What is a Pimple And Why Do I Get Them?

A vast majority of people will suffer from one form of skin condition or another at some point in their lives. With the array of terms used to identify different kinds of acne such as whiteheads, blackheads, zits, pimples, papules, nodules, etc. many people wonder what the difference is.

So, what is a pimple and how are they different from other forms of acne? Pimples are up there with the others when it comes to being one of the more widespread types of mild acne. It is also one that people have a hard time trying to deal with.

Pimples come in as many number of forms, from mild to the more severe, but most pimples that people have tend to be the milder form. Luckily, there are many treatments and remedies to halt the process and to keep your skin clear and pimple free. If you have any concerns, you can even contact Dr. Karen O’Neil- dermatologist in Mississauga, or visit visit your local healthcare clinic to schedule a consultation.

What Causes Pimples?

Like the many other forms of mild acne, pimples are caused by trapped sebum, the naturally occurring oil that is secreted from the pores of the skin. This natural process can become hampered by the pores becoming blocked, whether by the abundance of too much sebum oil itself, or by other blockage means such as dead skin cells or hair follicles that have entered a neighboring skin pore (ingrown hair). This blockage of the pores means that the sebum is trapped just underneath the skin.

The sebum needs to secrete out of the pores to keep the skin healthy, but when a pore has been blocked, the sebum starts to build up under the skin causing a small swelling of the skin. Most of the time and on the majority of people, this blockage is only partial allowing oxygen into the blockage, which causes oxidation and the creation of a blackhead, obviously different than a pimple. So what is a pimple and what is the difference between pimples and whiteheads? Well, in cases where the sebum can be completely blocked, and due to the relative close proximity of the sebum to the top layer of the skin, the pore can become infected with the naturally occurring bacteria that are found on the outer layer of the skin. This infection cause a white pocket producing what is called a whitehead.

These whiteheads attempt to push the infection out through the skin and appear as a regular zit, with a head filled with a white pustule. The natural progression is a rupture of the skin which clears the infection and re-opens the pores in the skin to allow for the sebum oil to flow out naturally once again.

To Pop or Not to Pop?

Pimples occur when the sebum is trapped under the skin, but is not infected, they tend to appear as small reddish bumps in the skin, much like a regular zit, but can be a little more tender than a usual zit, and the area becomes even-more red in color. Pimples and whiteheads are generally the same thing, but whiteheads are pimples that have later become infected. One way pimples become infected is by the attempts to pop them. When they are popped, that is when bacteria can be introduced to the spot.

It is therefore generally acknowledged by dermatologists that attempting to squeeze or pop any form of zits or spots such as whiteheads, blackheads or indeed pimples is generally not a wise idea. The body can deal with them on its own and has a natural process for fighting infection that can often be faster than healing a self-popped zit.

When people get zits, whiteheads, and/or pimples regularly,  many tend to worry about scarring resulting from the damages in the skin’s surface. For people who pop zits and the occasional pimple on the face, they find that it often takes longer to heal the blemish. Therefore, they run the risk and increase the chances of scarring and damaging the skin just under the surface making it prone to further infections and zits in the future. It is often best to leave an existing whitehead, pimple or zit to heal itself, and focus on trying to prevent them in the first place by means of the multitude of products available that will aid with your skincare treatment at home.

Help is Available!

Many people find red pimples are hard to get rid of especially pimples that breakout in hard to reach areas and ares that are difficult to maintain oil-free skin.  The fact is that there are many products available that offer you a chance to be more pro-active when it comes to combating the mild forms of acne. Products are available that not only clean the skin, but also aid recovery and disinfect the skin to halt future outbreaks.

Specialized skincare products are available, such as facial scrubs which can contain a gentle abrasive solution, such as natural salts and vitamins. These products get into the pores and clean them out, as well as disinfect them to make sure that you will enjoy clearer skin for longer. There are also special soaps, creams, and lotions that are available to aid the recovery of pimples, whiteheads and other milder acne problems.

So when wondering “what is a pimple?”, you can be sure to know the different forms of these mild acne, as well as the accompanying types of acne that might develop afterwards. With a pro-active approach to skincare and taking care of your skin health, you will be able to fight off the infections caused by pimples and zits and give yourself a better chance of enjoying clearer and healthier skin than you’ve ever achieved.

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