Waking up to the horror of a pimple on your face is irking. Isn’t it? Sadly, such acne breakouts happen every now and then. But, what if the pimple is filled with blood?
Blood-filled pimples usually don’t form unless you forcefully pick or pop your pimple for it to heal faster. However, such pimples can be treated and healed without leaving much of a mark on your skin, if spotted early on.
Scroll down to know what causes a blood filled pimple to develop and how you can treat it.
Highlights:
What Is A Blood-Filled Pimple?
Blood pimples are swellings or bumps that are red and filled with blood. Pimples are pus filled papules, one of the symptoms of a skin condition called acne. Acne is caused by the clogging of the hair follicles with dirt or dead skin cells and often accompanied by bacterial infection [1].
While pimples are common during puberty and around menstrual cycles due to hormonal changes, blood-filled pimples are not a natural phenomenon. Pimples are filled with blood only when they are subjected to repeated trauma.
What Causes A Blood-Filled Pimple To Form?
The most common reason behind the formation of a blood-filled pimple is accidental popping or squeezing of the regular one. So, when you squeeze or pop a pimple, it not only forces out the pus, but also damages the underlying fine blood vessels, causing them to burst. This causes your pimple to get filled with blood.
Besides, if you wash your face too harshly or use a strong exfoliant trying to get rid of the pimple, that might also result in a blood-filled pimple. Use gentle cleansers and avoid exfoliating areas with pimples till they have healed properly.
How To Get Rid Of Blood-Filled Pimples On Your Face?
You do not need to panic in case the pimple on your face is blood-filled. Most of the time, they heal on their own. However, you may try any of the following treatments to treat them, if need be.
A. Home Remedies
You can try one of these home remedies as soon as you spot a blood-filled pimple on your face.
1. Ice Compression
Make an ice pack by placing a few ice cubes on a clean cloth and press it lightly on the affected area. The ice will shrink the nearby blood vessels reducing the bleeding, swelling and pain almost immediately.
2. Keep It Clean
Use a mild cleanser to keep the affected area clean. It is best to avoid too much makeup or other heavy oil based products to prevent your skin pores from getting clogged. Avoid exfoliating your skin when you already have a blood-filled pimple.
You can take SkinKraft’s AI enabled SkinIDTM to assess the current condition of your skin and get products custom made specially for your skin-needs.
3. Tea Tree Oil
A 5% concoction of tea tree oil in a carrier oil may help you to treat mild to moderate acne. Tea tree oil has very good antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which makes it an effective anti-acne agent. Some people may develop irritation or allergy to tea tree oil. You should therefore always perform a patch test before using it for the very first time.
B. Over The Counter (OTC) Treatments
1. Topical Retinoids
You can buy a retinoid cream or gel that is commonly used to treat acne. Retinoids are vitamin A derivatives that regulate the rate of cell growth, which in turn prevents the clogging of the pores on your skin. Examples of topical retinoids include benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin.
Use the retinoid cream or gel once daily, 20 to 30 minutes post face wash or as mentioned on the product label [2]. While mild retinoids are available over the counter, you need a dermatologist’s prescription for a stronger one.
2. Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid is a great exfoliant as it can remove deposition of dead cells from the skin surface [3]. Topical formulations used to treat acne usually have a concentration between 0.5% to 5% [4]. However, it is best to avoid products with salicylic acid if you have open wounds or irritation in the affected area.
3. Zinc Ointments
Zinc formulations, such as the ones with zinc oxide, may be used to treat blood-filled pimples at home. Zinc is more effective when used in conjunction with other acne treatments.
C. Prescription Medicines
If your pimple does not get better within a few weeks, you should see a dermatologist who can check your skin condition and prescribe you necessary medications. Some prescription medications used to treat pimples are:
1. Antibiotics
Depending on your requirements, your doctor might prescribe a topical antibiotic or an oral antibiotic pill. Antibiotics kill the bacteria causing pimples and prevent them from returning. You should religiously follow the dosage and complete the entire course of medication to avoid developing antibiotic resistance.
