Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Are Pustules?Common CausesSymptomsTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Are Pustules?
Common Causes
Symptoms
Treatment
Pustules are raised bumps filled with pus and fluid. They vary in size, and sometimes look like acne. These bumps can be painful when touched. They usually appear on the face, back, and chest.
Pustules can be a result of inflamed skin, acne, an allergic reaction,psoriasis, or other skin diseases. Treatment usually depends on the cause and may include topical medication, prescription antibiotics, or biologics.
This article looks at the symptoms, causes, and treatment of pustules.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
Pustules are a commonskin lesion. They are blister-like sores filled with pus that can be red, with white or yellow centers, and tender or sore to the touch.Pustules almost always appear in patches, andinflammationcauses the surrounding area to be red.
What is a pustular rash?
Sometimes pustules are confused with papules. Papules are small bumps (less than 1 centimeter), while pustules are larger and filled with yellow pus.
Pustules may resolve on their own, or if they respond to treatment, they will go away within a week or two. Sometimes pustules are resistant to treatment and can last longer. If your pustules don’t go away, consult your primary care physician or dermatologist to determine the cause and best treatment.
Associated Skin Conditions
Pustules are commonly associated withacneor psoriasis but can occur with several skin diseases, including:
What Are Face Mites?
Pustules can appear on the skin due to inflammation in the body. Often pustules come from an allergic reaction or acne.
Lifestyle Factors
Environmental allergens like dust mites, pollen, and mold can cause an allergic reaction. Similarly, the skin can produce pustules from poisonous insect bites.
Some lifestyle changes can help prevent pustules, including a nutritious diet and a healthyskin-care routine.Monitoring your intake of dairy, bread, sweet foods, and processed food can help prevent acne.
Genetics
Some of the skin conditions linked to pustules also have a genetic component, including psoriasis androsacea.
When Acne Is All in the Family
Pustules may appear like a large pimple, and have white or red centers with inflammation and redness around them.They are filled with bumps that contain yellow, white, or cream-colored pus. If punctured, pus can ooze out.
Frequent Symptoms
Other symptoms that accompany pustules include:
Rare Symptoms
Rare symptoms include:
If you are experiencing these symptoms with pustules, contact your healthcare provider.
Psoriasis vs. Eczema vs. Rosacea: Know the Difference
The treatment for pustules depends on the cause. A dermatologist can help you determine the cause of your pustules to ensure you’re getting the right treatment. For example, treatment foracne pustulesis different from the treatment for psoriasis pustules.
Home Remedies and Lifestyle
To treat a pustule rash, avoid makeup or lotion until resolved. All-natural skin products that have no artificial or synthetic ingredients can help ease existing pustules and prevent further breakouts.
To prevent and help your pustules get better:
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medications
You can treat pustules with lotions that containsalicylic acid, sulfur, and peroxide.These products can help kill bacteria and remove dead skin cells. Consult your doctor about using OTC medications and ask about a regimen that would work for you.
Prescriptions
Depending on the cause of pustules, your healthcare provider may prescribe different medications.
Prescriptions for acne pustules include:
Prescriptions for psoriasis pustules include:
What is the best treatment for pustular psoriasis?Topical medication, phototherapy, oral treatments, and biologics can be used to treat pustular psoriasis. Dermatologists usually prescribe a combination of two medications to treat the condition, like etanercept and cyclosporine or infliximab and methotrexate.
What is the best treatment for pustular psoriasis?
Topical medication, phototherapy, oral treatments, and biologics can be used to treat pustular psoriasis. Dermatologists usually prescribe a combination of two medications to treat the condition, like etanercept and cyclosporine or infliximab and methotrexate.
Summary
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Pustules.National Library of Medicine.Papules.Bachelez H.Pustular psoriasis: The dawn of a new era.Acta Derm Venereol. 2020;100(3):adv00034. doi:10.2340/00015555-3388Forton FMN, De Maertelaer V.Papulopustular rosacea and rosacea-like demodicosis: Two phenotypes of the same disease?J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2018;32(6):1011-1016. doi:10.1111/jdv.14885Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat different types of acne.Common JEA, Barker JN, van Steensel MAM.What does acne genetics teach us about disease pathogenesis?Br J Dermatol. 2019;181(4):665-676. doi:10.1111/bjd.17721Capon F.The genetic basis of psoriasis.Int J Mol Sci. 2017;18(12):2526. doi:10.3390/ijms18122526National Library of Medicine.Pustules.Reynolds KA, Pithadia DJ, Lee EB, Clarey D, Liao W, Wu JJ.Generalized pustular psoriasis: A review of the pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment.Cutis. 2022;110(2 Suppl):19-25. doi:10.12788/cutis.0579Leung AK, Barankin B, Lam JM, Leong KF, Hon KL.Dermatology: How to manage acne vulgaris.Drugs Context. 2021;10:2021-8-6. doi:10.7573/dic.2021-8-6.Liu H, Yu H, Xia J, et al.Evidence-based topical treatments (azelaic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinamide, sulfur, zinc, and fruit acid) for acne: An abridged version of a Cochrane systematic review.J Evid Based Med. 2020;13(4):275-283. doi:10.1111/jebm.12411Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL, Schlosser BJ, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016;74(5):945-973.e33. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.12.037American Academy of Dermatology Association.Pustular psoriasis: Treatment options.Kalb RE.Pustular psoriasis: Management. In:UpToDate. UpToDate; 2018.
