Zits Under The Skin

Zits are nothing but pimple or acne like small, inflamed elevation of the skin. They generally appear as red inflamed area on the skin, with a yellowish or white pus in the center. Sometimes, they can also lead to development of cysts under the skin. This skin disorder or problem is found to be more prevalent among teenagers, and is often attributed to the hormonal changes taking place within their body during this phase.

What Causes Pimples Under the Skin?
Zits are generally caused by the presence of excess oil or sebum, secreted by the sebaceous glands of the skin. Excess production of sebum can be stimulated by the elevated level of androgenic hormones, which is quite common during adolescence or puberty. Though sebum is required to lubricate the skin and hair, it can clog the skin pores, if present in an excess amount. Such clogging prevent oil from leaving the skin through the pores, and also causes the bacteria of the skin to get trapped inside the pores. This in turn, causes the inflammation, redness and pus build up, that usually accompany the painful zits. The bacterium that is more commonly found to be associated with zits is Propionibacterium.

So, hormonal imbalance, as well as clogged skin pores, caused by excess production of sebum are main contributory factors for zits. Additionally, insufficient intake of essential fatty acids, large intake of non-essential fatty acids, and stress can also stimulate the formation of pimples. Even exposure to certain environmental allergens, and certain medications or drugs can trigger an outbreak of zits, pimples, acne, whiteheads, blackheads and other skin problems.

How to Get Rid of Pimples?
To get rid of zits, first of all you have try to prevent clogging of the skin pores, and remove or reduce the bacteria of the skin, so as to minimize the risk for infection. These purposes can be achieved by regular cleaning of the face, with an antibacterial cleaner. If hormonal imbalance is responsible for causing severe outbreak of zits, then you may need to discuss the issue with your physician or dermatologist. The same advice is equally applicable, in case of deeper and serious infections, that may result from zits occasionally. In such a situation, the affected person may be required to take antibiotics.

Certain home remedies can be however, very effective in curing zit under the skin, and preventing infection. Some natural products like, honey is enriched with antibiotic properties and hence, if applied on the zits can help to reduce the infection causing bacteria, and thereby, facilitates the healing process. Honey can also be mixed with lemon juice to ensure rapid healing of zits and acne. Another simple home remedy is baking powder. However, it should not be used directly on the skin. Instead, baking powder can be mixed with some water to make a paste to be applied on the affected area. Turmeric powder is also known for its antiseptic properties and skin benefits. It can be applied alone or mixed with sandalwood powder to make a thick paste to apply on the affected areas of the skin. Along with these natural skin care products, you can also try acne creams to treat this skin condition.

Apart from all these zit treatments, be sure to drink plenty of water, and follow a healthy diet. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables, and reducing the intake of harmful fats, like saturated and trans fats, are considered not only beneficial for skin, but for overall health as well. It has been usually observed that many youngsters with this skin problem develop a habit of squeezing or popping the pimples in an attempt to get rid of them. However, popping or squeezing the zits can facilitate the entry of bacteria and germs into the area, and this can lead to infection and scarring. Therefore, it is very important to refrain from squeezing them.