What causes a pimple on your hand?
Acne

Pimples are caused by a skin condition called acne, which almost everyone deals with at some point in their lives. Contrary to common belief, not only teenagers get acne — adults do too.

The main triggers of acne are a buildup of dirt, oil, dead skin, or bacteria inside the pores and hair follicles of our skin. These irritants cause that area of skin to swell and sometimes fill with small amounts of pus.

This can happen almost anywhere on your body, and hands are no exception.

One of the best defenses against acne on your hands? Keeping them clean by washing regularly. But be aware that acne can also be triggered by washing too frequently with harsh soaps. These soaps kill the good bacteria on our skin and can disrupt the area’s pH balance, causing inflammation.

Other causes

Think about all of the dirt, oil, grease, and chemicals your hands come into contact with on a daily basis. Now think of all the germs you touch in bathrooms, kitchens, and public spaces every single day.

Despite our best efforts with washing, our hands are susceptible to lots of different skin conditions. The bump on your hand might be a pimple, but it could also be something else entirely. Here are some signs that you may not be dealing with a simple zit:

It hurts a lot or is extremely swollen and irritated.
It doesn’t go away on its own within a week or so.
It contains a large amount of pus or even oozes fluid.

It keeps growing beyond regular pimple size.
The tricky thing is that many common skin conditions look similar, meaning they start off as small red bumps that can be easily mistaken for pimples. Here are just a few of the skin conditions common to hands you may want to be aware of:

Atopic dermatitis. The most common type of eczema, this condition causes small red bumps, often on the hands, that can be quite itchy. If what appears to be pimples on your hand start to spread, itch and flake, you could be dealing with atopic dermatitis.

Ganglion cyst. This cyst, or small sac of fluid, typically appears on the hands and wrist. You should suspect your pimple is actually a ganglion cyst if it grows to a larger size and becomes painful to the touch.

Abscess. An abscess is very similar to a cyst in that it’s a small red bump filled with fluid. The key difference is that abscesses usually form due to infection and are often much more serious and painful.

Calcinosis. This condition causes a buildup of calcium in or under the skin, sometimes forming small or large white bumps. If the bump on your hand is white, grows, and starts to leak a chalky fluid, it could be calcinosis.

Warts. If what appears to be a pimple on your hand spreads into a patch of small bumps that are scaly or grainy, you could be dealing with common warts. They’re usually harmless but might require a doctor’s attention if they become painful or spread to a sensitive area of your body.

How to treat a pimple on your hand

If you’re confident the bump on your hand is a common zit, it will more than likely disappear over the course of a few days or weeks with no treatment. If you’d like to speed up the process or prevent more hand pimples, there are a few options.

Hygiene
Switch to a mild soap and wash your hands a few times per day, especially after using the bathroom and after handling dirty or oily items.

Medications
Unless you have major recurring acne breakouts on your hands, a little spot treatment with over-the-counter (OTC) medications — such as a cream or gel that contains salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide — to dry the area out, fight bacteria, and promote healing.

Pain relief
If the pimple on your hand causes you tremendous pain, it could be a cyst or something more serious, and you should see a dermatologist. For minor discomfort from a hand pimple, you can turn to an OTC pain reliever like ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).

Naturally treating a pimple on your hand
You also have plenty of natural options for treating your pimples at home, whether they’re on your hand or somewhere else.

As an added bonus, natural remedies usually smell great and can sometimes have other benefits for your skin besides fighting acne and inflammation, like moisturizing.

Practitioners of natural healing suggest direct application of substances such as:

green tea
aloe vera
honey
mint
Essential oils extracted from natural elements and plants are popular, and for good reason. Certain studies have shown that, among other benefits, they can be useful for reducing inflammation and preventing acne outbreaks.

Concentrated essential oils can be irritating to the skin, so certain types may need to be diluted before use with water or a carrier oil. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

It’s also recommended that you do a patch test before applying diluted essential oils to pimples: Put a small amount on your forearm and wait 24 hours. If the skin is irritated in that area, don’t use that oil for treatment.

Try these essential oils for spot-treating your hand pimple:

tea tree
cinnamon
rosemary
lavender
Should you pop the pimple on your hand?
“Popping a pimple makes it heal faster” is a common myth. Your best bet is to let the pimple run its course naturally and fade away over time.

Popping the pimple on your hand could push the infection deeper into the skin, spread bacteria, further inflame your skin, or even cause scarring.