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Pustules.National Library of Medicine.Papules.Bachelez H.Pustular psoriasis: The dawn of a new era.Acta Derm Venereol. 2020;100(3):adv00034. doi:10.2340/00015555-3388Forton FMN, De Maertelaer V.Papulopustular rosacea and rosacea-like demodicosis: Two phenotypes of the same disease?J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2018;32(6):1011-1016. doi:10.1111/jdv.14885Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat different types of acne.Common JEA, Barker JN, van Steensel MAM.What does acne genetics teach us about disease pathogenesis?Br J Dermatol. 2019;181(4):665-676. doi:10.1111/bjd.17721Capon F.The genetic basis of psoriasis.Int J Mol Sci. 2017;18(12):2526. doi:10.3390/ijms18122526National Library of Medicine.Pustules.Reynolds KA, Pithadia DJ, Lee EB, Clarey D, Liao W, Wu JJ.Generalized pustular psoriasis: A review of the pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment.Cutis. 2022;110(2 Suppl):19-25. doi:10.12788/cutis.0579Leung AK, Barankin B, Lam JM, Leong KF, Hon KL.Dermatology: How to manage acne vulgaris.Drugs Context. 2021;10:2021-8-6. doi:10.7573/dic.2021-8-6.Liu H, Yu H, Xia J, et al.Evidence-based topical treatments (azelaic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinamide, sulfur, zinc, and fruit acid) for acne: An abridged version of a Cochrane systematic review.J Evid Based Med. 2020;13(4):275-283. doi:10.1111/jebm.12411Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL, Schlosser BJ, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016;74(5):945-973.e33. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.12.037American Academy of Dermatology Association.Pustular psoriasis: Treatment options.Kalb RE.Pustular psoriasis: Management. In:UpToDate. UpToDate; 2018.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Pustules.National Library of Medicine.Papules.Bachelez H.Pustular psoriasis: The dawn of a new era.Acta Derm Venereol. 2020;100(3):adv00034. doi:10.2340/00015555-3388Forton FMN, De Maertelaer V.Papulopustular rosacea and rosacea-like demodicosis: Two phenotypes of the same disease?J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2018;32(6):1011-1016. doi:10.1111/jdv.14885Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat different types of acne.Common JEA, Barker JN, van Steensel MAM.What does acne genetics teach us about disease pathogenesis?Br J Dermatol. 2019;181(4):665-676. doi:10.1111/bjd.17721Capon F.The genetic basis of psoriasis.Int J Mol Sci. 2017;18(12):2526. doi:10.3390/ijms18122526National Library of Medicine.Pustules.Reynolds KA, Pithadia DJ, Lee EB, Clarey D, Liao W, Wu JJ.Generalized pustular psoriasis: A review of the pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment.Cutis. 2022;110(2 Suppl):19-25. doi:10.12788/cutis.0579Leung AK, Barankin B, Lam JM, Leong KF, Hon KL.Dermatology: How to manage acne vulgaris.Drugs Context. 2021;10:2021-8-6. doi:10.7573/dic.2021-8-6.Liu H, Yu H, Xia J, et al.Evidence-based topical treatments (azelaic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinamide, sulfur, zinc, and fruit acid) for acne: An abridged version of a Cochrane systematic review.J Evid Based Med. 2020;13(4):275-283. doi:10.1111/jebm.12411Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL, Schlosser BJ, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016;74(5):945-973.e33. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.12.037American Academy of Dermatology Association.Pustular psoriasis: Treatment options.Kalb RE.Pustular psoriasis: Management. In:UpToDate. UpToDate; 2018.
MedlinePlus.Pustules.
National Library of Medicine.Papules.
Bachelez H.Pustular psoriasis: The dawn of a new era.Acta Derm Venereol. 2020;100(3):adv00034. doi:10.2340/00015555-3388
Forton FMN, De Maertelaer V.Papulopustular rosacea and rosacea-like demodicosis: Two phenotypes of the same disease?J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2018;32(6):1011-1016. doi:10.1111/jdv.14885
Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat different types of acne.
Common JEA, Barker JN, van Steensel MAM.What does acne genetics teach us about disease pathogenesis?Br J Dermatol. 2019;181(4):665-676. doi:10.1111/bjd.17721
Capon F.The genetic basis of psoriasis.Int J Mol Sci. 2017;18(12):2526. doi:10.3390/ijms18122526
National Library of Medicine.Pustules.
Reynolds KA, Pithadia DJ, Lee EB, Clarey D, Liao W, Wu JJ.Generalized pustular psoriasis: A review of the pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment.Cutis. 2022;110(2 Suppl):19-25. doi:10.12788/cutis.0579
Leung AK, Barankin B, Lam JM, Leong KF, Hon KL.Dermatology: How to manage acne vulgaris.Drugs Context. 2021;10:2021-8-6. doi:10.7573/dic.2021-8-6.
Liu H, Yu H, Xia J, et al.Evidence-based topical treatments (azelaic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinamide, sulfur, zinc, and fruit acid) for acne: An abridged version of a Cochrane systematic review.J Evid Based Med. 2020;13(4):275-283. doi:10.1111/jebm.12411
Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL, Schlosser BJ, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016;74(5):945-973.e33. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.12.037
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Pustular psoriasis: Treatment options.
Kalb RE.Pustular psoriasis: Management. In:UpToDate. UpToDate; 2018.
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