Papular Acne: Characteristics and How to Overcome It

Papular acne is a prominent pimple, feels solid and painful, looks reddish, as well as tdoes not contain pus. Papular acne is not a serious condition, but it can interfere with appearance, so many people want this condition to be treated properly.

Similar to acne in general, papular acne appears due to blockage and inflammation of the facial pores. Papular acne is characterized by the appearance of solid lumps less than 1 cm in size. Papular acne generally appears on the face, but can also appear on other areas of the body, such as the chest and back.

Understanding the Causes of Papular Acne

The appearance of papule acne can be caused by various factors that affect the condition of the skin. However, the common causes of papular acne are as follows:

  • Hormonal influence
  • Bacterial infection Propionibacterium acnes on the surface of the skin
  • Excessive oil production on the face
  • Blockage of hair follicles and oil glands
  • Eating too much sweet food
  • Stress

In addition, there are several other things that are known to trigger papular acne, for example taking certain drugs such as corticosteroids, using cosmetics that clog pores, to poor skin care and hygiene patterns. Certain medical conditions such as contact dermatitis to eczema may also trigger the appearance of papular acne.

How to treat papule acne

Generally, papular acne can be treated with simple home treatments, such as:

1. Clean facial skin regularly

To treat papular acne, you are advised to clean the skin on your face and body regularly, which is 2 times a day. Washing your face too often is also not recommended because it can trigger irritation, increase oil production, and eventually make more acne papules.

2. Using the right facial cleanser

In addition to washing your face regularly, choose the right facial cleanser. Facial cleansers that contain salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide or sulfur are good choices for facial cleansers for acne-prone skin.

These ingredients are able to help open clogged pores, thereby helping the healing process of papular acne that you have.

3. Stop the habit of squeezing pimples

As with other types of acne, avoid touching, scratching, or popping acne papules yourself. This action can make the pimple more inflamed and can cause sores on the skin's surface that may leave acne scars.

4. Avoid using make-up

Avoid using lotion or make-up on the acne-affected area. This can increase the blockage of the pores. In addition, also avoid using products that have not been used before because if they are not suitable, the product can cause irritation that aggravates papular acne.

5. Keep your hair clean

Regularly keep your hair clean using shampoo, especially if you have oily hair. In addition, you should avoid hairstyles with bangs because the closed surface of the facial skin can make acne worse and trigger the appearance of new papules.

If the above methods have not succeeded in overcoming papular acne, you can consult directly with a doctor. Some medications that may be given are antibiotics, benzoyl peroxide, and retinoids. In addition, the doctor may also give acne injections.

Hormone therapy may also be beneficial for some women who experience papular acne due to hormonal influences. Hormone therapy that can be given is estrogen, progesterone (birth control pills), or antiandrogen drugs.

Acne papules can cause scars on the skin if not treated properly. Therefore, you are advised to maintain and care for skin hygiene properly to prevent papular acne.

In addition, avoid actions that can injure papular acne and continue to undergo treatment and skin care as recommended by the doctor to prevent acne and acne scars from forming.