Acne pimples come in different forms, but all pimples begin as a pore blockage or comedo. At first, a pimple is a small bump that isn’t inflamed.
A come do becomes inflamed when bacteria infect it. This can also happen when it’s irritated by squeezing. An inflamed pimple is red and swollen.
Papules are inflamed blemishes. They appear on the skin’s surface. They look like red bumps or lumps on the skin. They don’t have a white head.3
Papules can be large or small. They can occur anywhere on the face or body, including your:
- Neck
- Chest
- Shoulders
- Back
- Buttocks
Papules can be caused by acne vulgaris. This occurs when the wall of a hair follicle ruptures. Hair follicles are also called pores. When this happens, cellular debris and bacteria spill into the dermis (the deepest layer of skin).
A break in the pore can occur when the follicle fills with dead skin cells and oil. Pressure from squeezing a blackhead or blocked pore can also cause a rupture.
The rupture triggers inflammation in and around the follicle. The area turns red and swells. This is what creates the firm red bump we call a pimple.
Don’t squeeze a papule to try and make it come to a head. You probably won’t extract any debris from the pore. Instead, you may simply make it more inflamed.
Papules are not deep lesions. This means most of them will heal quickly without scarring.