Papule acne is a very common skin condition that leads to inflamed, painful, and solid bumps on the skin.
Biggest Take-Aways:
- Papules require extra attention - Papule acne is a more severe form of inflammatory acne that causes painful, raised pink bumps without a white head. It requires targeted treatment to address its main causes: inflammation, excess oil production, and acne-causing bacteria.
- You need proven ingredients - Effective treatment involves a consistent skincare routine using proven ingredients like benzoyl peroxide to control bacteria, salicylic acid to manage oil, and natural extracts like green tea and licorice root to reduce inflammation.
- A comprehensive approach is crucial - cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturizing regularly help maintain skin health while treating papules. Avoiding harsh products and excessive face-touching is also important. A kit from Exposed meets all requirements for an effective, complete home acne treatment system.
- Patience and consistency are key - treating papule acne is a long-term process that requires diligent adherence to a carefully chosen skincare regimen tailored to address all aspects of this particular type of acne.
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:
- Inflammation, which traps bacteria and excess oil in the pores and leads to redness.
- Excess sebum (oil) production, which clogs the pores and allows harmful bacteria to reproduce and thrive.
- 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:
-
Green tea extract, featured in our gentle clearing tonic.
-
Passion fruit, which we use in our exfoliating microscrub.
-
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.
As is the case for other types of acne, a good skincare routine, patience, and consistency are all key when treating papules.
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.
Why Exposed Skin Care is a Good Solution for Papule Acne
Exposed Skin Care offers a comprehensive approach to treating papule acne by addressing its three main causes: inflammation, excess oil production, and acne-causing bacteria. The combination of scientifically proven ingredients and soothing natural extracts makes it an ideal solution for those struggling with papule acne.
- First, Exposed products target inflammation, which is a key factor in the formation of papules. The inclusion of natural anti-inflammatory agents like green tea extract and licorice root helps soothe irritated skin and reduce redness, while ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid work to treat acne at its root.
- Second, Exposed Skin Care is effective at controlling oil production, thanks to the salicylic acid present in products like the Clear Pore Serum. This ingredient helps to unclog pores and manage excess sebum, ensuring that the skin stays balanced without becoming overly dry.
- Finally, Exposed helps to curb acne-causing bacteria, particularly P. acnes, which thrive in oily environments. Benzoyl peroxide, found in the Acne Treatment Serum, works to kill bacteria, but it’s combined with calming ingredients like tea tree oil and green tea extract to prevent irritation.
The Exposed Skin Care system also emphasizes consistency and a well-rounded regimen, offering kits that simplify the skincare process, making it easier to treat and manage papule acne over time.
Conclusion
Sticking to a regular skincare routine is super important, especially if you're dealing with moderate to severe acne like papules. If you're not consistent, your pores can fill up with dirt and oil, making your inflamed bumps even worse. Even though it might be tempting to pop a papule, it can lead to more issues like dark spots or scars. So, it's better to avoid that!
Acne can also be caused by hormonal changes, and some people find that birth control pills help balance things out. But, you should always talk to a dermatologist before using any prescription medications. They can also prescribe topical antibiotics to help control acne-causing bacteria and treat acne papules more effectively.
To stay on top of your acne, here's a simple list to keep in mind:
- Cleanse – Wash your face daily to remove dirt and oil.
- Treat – Use acne products with proven ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid.
- Moisturize – Don’t forget to hydrate your skin, even if it's oily!
- Exfoliate – Clear away dead skin cells to avoid clogged pores.
- See a dermatologist – If over-the-counter treatments aren’t cutting it, they can help with prescription medications.
At Exposed Skin Care, we’ve made it easy to follow a routine that works. Our kits combine everything you need, so it’s simple to stay consistent and help your skin heal over time.
If you’re struggling with acne, don’t give up! It takes time, but with a good routine and maybe some help from a dermatologist, you can get rid of those acne papules and start feeling better about your skin.