2. Contraceptive Pills
Women and girls often experience hormonal fluctuations during their menstrual cycles which can lead to acne. Oral contraceptive pills can keep the hormones levels regulated, which in turn helps clear up the acne prone skin.
3. Isotretinoin
Your doctor will give you this oral retinoid only in case of severe cystic acne. This medicine needs to be taken for 4 to 5 months for effective cure of acne. For some people, it might even cure acne permanently.
D. Medical Procedures
If your blood-filled pimple is very severe, your dermatologist may suggest one of the following procedures to help clear your skin.
1. Draining The Pimple
An expert will remove the pus and blood from your pimple, which will also clear out the cell debris and bacterial residues. This procedure will not only reduce the pain and inflammation, but also reduce the chances of spreading of the infection.
2. Laser Therapy
Your dermatologist may use laser or other light radiations to treat severe acne [5]. The effectiveness of these treatments vary from person to person. Some people get better clearance than others. It takes some time to get any visible results and you may require follow-up sessions to maintain clear skin.
How To Prevent Blood-Filled Pimples?
1. Do Not Touch Your Face
Avoid touching your face when you already have a pimple. This way you will not be scratching or popping the pimple which is the primary reason behind the formation of a blood-filled pimple. Also, you may spread the infection to other parts of your face if you keep touching it.
2. Maintain Good Hygiene
It is not enough just to keep your face clean, you should also frequently wash all the things that come in contact with your face to prevent infections. These items include your handkerchief, bed linens, cell phones etc.
3. Keep Your Hair Away From Your Face
It is best to tie your long hair or use a hair band to keep hair away from your face. The oil, dirt or hair care products on your hair can lead to acne on your face. Also clean your hair regularly to avoid the dirt or dandruff from your head clogging the pores of your skin.
4. Check The Expiry Date Of Skincare Products
You should always keep a tab on the expiry date of makeup and other products that you put on your face. An expired product should be thrown out immediately to avoid adverse side effects.
5. Be Gentle To Your Skin
Use only gentle, non-fragrant and non-comedogenic (which do not clog pores) products on your skin especially if you are prone to acne. This way you will avoid irritation or inflammation of your facial skin.
6. Eat A Healthy Diet
Take a nutritious and balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and pulses. Avoid high fat, high sugar food and alcohol consumption. Also try to notice if any particular food such as dairy, nuts, etc aggravates your acne problem.
7. Reduce Stress
Stress can lead to systemic disruptions such as hormonal imbalance in your body which in turn can aggravate acne problems. Try mediation, deep breathing or light physical exercises to keep your mind and body healthy and stress-free.
Should You Squeeze Out Blood From A Pimple?
According to the experts, it is best to try and not touch a pimple, as you can make it worse and even spread the infection. If you have a lot of pain and inflammation, seek the advice of an expert. If the blood-filled pimple needs to be drained, it is best to get it done by a medical practitioner.
The tools used should be sterilised thoroughly and also the affected area should be kept clean post treatment. You should be extremely careful after the pimple has been drained and keep the area covered. Your doctor may inject medications into the affected area for faster healing.
Can Blood-Filled Pimples Cause Scarring?
If you pick on the pimples repeatedly, it may lead to scarring of the affected area. Also, if the blood-filled pimples reach deeper into your skin, they will leave a scar upon healing. If the pimple scars bother you, you may consult your dermatologist for an appropriate solution.
Chemical peels and laser resurfacing are commonly used to reduce scars resulting from acne. These procedures remove the external dead skin layer and promote cell regrowth, resulting in a smoother looking skin.
Wrapping Up
Blood pimples are not naturally occurring like regular pimples. They only occur when you intentionally or accidentally pop an existing pimple. You can try one of the home remedies or over the counter treatments to deal with your acne. If your blood pimple does not heal in a couple of weeks or gets worse you should immediately see a doctor. Underlying conditions such as hormonal imbalances need to be treated to prevent recurring pimples.
1. https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/acne#tab-overview
2. https://www.aocd.org/page/Retinoidstopical
3. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/20341-salicylic-acid-topical-gel-cream-lotion-solution
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4554394/
5. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/acne/derm-treat/lasers-lights
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