You wake up all prepared to look your best and take on the world as the supernova that you are, until you see that spot on your face in the mirror. That pimple. But first, the questions pop up (much like that pimple): What is this pimple? Does it have a name? How do you get rid of it?

Well, don’t you worry, we’re here to help. First things first, let’s figure the ‘type’ out.

Blackheads and Whiteheads: Keeping with its name, blackheads and whiteheads look like tiny black/white “heads” on your face. Pores are often blocked by oil and dead skin. So the open pores appear black, and closed ones appear white. And thus, we have the blackheads and whiteheads.
Papules: At times, pores get irritated to the point of their walls breaking, causing bigger pimples called papules. Papules are hard to touch, and a cluster of them can make your skin feel like sandpaper. They’re basically a step ahead on the “irritating pimple problem” scale as compared to blackheads and whiteheads.
Cysts: This is a step ahead of papules, kind of like the energetic, aggressive cousins. Irritating blocked pores more can have pimples going deeper and bigger, forming cysts. Cysts are big, soft, and have blister like pus.
Acne Vulgaris: Acne Vulgaris is caused essentially by the trapping of hair follicles in the pores of your face. Think of it as a combination of papules, pustules (like papules, but filled with pus), cysts, and scars. This is possibly the least fun of pimples to have – which is saying something, because dealing with a pimple isn’t exactly your go-to Friday night plan.
So, how do you treat it? Resist the urge to squeeze pimples (all kinds), since your fingers can carry germs and will only spread and make it worse. Pop music is great. Popping your pimple is not.

One way of treating them is to make use of a facial steamer to soften the affected area. You can also use exfoliators that have Salicylic Acid & other ingredients that help unclog the pores. Using a suitable cleanser is important – something with natural ingredients. Since the main reason for pimples of any type are clogged pores, unclogging the pores will in effect, get rid of them. You may also use simple blackhead strips to get rid of the blackheads on your nose.

However, not all your pimples can be taken care of with simple home treatments. If you’re afflicted with a cyst, it’s best to go to your dermatologist and get it treated.



And, that’s it! Pimples are something that affect all of us and it doesn’t really discriminate – it’s all about equality like that. Don’t be embarrassed by them, just follow our simple suggestions to kiss them goodbye, and let your real self, shine!

MRSA and acne

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that commonly causes skin infections. It’s often mistaken for acne at first glance.

Acne is a common and generally harmless skin condition that’s caused by inflammation and clogging of the skin glands and hair follicles. Bacteria that normally live on the skin surface may also get inside these clogged areas but not always.

MRSA skin infection, on the other hand, is a serious form of Staph infection that develops on the skin and can cause deeper problems in the body.

What are the differences, and how do you spot them?

MRSA

MRSA is an antibiotic-resistant form of Staph infection that commonly develops on the skin. Staph is short for “Staphylococcus,” which is a type of bacterial genus. The “aureus” part of MRSA is the species.

There are multiple other species of Staphylococcus bacteria that exist and can cause infections. In the United States, MRSA is the most common cause of skin and soft tissue infections.

Staph bacteria are not unusual and can be commonly found on the skin, even on healthy individuals, in these areas:

inside of the nose
mouth
genitals
anus

You can carry Staph bacteria on your body without it ever causing problems. Problems can, however, occur when the body’s largest barrier to infection the skin is broken.

How does MRSA develop?

Staph infections and MRSA usually develop around cuts and other wounds in the skin. Breaks in the skin give the Staphylococcus aureus bacterium the chance to enter the body. When the MRSA enters the skin, a significant Staph infection may develop.

What makes MRSA different from other Staph infections?

MRSA is a form of Staph infection that is antibiotic resistant, meaning it’s very hard to treat with certain antibiotic medications.

Antibiotic resistance is what happens when bacteria genetically adapt against the effectiveness of antibiotics that were previously effective. To treat antibiotic resistant bacterial infections like MRSA, a different and stronger antibiotic treatment is needed.

How to tell MRSA from acne

Staph infections are commonly mistaken for acne because the first symptoms of Staph include the outbreak of red, swollen lesions that may look like acne pimples.

How can you tell the difference between a harmless outbreak of acne and a dangerous Staph infection like MRSA? While the most effective way to determine if you have MRSA is to get a culture of the affected skin at the hospital or your doctor’s office, you can look for certain hints and signs to determine if it’s acne or MRSA.

