Blind Pimple: How To Identify and Treat One

We’ve all been there. One moment your complexion is clean, flawless, and camera-ready, even without makeup. And then the next, you’re dealing with a suspicious volcano-like mound that’s threatening to erupt, often around the prime real estate of your face with more oil glands such as your chin and nose. 

Enter: the blind pimple. 

Not only do these deep pesky pimples have a tendency to pop up at the most inconvenient of times (family portraits, anyone?), but they can be so incredibly painful, causing part of your face to look swollen in addition to being almost impossible to conceal. Thankfully, there are solutions to combating these frustrating annoyances. 

Interested in learning more? We can help! Read on as we explore blind pimples to teach you everything you need to know to identify and properly treat one. Are you ready? 

Let’s dive in!

First Things First: What Exactly Is a Blind Pimple?

According to experts, blind pimples are cysts that live deep beneath the skin. Also known as cystic acne, these pimples are oil-filled balloons without any connection to the skin’s surface. Plus, they have no visible head, so squeezing them until they pop is out of the question. 

We know, pretty terrible, right? But that’s not even the worst part. In many cases, these painful lumps don’t even respond to the usual pimple treatment. So what’s a girl to do?

Well, as always, we’re here to help you! Before we explore all the best tips and tricks to banish these unwelcomed bumps, let’s first talk about the causes of blind pimples, shall we?

What Causes Blind Pimples? 

Blind pimples are usually triggered by a surge in hormones, which is why many ladies get these types of painful red lumps around menstruation. Your skin’s oil glands typically become extra sensitive in response to misbehaving hormones and react by overproducing sebum. 

The sebum, along with the dirt, bacteria, and dead skin cells, finds a place snug in your pores, causing the oil glands to become swollen. When this happens, a sensitive bump forms underneath the surface of your skin, ultimately resulting in a blind pimple.

Another common reason for these pimples to attack your skin is the lack of a nutritious diet. Yup, it’s true —what you’re eating could easily be the cause of your blind pimples. There are certain foods (*ahem* sugar) that can cause inflammation in your body. 

When this happens, it can affect the natural balance of your skin, resulting in a whole lot of ickiness from an extra oily t-zone to cystic acne and everything in between.   

How Can You Tell if It's a Blind Pimple? 

Good question. Sometimes identifying a blind pimple can be a little tricky because they are often invisible. That said, while everyone is different, you might notice a large white area under your skin that’s super tender to the touch. The area might also be red and angry from inflammation (swelling) of the surrounding skin. 

As we mentioned above, unlike most zits, blind pimples don’t have a “head” you can easily squeeze to release pressure and bacteria. In fact, squeezing them typically results in a much larger lesion that takes longer to heal and increases your risk of secondary infection as well as the chance of scarring. 

Plus, you can also force the clog-poring mixture of sebum, dirt, bacteria, and dead skin cells deeper into your skin, leading to even more inflammation and, as a result, pain. 

How To Banish an Unwelcomed Blind Pimple 

Now that you know exactly what a blind pimple is and how to identify one, let’s talk about treatment.

The first thing that we want to make perfectly clear is that there is no magical overnight cure to making a blind pimple disappear (sorry!). That said, the moment you notice one and start treatment, the faster you’ll be able to send the unwelcomed guest packing! 

However, do keep in mind that the best treatment is prevention. While we’ll tell you the best tips and tricks to combat these pesky intruders, we’re also going to talk about what you can to avoid them from popping up in the first place. 

Tip #1: Whatever You Do, Don’t Squeeze 

We touched on this a little bit earlier, so we won’t go super in-depth with it, but it’s really important. As tempting as it might be, you should never try to pop or squeeze a blind pimple. 

Why? Because these pesky zits aren’t at the skin’s surface. They live deep beneath your skin, and attempting to pop them can result in a large lesion and sometimes even scarring. Got it? Okay, moving on!

Tip #2: Apply a Warm Compress 

Try applying a warm water-soaked washcloth directly to your zit. The heat will make the blood travel to the affected area, which can do wonders to help alleviate some pain and inflammation. Apply the compress for roughly 10 to 15 minutes, at least three to five times a day, and continue until the pus is released.  

Tip #3: Break Out the Tea Tree Oil 

Ah, tea tree oil. Also known as melaleuca oil, this essential oil comes from steaming the leaves of the Australian tea tree. Loved by many for its antibacterial, skin-nourishing perks, you might think this popular oil is just some kind of buzzy social media-obsessed beauty product, but we can assure you—the hype is real.

For optimum effectiveness, you will need to use a product that has at least five percent tea tree oil and apply twice a day until your blind pimple vanishes. 

Tip #4: Relieve Pain With Ice 

Feel a blind pimple coming on? It’s time for some ‘ice, ice, baby!’ Probably the oldest trick in the beauty book, simply wrap some ice in a clean napkin or paper towel and hold it against the inflamed area for a couple of minutes. 

The cooling sensation should help to reduce the swelling, ultimately helping to make your pimple look less angry and easier to hide with a dab of concealer.  

Tip #5: Level Up Your Skincare Game With Microdermabrasion 

Once you’ve finally kicked that pesky blind pimple to the curb, it’s time to level up your skincare game to prevent them from coming back. And one surefire way to do this? Microdermabrasion.

Microdermabrasion is a popular cosmetic procedure typically done by a skincare specialist to give your skin a rebirth. It sloughs off dead skin cells to help new skin cells grow, resulting in a silky-smooth complexion. 

It shrinks pores to prevent pimple-causing bacteria from seeping in, evens out pigmentation, and can leave your skin with a dewy, youthful glow. Sounds pretty awesome, right? We think so, too. If you’re looking for an at-home version, try KENZZI’s Microdermabrasion Handset, which allows you to skip the in-office visit and treat your skin from the comfort of your very own home. 

The KENZZI Microdermabrasion Handset is an innovative system that uses diamond-encrusted heads to expertly exfoliate and suction away dead skin cells, pore-clogging bacteria, dirt, and more. Plus, it stimulates the skin, promoting blood circulation, accelerating skin tissue development, and collagen production. Simply put, pimples don’t stand a chance when you have this powerful handset in your beauty bag! Plus, it’s very gentle on the skin, so it’s perfect for those who are especially sensitive. 

Conclusion 

So, what’s a blind pimple, you ask? 

Simply put, a blind pimple is stubborn acne that has developed deep beneath the surface of the skin. They’re not usually noticeable from a distance, but if you have one, you can feel it by running your finger over your skin’s surface. 

Often tender to the touch, these painful bumps can really put a damper on your day! Thankfully, with a little bit of TLC, a whole lot of patience, and effective skincare tools like the KENZZI Microdermabrasion Handset, you can kick these pesky intruders to the curb. 

Ready to look and feel amazing in your own skin? Check out KENZZI today!

Sources:

1. Does sugar cause inflammation? What the research says | Medical News Today
2. Tea tree oil | Mayo Clinic
3. Treatment of acne with a combination of propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera compared to erythromycin cream: two double-blind investigations | NCBI
4. What is sebum? Function, production, benefits, and more | Medical News Today
5. Overview of Sebaceous Glands and Your Skin | Very Well Health