Pimples On Thighs
What You May Not Know About Pimples on the Thighs
Blemishes anywhere on the body are an annoyance, but particularly inconvenient and unsightly are pimples on the thighs. Red bumps on the thighs can be incredibly painful, and are brought on by various sources, including but not limited to folliculitis, ingrown hairs, acne, and excessive sweat. Some of these are easily remedied, but others may require a bit more effort. Follow this simple, straight-forward guide to help eliminate any ugly redness that may have developed on your thighs.
Folliculitis
Folliculitis is a painful infection or inflammation of the hair follicles. This is generally caused by bacteria, such as staphylococcus aureus, a main cause of staph infection. The bacteria are able to infect the hair follicles through damage caused by clothing friction, shaving, and even insect bites. Irritation caused by infected hair follicles is usually itchy and painful, accompanied by reddening of the skin and pus-filled irritation around the individual hairs.
As unpleasant as the infection sounds, folliculitis can usually be cleared up with over-the-counter antiseptic sprays and topical antibiotic ointments. Particularly nasty cases may require prescription medications, such as dicloxacillin. To help ease the discomfort of the symptoms, place a warm, clean compress against the affected area. This will also help let the pus drain from the bumps.
Ingrown Hairs
One of the leading causes of pimples on the thighs is ingrown hairs. Ingrown hairs can be caused by shaving, waxing, wearing confining clothes, and anything else that can potentially cause the hairs to be shortened so that the sharp tip can then reenter the skin. This leaves the skin itchy, often with pus-filled pimples and bumps, similar to those found in folliculitis. In addition to this, hairs will often remain visible and tangible, despite being shaved repeatedly.
Getting rid of ingrown hairs is a little bit tricky, but it’s well worth the effort. Begin by gently exfoliating the area. The scrubbing will help remove dirt, grime, and dead skin which can lead to infection and block the pores. This will usually cause the ingrown hair to surface, and from there you can use tweezers to help coax it out. Do not fully remove the hair. To help get rid of the redness, apply benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid several times a day after exfoliating. If you do not have either of these, a dab of toothpaste will work in a fix. In addition to this, a warm compress will help in easing the pain and discomfort.
Acne
Pimples on the thighs may also be caused by certain types of acne. Some severe forms that are left untreated may result in cysts, boils, and scarring. For typical acne, applying warm compresses and salicylic acid will usually do the trick. Treatments for the more severe types may include cortisone shots, anti-inflammatory pills, and oral antibiotics. If you are concerned that you have a severe form of acne on your thighs, contact your dermatologist and schedule an appointment. They will be able to recommend or prescribe the best treatment for your acne.
Sweat
Sweating is the most common cause of zits and pimples on the thighs. People’s thighs are generally covered by clothing, trapping heat and moisture next to the skin. This swampy atmosphere lends itself easily to breakouts of pimples. The hotter it is, the more you sweat as your body tries to regulate its temperature. The sweating blocks many pores, and a heat rash may pop up on the skin as well.
Avoiding this unpleasantness is rather simple. If you’re female and the weather is mild, you can opt to wear light, free-flowing dresses. Allowing air circulation in this region will help with speedy evaporation of the sweat. If dresses are not an option, try to wear breathable fabrics. Avoid tight clothing at all costs, and use a powder to help keep you dry if you must.