Blind pimple is an acne that has formed underneath the skin layer. It may not be noticeable but can be felt like a lump beneath the skin’s surface. The skin’s surface has many small pores, below which are the sebaceous glands that produce sebum which is required to keep the skin well moisturized. When these pores get blocked, the excess sebum and toxins get accumulated on the skin’s surface. When this happens, it does not allow the pimple to reach the top, leading to development of a pimple below the skin surface.
It is generally caused by a cyst or a nodule. Blind pimple is caused by because of a combination of sebum, bacteria and toxins that are encaged inside the pore, resulting in a painful, bump under the skin. It can appear as a large white area below the skin that can cause pain on touching or turn red due to inflammation in the adjacent area. These blind pimples can be difficult to tackle, but can be treated with caution.
Overview
Blind pimples are stimulated by a surge of hormones, and are commonly seen during a hormonal storm in the body like during a menstrual cycle. During this time, the skin’s sebaceous glands become extra sensitive to the hormone surge and produce excess sebum which can become engorged or swollen. Blind pimples are more commonly seen on acne prone areas like chest, back and face.
- Avoid touching and picking : As irresistible as it is, touching and squeezing should never be done on a blind pimple. This is true for all types of acne, but more so for blind pimples as they are not seen on the skin’s surface like other acnes. Picking and squeezing worsens the inflammation making the area near it more sensitive and increase the redness on the skin, also leaving some form of scarring and makes it more prone to infection
- Warm compress : Blind pimples are painful and warm compresses helps in relieving the pain. It helps to release the pus that is collected inside and allows healing by opening the clogged pores underneath the skin
- Topical antibiotic : Generally, blind pimple is caused by some bacterial infection on the skin. Topical application of an antibiotic containing ointment helps in reducing inflammation and act on the organism causing acne. Commonly used topical antibiotics for acne are Clindamycin and Erythromycin. On an acne prone skin, topical antibiotics can be applied as a preventive measure. Some of the other compounds that are found in topical acne ointments include benzoyl peroxide which acts on P. acnes bacteria, salicylic acid which helps in striping off skin debris and reduce inflammation, sulfur containing creams that reduces the activity of P. acnes, Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) which acts as a skin exfoliator and retinoids that help in unclogging pores and reduce sebum production
- Exfoliating : Using a good quality exfoliator and cleanser can help in preventing any excess build up of toxins and sebum. This will reduce the chance of dirt to sit in or bacteria to grow within the pores and thus eliminate the chance of developing blind pimples. Exfoliation helps in increasing cell turnover, thus clearing skin debris and improving skin health
- Ice pack : Applying ice pack on the area containing blind pimple helps in relieving pain and reduces redness. It soothes the inflamed skin
- Aloe vera : Aloe vera has multiple skin benefits and has been widely used for many skin problems. The moisturizing gel of the plant helps in reducing the pore size, removes oil and dirt on the skin, and gives the skin a natural glow
- Warm green tea bags : Green tea bags contain antioxidants and this method can help in relieving the inflammation pain on the area. It also has antibacterial properties that help in fighting acne causing bacteria on the skin
- Pimple sticker : This is like a small ticker or a patch which is placed on a blind pimple. The sticker contains acne fighting agent like salicylic acid which helps in reducing the sebum production and reducing inflammation. It can be safely worn throughout the day
- Tea tree oil : Evidence has shown that tea tree oil can reduce and relieves any inflammation on the skin. The compound called tepinen-4-ol, a component of tea tree oil has anti-inflammatory capacity. It was found to be more effective than most of the commercially prepared standard medications and topical creams prescribed for the treatment of many skin conditions like acne. The antiseptic and antibacterial properties of tea tree oil can reduce oiliness on the skin which can lead to reduction in acne breakouts. The antimicrobial function of the oil is due to its capacity to damage the cell wall structure of bacteria
- Honey : Honey has been one of the ancient go-to for many conditions like burns and wounds. It has multiple medicinal properties – especially improving the healing process and clearing out clogged pores. Honey also has some antibacterial properties which help in fighting infections and thus reduce acne breakouts
Steps to prevent Blind Pimples
One can follow simple steps to prevent the occurrence of blind pimples. They include :
- Washing the face couple of times in a day and not overdoing it as washing it multiple times can irritate the skin
- On an acne and pimple prone skin, scrubbing can make matters worse as it causes friction between the pores and the scrub particles causing inflammation
- Using skin care products that are non-comedogenic and feel lighter on the skin instead of greasy and heavy products
- Maintaining good hydration levels helps in eliminating toxins from the body and keeping the skin healthy
- Keeping adequate hygiene around by washing pillow covers and sheets that come in direct contact with the skin
- It is important to remove all kind of makeup and skincare products applied on the body before going to bed, as they can clog pores and accumulate dead skin cells
- Seeking an expert advice is always a good idea if pimples keep recurring and do not respond to multiple treatment attempts
Conclusion
Blind pimples are the most testing to treat. They take longer than usual to treat to get rid off blind pimple than other forms of acne. There are some home remedies available to combat blind pimples, but for some, they may not respond to them and need a medical intervention by a specialist. Following a simple skincare hygiene can be an effective way to treating and avoiding blind pimples
References
- https://www.cmaj.ca/content/183/7/E430
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352647517300862
- https://pmj.bmj.com/content/82/970/500
Sirisha B