Painful Pimple

Having a painful pimple can cause a lot of discomfort, not to mention concerns about one’s physical appearance. In the majority of the situations, the painful pimple is the direct result of clogged pores, to which bacteria overgrowth is added. Apart from the actual pain, it is possible to present other symptoms, such as itchiness. As acne has become a common problem, it should come as no surprise that there are many treatments available, with oral and topical administration. Apart from that, one can try out a number of natural remedies for the painful pimple.

Signs and Symptoms of a Painful Pimple

These are the signs and symptoms associated with a painful pimple:

• Pain – varies from mild to moderate; some people describe a throbbing or pulsating sensation (suggestive of infection)
• Tenderness upon touch
• Inflammation surrounding the area of the pimple
• Because of the inflammation, the area appears red in color
• Whitehead visible in the center of the pimple
• Pressure sensation (as the pus collects to the surface of the skin)
• Purulent discharge (if the pimple breaks or gets broken)
• Blood discharge (may be mixed with the pus)
• Crust formation (sign that the pimple is healing).

Natural Remedies for Painful Pimple

These are the most recommended natural remedies for the painful pimples:

• Tea tree oil
  • Natural remedy for acne
  • Can be applied as such or introduced as ingredient of a clay mask
  • Best results – when left overnight
• Apple cider vinegar
  • Best results – diluted in lukewarm water
  • Can be used as such but only in a small quantity
  • Can be applied over the pimple with a Q-tip
  • Rinse with warm water to clear the skin of the vinegar
• Lemon juice
  • Recommended – freshly-squeezed lemon juice
  • Apply it directly to the painful pimple and leave it on for a couple of minutes
  • Best to be applied during the night
  • When you have applied the lemon juice on the face, refrain from going out (lemon juice can increase the sensitivity of the skin to the UV rays)
• Green tea
  • Recommended – green tea ice cube
  • Apply it directly to the painful pimple (anti-inflammatory effect)
  • Also has antimicrobial properties
• Tomato juice
  • Recommended – tomato slice applied directly to the painful pimple
  • Astringent properties
  • Number of applications – two per day
• Garlic
  • Antibacterial properties
  • Best application – garlic juice
  • Rinse with warm water after the garlic juice application
• Aloe vera
  • Anti-inflammatory properties
  • Can also speed the healing process, reducing the pain caused by the pimple
  • Best application – fresh aloe vera gel (store-bought gel also available)
• Honey + cinnamon
  • Honey – anti-bacterial properties
  • Cinnamon – anti-inflammatory properties
  • Best results – left overnight
  • In the morning, rinse the honey and cinnamon mixture with warm water
• Yoghurt + oatmeal
  • Soothing effect on the painful pimple area
  • Reduces both the pain and inflammation caused by acne
  • Natural exfoliating effect
  • Unclogs the pores
  • The application should be maintained for about half an hour and then rinsed with lukewarm water.
• Milk
  • Main benefit – unclogs pores (contains alpha hydroxy acids)
  • Smooth skin
  • Recommended to be applied with a cotton ball
• Epsom salt
  • Anti-inflammatory properties
  • Can bring relief from the pain associated with the pimple
  • Recommended – Epsom salt diluted in warm water
  • Applied with the help of a cotton ball
  • Recommended to be applied two or three times per day
  • A thorough rinse with warm water is required after the application
• Alcohol rub
  • Disinfectant properties
  • Soothing effect in the area of the painful pimple
  • May also help to unclog the blocked pores
  • Anti-inflammatory properties as well
  • Lukewarm water should be used to clean the face after the application

Pictures of Painful Pimple

Self-care measures

An efficient beauty routine can help you escape the painful pimple and also to prevent such problems. As such problems are often present at the level of the face, it is recommended that you wash it with lukewarm water and a mild, antibacterial soap. There are also special skin care products that are recommended for the oily skin, helping you prevent the excess buildup of sebum. Refrain from scrubbing your face too often, as this will only cause redness and expose your face to the risk of bacterial infection.

A cleansing cream is a must have element, especially if you have painful pimples on a regular basis. It is recommended that you choose one that contains active ingredients, such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. And if you want the best results, make sure that you apply a warm compress to the face before actually applying the cream. In this way, you can be sure that the pores are open and that the cream will work its magic.

Treatment

These are the recommended treatments for the painful pimple:

• Antibiotics
  • Topical/oral administration (depending on the severity of the acne)
  • If prescribed orally, the antibiotics have to be taken for as long as they prescribed, otherwise the bacteria will develop resistance to the treatment
  • Probiotic supplements are administered at the same time with the antibiotic treatment, so as to maintain a healthy intestinal flora
• Isotretinoin
  • Main ingredient – vitamin A
  • Efficient treatment for acne (topical administration)
• Corticosteroids
  • Form of administration – corticosteroid injections
  • Anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties
  • Faster healing period for the pimple
  • Cannot be administered for prolonged periods of time, due to the negative side-effects over one’s health.

When should you consider going to the doctor?

You should consider going to the doctor in the situation that the pimple becomes too painful, without the suggested natural remedies bringing any improvement. The dermatologist can suggest a proper treatment for the pimple, so as to guarantee a fast and efficient healing process, without any risk for secondary infections or scarring. Keep in mind that the dermatologist can also stop a pimple from progressing; however, in the situation that you present cysts at the level of the skin, the dermatologist can drain them, eliminating the infection from the respective area.