Acne is the most common skin problem and anyone can experience it. It turns out that acne has various types and the factors that cause it to appear are also different. One of the most common types of acne suffered by people is papular acne.
Not a few complain that this papular acne tends to be stubborn and difficult to cure. To find out the right way to cure it, you must first find out the factors that cause this papular acne to grow. This article will discuss the causes, characteristics, and how to treat papular acne. Come on, see the following review.
Causes of Papular Acne on the Skin
In general, acne appears because pores are clogged by dead skin cells and sebum.
The buildup of sebum that clogs the pores gives the Propinibacterium acnes bacteria the opportunity to grow because sebum is their main food. Inflammation also occurs as a reaction of the skin against bacteria that breed in the pores, then papular acne grows.
Apart from bacteria and excess sebum production, the growth of papular acne can also be due to several other factors, namely stress, consuming too much sugar, excessive production of androgen hormones, and consuming certain drugs such as corticosteroids and anabolic steroids .
Based on the causative factors, people who suffer from papular acne are often in the age range of teenagers or young adults who are susceptible to fluctuating hormonal changes. However, people in the adult age range can also still experience it seeing the many triggers for papular acne.
Characteristics of Papular Acne
Papular acne is a type of acne that experiences inflammation in the subcutaneous tissue. Its size tends to be small and no more than 5 millimeters. Because it grows under the skin, papular acne is only a lump, has no eyes, and is painful when touched.
Papular acne is often reddish or purplish due to inflammation. However, it is not uncommon for papular acne to resemble skin color.
How to Cure Papular Acne
Based on its characteristics, papular acne is very easy to recognize. Therefore, when papular acne starts to appear, you should treat it quickly before the bacteria grow rapidly and the inflammation gets worse. Here are the right ways to cure papular acne so that your face remains smooth and well-maintained.
1. Don’t Touch Pimples
The easiest way to heal papular acne quickly is to not touch it. There are many bacteria on our fingers and nails.
If you do not maintain hand hygiene, bacteria will grow wilder and acne will be harder to cure. In addition, acne that is getting bigger and inflamed will also make acne scars harder to remove.
2. Clean your face regularly
Bacterial growth and excess sebum production are the main factors in the growth of papular acne. Therefore, the way to anticipate it is to diligently clean your face.
Don’t forget to apply the double cleansing method after using heavy make up so that your face can be maximally clean and free from clogged pores. In addition, do regular exfoliation 1-2 times a week so that dead skin cells do not accumulate which can cause acne.
3. Manage Stress
Stress greatly affects the health of the body, especially the skin. When experiencing stress, the body will produce the hormones cortisol and androgen. Both hormones are responsible for excess sebum production.
In addition, cortisol and androgens also stimulate the production of cytokines, which are proteins that can trigger inflammation. Therefore, it is very important to manage stress, keep your mind positive, get enough sleep, and eat healthy foods.
4. Using Special Topical Medication for Acne
One of the most effective ways to get rid of papular acne is to apply a topical medication to the area where the acne grows. Choose an acne medication that contains active ingredients to fight the bacteria that cause acne.
The most common active ingredients found in acne medications are retinoids , azelaic acid , salicylic acid , and benzoyl peroxide . All four are quite effective in reducing inflammation, unclogging pores, killing bacteria, and drying out pimples.
5. Taking oral medication
If papular acne still does not heal even after using topical acne medication, try to see a doctor. Later, the doctor will recommend oral medication so that acne treatment can be maximized.
Generally, the oral medication that the doctor will recommend is an antibiotic which is effective in suppressing bacterial growth if the source of the acne is bacterial growth.
