The Pimple | Pus under the skin

The Pimple

The “pimple” is a colloquial term for the dermatological term pustule. A pimple is a localized accumulation of pus under the skin, usually caused by a bacterial infection. Pustules can occur in the context of various skin diseases, but the best known association is with acne.

In acne, various causes such as hormonal and congenital factors lead to excessive keratinization of the hair follicle. This leads to a backlog of sebum and the development of blackheads. If these blackheads become inflamed and there is excessive colonization with acne bacteria (Propionibacterium acnes), “pus pimples” (pustules) develop. They can spread all over the body, e.g. in the nose, on the back or in the mouth, pus pimples on the stomach are also not uncommon.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of pus under the skin is usually made by the doctor as a gaze diagnosis. The typical signs of inflammation, such as redness, pain, overheating and swelling, are helpful here. In some cases a smear is necessary to classify the triggering bacterium exactly and to test which antibiotic can be used (resistance testing). In rare cases, for example in the case of an abscess, it may be necessary to expand under the skin and spread to other structures using ultrasound or other imaging techniques (CT, MRI).

Associated symptoms

If there is an accumulation of pus under the skin, the surrounding skin is often reddened and swollen. Frequently, the tension caused by the swelling and inflammation causes severe pain. There may also be swelling of lymph nodes in the drainage area of the inflammation.If general symptoms such as fever, chills, fatigue or a feeling of illness occur, this is a sign of a systemic spread of the inflammation to the whole body.

In this case, a doctor must be consulted in any case, as there is a risk of blood poisoning. Further symptoms may occur depending on the underlying disease. For example, the pustules and blisters of impetigo contagiosa can be accompanied by severe itching, whereas acne is accompanied by other skin changes such as blackheads (comedones).