Signs you can look for to tell MRSA apart from regular acne:

In a large outbreak, MRSA pimples more closely resemble boils than acne pimples.

MRSA pimples will not respond to standard acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.
Acne tends to crop up in the same few places on the body — face, back, chest, shoulders — whereas MRSA pimples can appear anywhere on the body and may involve just a single lesion.

MRSA pimples are more closely situated around cuts/breaks in the skin.

MRSA pimples are usually more painful than acne pimples.

MRSA pimples are often surrounded by areas of inflammation, redness, and warmth.
The outbreak of MRSA pimples is often accompanied by a fever.

Risk factors

If you develop an outbreak of pimples and are unsure if they’re acne pimples or MRSA pimples, there are some risk factors to be aware of.

You’re at a higher risk of MRSA if you:

were recently hospitalized

regularly undergo hemodialysis

have a weakened immune system

share razors or other types of sanitary/toiletry equipment

live in crowded or unsanitary conditions

1. Properly wash your face

To help prevent pimples, it’s important to remove excess oil, dirt, and sweat daily. Washing your face more than twice a day may make acne worse, however.

Don’t wash your face with harsh cleansers that dry skin. Use an alcohol-free cleanser.

To wash your face:

Wet your face with warm, not hot, water.
Apply a mild cleanser in a gentle, circular motion using your fingers, not a washcloth.
Rinse thoroughly, and pat dry.

2. Know your skin type

Anyone can get pimples, no matter their skin type. Oily skin is the most pimple-prone. It’s caused by your skin’s sebaceous glands producing too much oily sebum.

Another type of skin that may cause pimples is combination skin. Combination skin means you have both dry areas and oily areas. The oily areas tend to be your forehead, nose, and chin, also called your T-zone.

Knowing your skin type will help you choose the right skin care products. For example, if your skin is oily, choose noncomedogenic products that are formulated to not block pores.

3. Moisturize skin

Moisturizers help skin stay hydrated. But many moisturizers contain oil, synthetic fragrance, or other ingredients that may irritate skin and cause pimples.

To help prevent pimples, use fragrance-free, noncomedogenic moisturizers after you wash your face or when your skin feels dry.

4. Use over-the-counter acne treatments

Over-the-counter (OTC) acne treatments may help zap pimples fast or prevent them in the first place. Most contain either benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or sulfur.

Use an OTC treatment to spot-treat pimples. Or use it as a maintenance regimen to control outbreaks. To help prevent side effects such as redness, irritation, and dryness, precisely follow the manufacturer’s usage instructions.


5. Stay hydrated

If you’re dehydrated, your body may signal your skin’s oil glands to produce more oil. Dehydration also gives your skin a dull appearance and promotes inflammation and redness.

To keep your body well-hydrated, drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day. Drink more after exercise, if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, or you spend time in a hot, humid environment.

6. Limit makeup

It’s tempting to use makeup to cover up pimples. However, doing so may clog pores and trigger outbreaks.

Go au naturel when you can. When you do wear makeup, avoid greasy, heavy foundation, and use products that are noncomedogenic, sheer, and fragrance-free.

Greasy or oily shampoos, body washes, shaving creams, and hair styling products may all cause pimples. To help prevent outbreaks, choose oil-free, noncomedogenic options.

7. Don’t touch your face

Your hands encounter grime and bacteria constantly throughout the day. And each time you touch your face, some of those pore-clogging impurities may get transferred to your skin.

By all means, if your nose itches, scratch it. But wash your hands regularly, and try to touch your face as little as possible.

8. Limit sun exposure

Catching some rays may dry out pimples in the short term, but it causes major problems in the long run. Frequent sun exposure dehydrates the skin, which over time causes it to produce more oil and block pores.

It’s important to wear sunscreen to help prevent skin cancer. However, many sunscreens are oily. For both sun and pimple protection, wear a noncomedogenic, oil-free sunscreen.

9. Don’t be a pimple popper

As tempting as it may be to squeeze that larger-than-life whitehead on the tip of your nose, don’t. Popping pimples may cause bleeding, severe scarring, or infection. It may also increase inflammation and clog surrounding pores, making your pimple problem worse.

10. Try tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is a popular folk remedy for pimples. According to the Mayo Clinic, it may “reduce the number of inflamed and non-inflamed lesions.”

