Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhere They AppearHealing ThemReasons to Not PopComplicationsHealing TimeTriggersTo Conceal or Not
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Where They Appear
Healing Them
Reasons to Not Pop
Complications
Healing Time
Triggers
To Conceal or Not
Blind pimples—typically a form ofcysticornodularacne—are deep, painful pimples that form under the skin. They are called blind pimples because they lack thevisible headstandard in other forms of acne, and the bulk of the pimple remains under the skin’s surface.
Maksym Belchenko / Getty Images
Places Blind Pimples Appear
Acne develops when sebaceous (oil) glands and hair follicles under the skin become clogged with oil, dead skin cells, and other debris. Theseblockagescause inflammation that can appear in a few different ways.
In the case of blind pimples, the drainage from these blocked glands and hair follicles is trapped under the skin. The cyst or nodule that develops due to the trapped debris becomes inflamed and may even get infected. The pressure it puts on your tissues can cause tenderness and sometimes severe pain.
Sebaceous glandsare located all over your body, except for the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet, so you can develop blind pimples almost anywhere.The most common sites for blind pimples are:
How to Heal a Blind Pimple
Blind pimples are challenging to manage and can leave large scars if not treated properly. The ideal situation for healing a blind pimple is to work with adermatologist.However, these skin specialists can have long waiting lists and are inaccessible to many.
The sections below will cover some commontreatmentsthat a healthcare provider, such as a dermatologist, may suggest.
Without Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medicines
You also want to be sure to touch the area only with clean hands,avoid picking or squeezingthe pimple, and keep the skin around the affected area clean.
With OTC Medicines
In addition to basic hygiene and comfort measures like applying warm compresses, you can use various nonprescription products to treat blind pimples.
Cleansers, toners, serums, and medicated patches are widely available for treating different forms of acne, including blind pimples. To get the best results, look for products that contain one or more of the following ingredients:
Prescribed Medicines
If you have several blind pimples, or they keepreappearingafter treatment, seeing a dermatologist should be your next step. There are a variety ofprescription medicationsand treatments for more severe cases of cystic or nodular acne.
They may prescribe you one of the following medications:
Your dermatologist may also offer steroid injections or manual drainage and extraction. You should not perform either of these treatments at home or without the supervision of a dermatologist.
Can a Blind Pimple Heal Overnight?
Reasons to Not Pop a Blind Pimple
Acne forms from a collection of oil, dead skin, bacteria, and other debris in your pores. Squeezing a pimple with a visible head may seem like an easy fix, but dermatologists strongly suggest avoiding popping or picking at pimples.
Without the proper technique, pimple popping can lead to additional complications like:
Blind pimples lack avisible headand already create swelling and tenderness under the skin.Squeezingor trying to pop these pimples won’t help and may increase pain and inflammation.
Complications and Conditions Associated With Blind Pimples
Even with the best treatment, you can develop complications as a result of blind pimples. Deep pits, scars, and permanent skin discoloration can appear anywhere you’ve had acne. Your skin type, family history, the type of acne, and how you treat it contribute to your risk of complications.
Aside from acne complications, blind pimples can also be mistaken forconditionsrequiring advanced treatments. Conditions that could be mistaken for blind pimples include:
How Soon Will a Blind Pimple Heal?
Blind pimples can be trickier and take longer to heal than other forms of acne. Since the pimple is under the skin, it can be difficult for topical treatments to penetrate the surface. Cystic and nodular acne are the most common types of blind pimples, which can take weeks to months to clear wholly and safely.
Blind Pimple Triggers
Anyone can develop acne. The sametriggersfor other forms of acne can cause blind pimples. Common triggers include:
Concealing vs. Letting a Blind Pimple Breathe
Noncomedogenicproducts are those that are unlikely to clog pores, allowing existing pimples to drain and preventing further breakouts.
If you are tempted to conceal your pimple while you are treating it, you may want to consider a medicated patch created specifically for treating acne or cosmetics labeled as noncomedogenic.
Summary
20 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.Reynolds RV, Yeung H, Cheng CE, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2024;90(5):1006.e1-1006.e30. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2023.12.017Vasam M, Kortutla S, Bohara RA.Acne vulgaris: a review of the pathophysiology, treatment, and recent nanotechnology based advances.Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports.2023;36:101578. doi:10.1016/j.bbrep.2023.101578.National Institutes of Health.Acne.Hoover E, Aslam S, Krishnamurthy K.Physiology, sebaceous glands. [Updated 2022 Oct 10]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499819/Shivarama S, Sajina PS.Ayurvedic management of cystic acne.AyurPub.com. April 2024;IX(2). ISSN 2456-0170.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat different types of acne.Durairaj A, Elumalai K, Shanmugam A.Cystic acne treatment: a comprehensive review.Medicine Advances. 2023;1(4):318-329. doi:10.1002/med4.43.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Tips to treat a deep, painful pimple.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Acne: tips for managing.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.2021-8-6Wiegmann D, Haddad L.Two is better than one: The combined effects of glycolic acid and salicylic acid on acne-related disorders.Jour Cosme Derm.September 2020;19(9):2349-2351. doi:10.1111/jocd.13387.National Institutes of Health.Tea tree oil.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Pimple popping: why only a dermatologist should do it.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Acne-like breakouts could be folliculitis.Harvard Health Publishing.Cysts (overview).National Cancer Institute.Tumor.MedlinePlus.Cowden syndrome.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome.National Cancer Institute.Muir-Torre syndrome.DermNet.Calcinosis cutis.
