Papule acne is a very common skin condition that leads to inflamed, painful, and solid bumps on the skin. Treating these blemishes requires a thoughtful approach.
To get rid of acne papules officially, you'll need to develop a routine that addresses each of the main causes of your breakouts. To do that, it's important to understand which acne products and ingredients will successfully target your papules and why. Remember to avoid at-home remedies because while some work, there are others touted online that can be unhealthy for your skin.
Whether you're dealing with mild to moderate acne or more severe, painful lesions, a treatment that combines scientific and natural ingredients can have a huge impact on your skin's health. Taking control of your acne is as simple as knowing where it comes from and giving your skin the tools it needs to heal.
Also read: How to choose the best acne treatment
What Is Papule Acne?
Papular acne is a condition in which acne papules frequently form and damage the skin. Papules are considered to be a more severe type of inflammatory acne than "typical" acne (acne vulgaris), as they tend to be more painful, inflamed, and difficult to deal with.
Managing acne papules can understandably affect your confidence, especially if the treatment methods you're trying don't seem to make a difference.
Because acne papules are more severe than other types of blemishes, it's important to treat them with care and patience. Inflammatory acne may be more likely to cause deep scarring and other consequences.
How to Tell If You're Dealing With Acne Papules
In order to practice the proper treatment, it's vital to distinguish papules from other types of acne or chronic skin conditions unrelated to breakouts.
Acne papules, according to the National Institute of Health, are inflamed lesions that typically look like small, raised pink bumps that are often tender to the touch.
Unlike acne nodules and cysts, acne papules do not form very deeply in the skin. They also do not feature a white or pus-filled head like pustules do, which means they aren't able to be safely extracted.
What Causes Papule Acne?
The same main causes of acne that lead to other types of blemishes are to blame for acne papules. These causes include:
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Inflammation, which traps bacteria and excess oil in the pores and leads to redness
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Excess sebum (oil) production, which clogs the pores and allows harmful bacteria to reproduce and thrive
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Acne-causing bacteria, specifically P. acnes bacteria, which feed off of excess oil and increase inflammation.
How Do You Get Rid of Papules?
Getting rid of papular acne is a long-term process that involves caring for your skin the right way, avoiding potential triggers, and taking care of your overall health.
The first part of this equation is understanding why your acne papules are popping up. The next is determining what treatment options will work best for your skin.
It's important to rely on proven, acne-fighting ingredients to manage papules; these pesky pimples require a multi-step routine to address each of their causes and prevent future flare-ups.
Keep Inflammation Under Control
It's nearly impossible to properly treat acne lesions like papules without reigning in inflammation.
Inflammation not only causes acne papules, but it can also make them worse or more painful. Avoid further irritating your skin by steering clear of harsh cosmetics and products, excessively touching your face, etc.
Some ingredients that are proven to combat inflammation include:
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Green tea extract, featured in our gentle clearing tonic.
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Passion fruit, which we use in our exfoliating microscrub.
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Licorice root extract, which, along with treating acne, has the added benefit of reducing the appearance of acne scars. You can find licorice root in our clear pore serum.
Curb "Bad" Bacteria
P. acnes, the acne-causing bacteria, is actually healthy for your skin in low amounts. But if it starts to get out of control by feeding on excess sebum, then it's time to reign things in.
Controlling the amount of bacteria on your skin makes it much easier to keep future papules at bay and shrink the size of pre-existing ones.
We recommend using products with benzoyl peroxide, an anti-microbial ingredient proven to stave off bacteria without drying out or irritating the skin.
It is important to note, however, that benzoyl peroxide on its own won't get rid of acne. It should be mixed with calming ingredients, such as the ones listed above, to get rid of your acne while keeping your skin healthy.
Be sure to check out our Acne Treatment Serum, formulated with benzoyl peroxide, green tea extract, and tea tree oil to fight acne-causing bacteria, soothe and heal the skin, and prevent more acne later on.
Manage Oil Production
Too much sebum on the skin can lead to clogged pores and contribute to the development of acne papules, comedones, and more.
To treat papules, then, you'll need a product that can absorb extra oil and help promote a better balance.
That's why we've created the Exposed Clear Pore Serum, formulated with salicylic acid to manage excess oil production, calm redness, and battle bacteria to keep your skin looking and feeling its best.
Cleanse, Exfoliate, and Moisturize
Even with each of the main acne papule causes addressed, your work toward a well-rounded and effective acne treatment isn't over: keeping your skin's natural barrier healthy and strong is an important part of healing.
Cleanse your skin regularly to keep your pores healthy, and exfoliate periodically to free your skin of dead skin cells that can lead to clogging.
Our Microderm Scrub is great for keeping excess dead skin cells and toxins at bay. Its gentle exfoliating properties help repair damaged skin and reveal a smoother, brighter complexion.
Also important is keeping your skin moisturized. Calm irritated pores and rehydrate your skin with our Moisture Complex, which is also formulated with green tea extract to control sebum production and reduce inflammation.
Be Consistent
Perhaps most critical in any skincare routine is consistency.
It's far easier for your pores to accumulate dirt, grime, and pus without regular cleansing and treatment, and a spotty routine won't lead to nearly as significant of results as a daily one.
Being consistent about a routine doesn't have to be a headache. At Exposed, we've developed a variety of kit-based routines that make it simple to give your skin what it needs twice a day. Take our "Find My Kit" Quiz today to find products that work for you.