To use tea tree oil for pimples, apply a couple drops to the inflamed area. You can also add a few drops to your daily cleanser or moisturizer.

Prior to using undiluted tea tree oil on your face, do a patch test to see if it irritates your skin. Apply a few drops behind your ear or to your forearm, and wait several hours. If irritation occurs, dilute the oil using a 50-50 ratio before using.

11. Use antibiotics

Antibiotics help reduce inflammation and bacteria on the skin.

Antibiotics are often prescribed. They may be applied topically to your skin or taken by mouth. Those taken by mouth are usually a last resort for people whose acne is severe or doesn’t respond to other treatments.

Long-term antibiotic use increases your risk of antibiotic resistance. If your healthcare professional recommends antibiotic therapy for pimples, make sure you talk to them about the risks and side effects.

12. Apply French green clay

French green clay is an absorbent, mineral-rich clay with healing abilities. According to 2010 research, French green clay has potent antibacterial properties. It helps draw out impurities, reduce inflammation, and absorb excess oil that may lead to pimples.

French green clay is available in a powder form you mix with water to make a face mask. You can also add other skin-soothing ingredients such as yogurt or honey.

13. Avoid certain foods

If your mother ever told you junk food caused pimples, she was on to something. According to a 2010 review, eating a high glycemic diet may cause acne.

High glycemic foods and beverages such as chips, baked goods made with white flour, and soft drinks spike blood sugar levels and are often less nutritious than low glycemic foods.

The study also found eating dairy may trigger pimples.

14. Reduce stress

Stress doesn’t cause pimples, but it may make them worse. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, research has shown that when you’re stressed, your body produces more oil-stimulating hormones.

Some options to help you manage stress are:

yoga
meditation
journaling
massage
aromatherapy

Managing pimples

Many of the ways you prevent pimples can also help you manage them. For instance, eating right, reducing stress, and not popping pimples may help contain them and reduce how long they stay around.

If you have bad acne despite taking steps to prevent it, you may need a prescription-strength treatment such as:

topical retinoids (derived from vitamin A) to help prevent clogged pores
oral contraceptives or antiandrogen agents to reduce hormones that increase sebum production
oral isotretinoin (Accutane), a retinoid that helps prevent clogged pores, and reduces sebum production, inflammation, and skin bacteria
Prescription-strength treatments may cause serious side effects. Your dermatologist can help you weigh the pros and cons and determine which treatment is right for you.

Acne, or simply known as pimples, is a common skin problem that occurs when oil and dead skin cells clog up your pores. It can happen any time and many reasons are attributed to the cause of acne such as stress, puberty, hormonal changes, menopause etc to name a few.

Acne can also be a genetic problem, occur due to hormonal imbalance or simply because of lifestyle issues.

Here are some simple tips you can try to keep acne at bay:


Remove all the makeup before going to bed.
One should wash face properly. It is recommended to clean your face twice a day and not more than that as it can leave your skin more oily.
Clean your face with an alcohol-free makeup remover followed by mild washing with a deep pore cleanser.
Eat a healthy balanced diet including fresh fruits, veggies, curd and sprouts.
Avoid junk foods, sugar-rich and starchy products like cakes, chocolates, white bread, fried food and sweets.
Drink lots of water as it flushes out toxins from the body and makes the skin look cleansed and hydrated.
Start practising yoga because breathing and stretching involved in the exercise ensures proper blood circulation in your body which makes the skin acne-free.
Do not use soaps as they can damage the skin by making it drier, rougher and more permeable to bacteria.
Always remember to apply sunblock as the sun has UVA and UVB rays which may worsen those pimples.
Besides following these tips, one can also prevent the skin problem by simple eating a healthy balanced diet.

Here are some foods that will help to get rid of acne:

Spinach

Add green veggies like spinach in your daily diet to get rid of acne because it is rich in Vitamin A that acts as an anti-acne agent. It also helps cleanse bacteria and toxins from the digestive tract and blood stream.

Turmeric

Turmeric helps in curing acne as it fights inflammation and brightens the appearance of the skin. It also acts as a natural remedy against internal bacteria and toxins that lead to acne.

Carrots

Eat lots of carrots daily because they are rich in Vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene that work against acne.

Salmon

Salmon contains high amount of omega 3 fats, protein that helps in getting rid of acne and boosts collagen in the skin. It also help fight inflammation.