Big Pimple
The Big Deal about a Big Pimple
Sometimes people will say that they have a big pimple when really it is a barely noticeable little skin blemish. You might hear people say, for example, that on the day they went to their proms they had “a huge, ugly pimple right smack in the middle of their foreheads.” The photographic evidence, however, rarely supports their cases. More often than not, when someone refers to a “big pimple,” they simply mean a prominent pimple, one that you might notice if you were sitting close to them. In addition, you would be surprised how often one person’s notion of a “big pimple” is nothing much to their friends and acquaintances. In our teenage insecurity, we often have a poor sense of reference.
The Real Deal
What if you really do have an inordinately large pimple? First, let us define large. A pimple might be unusually large if it is more than the size of a grape. Up to that size, it may certainly seem large to you as the carrier of such a large specimen of acne, but you will not want to call the Guinness Book of World Records about it yet. Once it starts approaching the size of a small apple or more than the size of a quarter, you have definite reason to consider it a very big pimple.
Dermatologist, Please
If you get a very large pimple, the first thing you want to do is not to pop it as you might another pimple. A very large pimple is more likely to create scars and to cause infection. Your best bet when it comes to such really large pimple is to go to a dermatologist.
This may sound like an extreme step just for a big zit, but going to a dermatologist is the safest of choices. It may simply turn out to be an unusually sized pimple and the dermatologist may simply drain it for you, suggest a cream of some kind or simply a cleansing regimen, and then send you on your way.
However, when you get an unusual growth on your body, it is better to have a professional look at it to make sure it is only a pimple. For example, what may look to your like a pimple, may actually be some kind of a localized allergic reaction to a bug bite. (On the other hand, to be extreme, it could be that you have a rapidly growing tumor that has just broken the surface of the skin—though this is an unlikely scenario.) Letting your dermatologist take a look at it will not only give you peace of mind, but should it turn out to be something unusual, it will give you a chance to catch it before it grows into something more complicated.
Cleansing Regime
A big pimple is often just the humiliation one needs to commit oneself more fully to a skin care regime. Pimples, regardless of their size, occur because of hormones and their reactions with the skin. Typically, a pimple begins as a blocked pore and grows from there.
The best antidote to preventing pimples is washing your face daily and keeping pores from becoming clogged by gently exfoliating your skin. If you do this, eat right, and avoid unnecessary stress you are likely to find that you can manage your skin care adequately. Like all young people, however, you will still get the occasionally zit, but with proper cleansing and life style these are likely to be fairly subdued.
You should, however, try to avoid over the counter oil-based skin treatment creams and ointments. Although they often do a good job of drying the pimple, they are also more likely to dry your skin, create local irritation, and to block other pores thus setting the stage for more pimples. In addition, because they dry your skin, you are more likely to get facial scarring.
If despite your diligence you get heavy acne breakouts, you should consider seeing a dermatologist so that she can help you develop a new cleansing regime.