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At Healthfully, we strive to deliver objective content that is accurate and up-to-date. Our team periodically reviews articles in order to ensure content quality. The sources cited below consist of evidence from peer-reviewed journals, prominent medical organizations, academic associations, and government data.
- MedlinePlus: Acne
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases; Questions and Answers about Acne; October 2010
- MayoClinic.com; Acne: Treatment and Drugs; Nov. 3, 2009
The information contained on this site is for informational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a professional health care provider. Please check with the appropriate physician regarding health questions and concerns. Although we strive to deliver accurate and up-to-date information, no guarantee to that effect is made.
Hard Acne Bumps
Acne usually causes small skin swellings when follicles get full or partially blocked with dead skin cells and skin oil. Blackheads are partial blockages, while a whitehead is completely clogged up, the American Academy of Dermatology explains; pimples that fill with pus are called papules and pustules. Sometimes acne causes hard bumps, which are more serious because of their appearance and potential for scarring.
Types
Hard acne bumps come in two types. An acne nodule extends below your skin's surface and is large and hard to the touch. An acne cyst also goes below the skin and is filled with pus, as well as skin oil and dead cells. Both of these hard acne bump types are very visible and hurt if you touch or press them. Never pick at these bumps or try to pierce or pop them.
- Hard acne bumps come in two types.
- An acne nodule extends below your skin's surface and is large and hard to the touch.
Causes
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Neither mild nor serious acne is caused by uncleanliness. You get pimples if your skin produces too much of the oil called sebum, which your body typically starts to produce with adolescent hormone changes. Bacteria gets into the mixture, attracting white blood cells and inflaming the resulting skin lesion. Eighty percent of teenagers get pimples, according to the TeensHealth website, although not all of them develop severe cases with hard acne bumps like nodules and cysts 3.
- Neither mild nor serious acne is caused by uncleanliness.
- You get pimples if your skin produces too much of the oil called sebum, which your body typically starts to produce with adolescent hormone changes.
Considerations
Both acne nodules and cysts have a high risk of scarring once they finally disappear, and often they persist despite typical home treatments, such as products containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. See your regular physician or a dermatologist if you have persistent hard acne bumps to get proper treatment before you develop scars. Doctors have stronger remedies, like prescription creams, antibiotics, corticosteroid injections and potent oral medications like isotretinoin, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases advises 2.
Scar Treatments
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Scars from hard acne bumps may be narrow and deep or may take the form of a gradual depression in the skin. Both scar types can be treated with a variety of methods, depending on the severity of the mark. Chemical peels and microdermabrasion are often effective for mild scarring, while more severe problems may require dermabrasion, laser resurfacing or deeper laser treatments. Other options to remove scars or lessen their appearance include filler injections and surgical procedures.
- Scars from hard acne bumps may be narrow and deep or may take the form of a gradual depression in the skin.
- Chemical peels and microdermabrasion are often effective for mild scarring, while more severe problems may require dermabrasion, laser resurfacing or deeper laser treatments.
Prevention
You cannot completely prevent acne if your skin is overproducing sebum, but you may be able to ward off more serious lesions like nodules and cysts by gently washing your skin no more than twice per day with mild soap or cleansing products. Never use harsh cleaners or scrub your skin, as irritation makes acne worse and can cause hard acne bumps. Treat mild cases promptly with over-the-counter creams, and refrain from picking, squeezing or popping any pimples.
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References
- MedlinePlus: Acne
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases; Questions and Answers about Acne; October 2010
- TeensHealth; Why Do I Get Acne?; January 2011
- TeensHealth; Can Acne Scars Be Removed? March 2010
- MayoClinic.com; Acne: Treatment and Drugs; Nov. 3, 2009
- Gollnick HP, Zouboulis CC. Not all acne is acne vulgaris. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2014;111(17):301-12. https://doi.org/10.3238/arztebl.2014.0301
- Elsaie ML. Hormonal treatment of acne vulgaris: an update. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2016;9:241-8. https://doi.org/10.2147/CCID.S114830
- Zeichner JA, Baldwin HE, Cook-bolden FE, Eichenfield LF, Fallon-friedlander S, Rodriguez DA. Emerging Issues in Adult Female Acne. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2017;10(1):37-46. PMID:28210380
- Gollnick HP, Zouboulis CC. Not all acne is acne vulgaris. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2014;111(17):301-12.
- Tanghetti EA. The role of inflammation in the pathology of acne. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2013;6(9):27-35. PMID:24062871
- Elsaie ML. Hormonal treatment of acne vulgaris: an update. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2016;9:241-8.
- Questions and Answers About Acne. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). Jan 2016. National Institutes of Health.
- Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL, Schlosser BJ, Alikhan A, Baldwin HE, et. al. Guidelines of Care for the Management of Acne Vulgaris. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 74.5 (2016): 945-73. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.12.037
Writer Bio
Based in Kissimmee, Fla., Barb Nefer is a freelance writer with over 20 years of experience. She is a mental health counselor, finance coach and travel agency owner. Her work has appeared in such magazines as "The Writer" and "Grit" and she authored the book, "So You Want to Be a Counselor."