20 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.Reynolds RV, Yeung H, Cheng CE, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2024;90(5):1006.e1-1006.e30. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2023.12.017Vasam M, Kortutla S, Bohara RA.Acne vulgaris: a review of the pathophysiology, treatment, and recent nanotechnology based advances.Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports.2023;36:101578. doi:10.1016/j.bbrep.2023.101578.National Institutes of Health.Acne.Hoover E, Aslam S, Krishnamurthy K.Physiology, sebaceous glands. [Updated 2022 Oct 10]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499819/Shivarama S, Sajina PS.Ayurvedic management of cystic acne.AyurPub.com. April 2024;IX(2). ISSN 2456-0170.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat different types of acne.Durairaj A, Elumalai K, Shanmugam A.Cystic acne treatment: a comprehensive review.Medicine Advances. 2023;1(4):318-329. doi:10.1002/med4.43.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Tips to treat a deep, painful pimple.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Acne: tips for managing.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.2021-8-6Wiegmann D, Haddad L.Two is better than one: The combined effects of glycolic acid and salicylic acid on acne-related disorders.Jour Cosme Derm.September 2020;19(9):2349-2351. doi:10.1111/jocd.13387.National Institutes of Health.Tea tree oil.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Pimple popping: why only a dermatologist should do it.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Acne-like breakouts could be folliculitis.Harvard Health Publishing.Cysts (overview).National Cancer Institute.Tumor.MedlinePlus.Cowden syndrome.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome.National Cancer Institute.Muir-Torre syndrome.DermNet.Calcinosis cutis.
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.
Reynolds RV, Yeung H, Cheng CE, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2024;90(5):1006.e1-1006.e30. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2023.12.017Vasam M, Kortutla S, Bohara RA.Acne vulgaris: a review of the pathophysiology, treatment, and recent nanotechnology based advances.Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports.2023;36:101578. doi:10.1016/j.bbrep.2023.101578.National Institutes of Health.Acne.Hoover E, Aslam S, Krishnamurthy K.Physiology, sebaceous glands. [Updated 2022 Oct 10]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499819/Shivarama S, Sajina PS.Ayurvedic management of cystic acne.AyurPub.com. April 2024;IX(2). ISSN 2456-0170.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat different types of acne.Durairaj A, Elumalai K, Shanmugam A.Cystic acne treatment: a comprehensive review.Medicine Advances. 2023;1(4):318-329. doi:10.1002/med4.43.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Tips to treat a deep, painful pimple.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Acne: tips for managing.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.2021-8-6Wiegmann D, Haddad L.Two is better than one: The combined effects of glycolic acid and salicylic acid on acne-related disorders.Jour Cosme Derm.September 2020;19(9):2349-2351. doi:10.1111/jocd.13387.National Institutes of Health.Tea tree oil.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Pimple popping: why only a dermatologist should do it.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Acne-like breakouts could be folliculitis.Harvard Health Publishing.Cysts (overview).National Cancer Institute.Tumor.MedlinePlus.Cowden syndrome.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome.National Cancer Institute.Muir-Torre syndrome.DermNet.Calcinosis cutis.
Reynolds RV, Yeung H, Cheng CE, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2024;90(5):1006.e1-1006.e30. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2023.12.017
Vasam M, Kortutla S, Bohara RA.Acne vulgaris: a review of the pathophysiology, treatment, and recent nanotechnology based advances.Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports.2023;36:101578. doi:10.1016/j.bbrep.2023.101578.
National Institutes of Health.Acne.
Hoover E, Aslam S, Krishnamurthy K.Physiology, sebaceous glands. [Updated 2022 Oct 10]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499819/
Shivarama S, Sajina PS.Ayurvedic management of cystic acne.AyurPub.com. April 2024;IX(2). ISSN 2456-0170.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat different types of acne.
Durairaj A, Elumalai K, Shanmugam A.Cystic acne treatment: a comprehensive review.Medicine Advances. 2023;1(4):318-329. doi:10.1002/med4.43.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Tips to treat a deep, painful pimple.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Acne: tips for managing.
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
Wiegmann D, Haddad L.Two is better than one: The combined effects of glycolic acid and salicylic acid on acne-related disorders.Jour Cosme Derm.September 2020;19(9):2349-2351. doi:10.1111/jocd.13387.
National Institutes of Health.Tea tree oil.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Pimple popping: why only a dermatologist should do it.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Acne-like breakouts could be folliculitis.
Harvard Health Publishing.Cysts (overview).
National Cancer Institute.Tumor.
MedlinePlus.Cowden syndrome.
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome.
National Cancer Institute.Muir-Torre syndrome.
DermNet.Calcinosis cutis.
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