How to Get Rid of Cystic Big Painful Swollen Pimple

Having a swollen pimple especially with no head (blind pimple can be very frustrating. We have insight on their causes and ways to shrink or reduce pimple swelling be it on your chin, nose, lip, face as well as reduce the redness that may accompany it.

While getting pimples is a normal part of life, but there is nothing more infuriating than going to bed with a clear, smooth skin only to wake up with a giant painful and swollen pimple on your face.

Similar to preventing or getting rid of acne, fighting this kind of lesions can be maddening especially when you don’t know exactly what to do.

Big swollen pimple on upper lip
Big swollen pimple on upper lip

Normally, pimples develop when the pores on your skin get clogged by dead skin cells. Sometimes other substances such as dirt, bacteria and excess oil can become trapped within the bump thus causing the affected area to become swollen and red.

Breakout of red, swollen pimples is a form of inflammatory acne referred to as cystic acne. These kinds of pimple are formed when the pore becomes clogged and which causes body’s immune system to respond by sending white blood cells to fight the infection: this causes the surrounding of the affected area to become red and inflamed.

In some cases, cystic acne or nodular acne may develop when a hair follicle or pore bursts thus, releasing bacteria and excess oil into the surrounding area of the skin. Additionally, if the rupture occurs deep within the pore, you may experience a cyst-which is a large, firm, bump inside the skin.

However, there are different kinds inflammatory acne depending on the redness, size, tenderness and the possibility of scarring.

Is it cystic acne or a blind pimple with no head?

Acne affects approximately 50 million people in the united states on a yearly basis. While this clearly shows it’s a common skin condition, but a majority of people suffer from papules which are inflamed red bumps that advance into pustules when they become filled with pus-typically referred to as pimples.

Nodules and cysts are the most severe kinds of acne which form when a blocked pore gets more irritated, hence becoming swollen. This kind of acne goes deeper into the skin and are extremely painful.  Nodules are hard while cysts are softer and may be filled with pus.

In some cases, a blind pimple may develop due to cysts or nodules: a blind pimple is simply acne that forms beneath the surface of the skin and initially doesn’t have heads like other pimples.

However, severe cystic acne is more common in men and teenage boys as compared to women. Usually, this type affects the face, shoulders, back and upper arms. For the women who are affected by cystic acne, breakouts normally develop on the bottom half of their face.

How to get rid of swollen pimples

In most circumstances, over the counter topical medications work in mild cases of acne and have little or no effect on severe cases: hence, a dermatologist should be consulted in cases of nodular or cystic acne.

A dermatologist is more likely to recommend one of the following treatment options:

  • Oral antibiotics to control the bacteria and reduce swelling. In some cases, the zit may fail to respond to medications or after prolonged use, your body may build resistance to the antibiotics.
  • Oral contraceptive pills for hormone regulation in women.
  • spironolactone helps to eliminate excess water and treat cystic acne in women.
  • isotretinoin which targets all causes of acne. For most people, this medication permanently and completely clears the skin in a period of 5 months when the pill is taken once or twice on a daily basis. However, this medication is prohibited for pregnant women.
  • Prescription strength creams, gels, and lotions with retinoid- a form of vitamin A to help unclog pores and ensures antibiotics work effectively.

Prevention tips

  • Wash your face at least twice a day and also when sweaty.
  • Avoid scrubbing: while people prone skin often feels dirty and greasy, exfoliation can further aggravate the skin and worsen the condition.
  • Look for skin-friendly products: non-comedogenic, non-acnegenic or oil-free products are the best to use for a pimple prone skins.
  • Always wash off any makeup before going to bed: failure to rinse off or wash off makeup clogs up pores thus exacerbating the problem.
  • If your pimples seem to worsen over time, seek a dermatologist’s advice.

Sources

  • https://www.proactiv.com/en_us/types-of-acne.html
  • https://www.aad.org/media/stats/conditions
  • https://www.aad.org/public/kids/skin/acne-pimples-zits/different-kinds-of-pimples