Pages Menu
Categories Menu

Posted by on Jun 22, 2016 in TellMeWhy |

Why Do We Get Pimples?

Why Do We Get Pimples?

Why Do We Get Pimples? Pimples are a condition of the skin in which the pores, or tiny openings, of the oil glands become blocked. Tiny glands below the surface of the skin constantly produce small amounts of oil to keep our skin soft and smooth. Each gland has an opening to the skin through which the oil can escape to the surface.

Sometimes, the glands produce too much oil. The fatty oil hardens and plugs up the openings in the skin. Waste material from skin cells collect beneath the plug. The skin then becomes infected, and pus forms around the plug, producing a pimple.

A pimple, zit or spot is one of the many results of excess oil getting trapped in the pores. Some of the varieties are pustules or papules. Pimples can be treated by various acne medications prescribed by a physician, or purchased at a pharmacy with a wide variety of treatments.

Practicing good hygiene, including regularly washing skin areas with neutral cleansers, can reduce the amount of dead skin cells and other external contaminants on the skin that can contribute to the development of pimples. However, it is not always possible to completely prevent pimples, even with good hygiene practices.

Content for this question contributed by Melissa Baker, resident of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, western Pennsylvania, USA