etc.

Definition

What are pustules or pimples?

Pustules are small bumps on the surface of the skin that are filled with pus, so they are also known as pus pimples. These pimples appear as lumps that are larger than blackheads with a whitish peak and reddish surrounding skin.

Generally, this festering pimple appears on the face area. However, other body parts that tend to be oily can also be attacked by this acne, such as the chest and back.

How common is this condition?

Just like other types of acne, pustular acne can happen to anyone. However, acne, which is included in the inflammatory acne category, most often affects adolescents at puberty.

Even so, adults can also experience this skin problem due to various factors. To reduce the risk of its appearance, avoid various trigger factors.

Signs and symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of pustules?

Pus acne has different signs than other forms of acne and sometimes varies from person to person. However, pustular acne generally causes the following symptoms.

There are large bumps that are bigger than blackheads.
The lump is about 5 - 10 millimeters in diameter.
The top of the lump is white, like a closed blackhead.
The skin around the pimple appears red due to inflammation.
You feel pain when you touch the lump.
Appears on the face, neck, back, and even pimples in the vagina.
Sometimes appear together with pimple papules.

There may also be signs or symptoms not listed above. If you have any concerns about certain signs and symptoms, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

If the home remedies do not make pustular acne get better, it's best to consult a doctor.

This also applies when this non-contagious skin disease causes annoying discomfort. Especially when you have used certain acne medications and your skin becomes red, itchy, and feels burning.

If this condition occurs, stop using the drug so that the acne does not get worse. This condition may indicate irritation or an allergy to the drug.

If the pimple is causing pain, an infection may have already occurred. In addition, doctor care will also be needed, especially when acne festering is followed by other symptoms, such as:

fever,
the skin around the pimple feels warm and moisturised, as well
nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Cause

What causes acne pustules?

Not much different from other causes of acne, acne pus is formed due to clogged pores. The pores that should be the outlet for sebum (oil) and sweat become closed due to the buildup of dead skin cells.

Clogged pores (hair follicles)

If the sebum produced by the sebaceous glands (sebaceous) is excessive, the excess sebum will not be able to escape due to the narrowed openings of the pores. As a result, sebum and dead skin cells get trapped in the pores.

This condition later causes acne-causing bacteria on the surface of the skin (P. acnes) feed on sebum and continue to multiply. These growing bacteria can trigger infection, so that the body forms resistance in the form of inflammatory substances.

As a result, the inflammation causes the walls of the pores to become damaged and the size of the festering pimples to enlarge and swell.

Allergic reactions

In addition to congestion, pustular pimples can sometimes appear as a result of an allergic reaction to food or poisonous insect bites. The presence of pus in acne is formed from white blood cells.

White blood cells are part of the immune system that loses and dies against infection from bacteria and dirt clogging pores. As a result, these large, pus-filled lumps appear and irritate the surrounding skin.

Risk factors

What increases my risk of developing pustules?

Clogged pores caused by bacterial infection and buildup of dead skin cells don't just happen. There are various factors that can trigger a person to develop acne pus, including the following.

Changes in androgen hormones that trigger the activity of the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum.
Genetically, one or both parents have acne problems.
People with skin problems, such as hand eczema (dyshidrosis) or psoriasis.
Use of drugs containing corticosteroids, testosterone, or lithium.

Diagnosis and treatment

How do doctors diagnose this condition?

Generally, pustular acne diagnosis is done through direct skin examination. It is intended that doctors can determine acne treatment based on its severity.

After the initial examination, your doctor may refer you to a dermatologist when your condition is severe enough. That way, the doctor and you can prevent the severity from continuing as well as speed up the recovery of the skin from acne.

What are the treatment options for pustules?

If your doctor has diagnosed the severity of your pustules, they will usually recommend a number of treatment options for acne, which are as follows.

Topical acne medication

One type of treatment that doctors often recommend to treat acne, especially pustules, is a topical acne medication. These treatments usually come in many forms, such as facial cleansers, lotions, creams, and gels.

Most of these acne medications have one or more active ingredients. In addition, topical acne medications can also be obtained over the counter or with a doctor's prescription. Here are some of the active compounds in acne medications.

Benzoyl peroxide to kill and inhibit acne-causing bacteria.
Salicylic acid to remove buildup of dead skin cells that clog pores.
Retinoids to clean pores and prevent excess oil production.
Keratolitik to exfoliate the skin surface.

Always use topical acne medications according to the instructions and instructions from your doctor.

Antibiotics

If treatment doesn't show effective results for 6 to 8 weeks, your doctor will recommend additional treatment with antibiotics.

Antibiotics for acne are usually used together with benzoyl peroxide. It is intended that the active compound is more effective in killing the bacteria that causes pustular acne.

Even so, this treatment should not be in the long term because it can lead to antibiotic resistance. If the festering pimple seems to be getting better, the antibiotics will be stopped and only benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid will be used.

Photodynamic therapy

In severe cases of pustular acne, your doctor may recommend photodynamic therapy (PDT).

PDT therapy is one treatment that helps treat severe acne. During this therapy, the area of the skin with acne will be smeared with a solution that makes the skin more sensitive to light.

The solution usually lasts 15 minutes to 3 hours. Then, the dermatologist will use a laser or light to destroy and remove pimples and acne scars to make the skin smoother.

Home remedies

What are some home remedies for treating pustules?

Not only medicine and treatment from a doctor, home remedies and healthier habits can also help you speed up the recovery process. It also aims to prevent pustules from coming back.

Below are some of the lifestyle changes at home that can help treat acne pus as reported by Medline Plus.