What causes pimples?
A pimple begins when the pore or hair follicle becomes blocked with dead skin, sebum, or dead skin cells. This clogged pore may become infected with bacteria and will form into a swollen red lesion filled with pus at its tip. All pimples begin as a pore blockage. Pimples are most likely to occur around puberty however they can happen at any age.
You may ask what is the difference between acne and pimples? Acne is a disease and pimples are singular symptom of it.
How long should a pimple last?
Small pimples usually take a few days to disappear however some can take a long time to go away. This can vary depending on the type of pimple and size. Some can take up to 2 months to completely go away. For stubborn pimples it can be best to see a dermatologist.
How to prevent pimples?
- Try to avoid products that contain fragrance, essential oils, dyes
- Add salicylic acid into your skincare cleansing routine to reduce the oil production in your skin
- A blood test may show you what you are allergic to or resistant to. A cut down in certain food groups or elimination of some may improve your skin
- Simplifying and minimising your skincare routine
- Don’t let your skin dry ensure you moisturise after cleansing when your skin is still damp
- Avoid problematic oils which might aggravate your skin
- Stress. Stress lowers the immune system and impairs the skin barrier which can lead to dry skin
- Don’t over-cleanse your face. Cleansing at night should be sufficient for most skin types. Overly cleansing will dry your face and weaken the skin barrier allowing it to be susceptible to skin damage
- Remove makeup and don’t sleep with it on your face
- Maintain a healthy balanced diet with both vegetables and fruits.
- Salicylic acid in a cleanser form focuses on the oily parts of the skin, controls oil production, and unclog pores.
- Use a gentle moisturiser
- Use a gentle sunscreen
- Cleanse your face twice every day with a mild cleanser to remove dirt, sweat, and sebum
- Try not to touch your face too much if you have to ensure your fingers are clean. Â Your fingers harbour a lot of bacteria. Bacteria is what starts acne so keep your hands away from your face.
- Avoid washing hair regularly and keep them away from the face
- Ensure your bed linen and your pillowcase is regularly washed (every 2 weeks minimum) This is especially important if you don’t wash your hair regularly as dirty hair harbors bacteria too