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Whiteheads/Closed Comedones Little clogged bumps under the skin that aren’t red or sore, just little white-ish bumps under the skin also known as “clogged pores.” Most people get them on the chin, sides of the mouth or hairline, but they certainly can be found elsewhere. They are also very common in African-American skin. What you can do: Since these have no infection (meaning, they are not sore) using harsh acne products will only make them worse by causing dry skin cell build up trapping that oil in the skin longer. Exfoliate! By keeping off dead skin cell buildup this will help these purge naturally, however a good deep pore cleansing facial is also beneficial for removing the impurities within the pores. They can be caused from heavy pore-clogging oils like Mineral Oil and Petrolatum so be sure to avoid these ingredients. Cleanse with our AHA/BHA Cleansing Gel to destroy the oil and bacteria deep within the pores and exfoliate with products like Glycolic Serum 17%, Mint Buffing Beads and Triple Berry Smoothing Peel. Blackheads These are large pores that contain oil that has oxidized with air causing it to turn black… What you can do: Although there is no way to permanently get rid of blackheads, your best bet is regular monthly deep pore cleansing facials followed by home use of Glycolic Serum to keep the pores cleaned. Long term use of Retin-A can help but it has to be used regularly and for years before you can really see a difference. Avoid the ingredients Isopropyl Myristate and Isopropyl Palmitate in your skin care products as these can contribute to the formation of blackheads. Read: My 3-Step Plan for Reducing Blackheads Pustules These are the red, inflamed blemishes that contain pus. These are your traditional “zits” that are most likely to cause post-breakout red or dark scars IF you don’t properly know how to care for them. What you can do: You MUST NOT touch these until you can see a whitehead. Then you can carefully extract the infected pus and immediately spot treat with our Night Time Spot Lotion. Our Daytime Blemish Gel works very well, too. Read: Got a Blemish? Tips to Make It Go Away–Fast! Milia Those hard, white, raised bumps that feel like a little ball under the skin; most commonly found around the eyes and the apples of the cheeks. What you can do: All the acne spot treatments in the world will never get rid of these. They can be caused from heavy pore-clogging oils like Mineral Oil and Petrolatum, but for many people, they are genetic. The only way to remove these is to get them manually extracted by an esthetician or dermatologist. If you try to do it yourself, you’ll probably end up scarring yourself so it’s best to put your skin in the hands of a trusted professional. Once you get them removed, regular exfoliation is really essential. Our Glycolic Serum formulas work well to keep the skin exfoliated so milia doesn’t form underneath dry skin cells. It’s also important to use gentle, low-foaming cleansing gels to deep clean without drying out the skin. See our collection of cleansing gels. Cysts Hard, painful bumps that develop deep within the skin and can linger for weeks. What you can do: Do not pick! Despite being sore, you’ll never get that infection out and if you attempt to, you’ll most certainly have a scar that will linger for months. The rule is: If a whitehead does not forms (which they never do if it’s a true cyst) then hands off! You have only two options. Use Anti-Cyst Treatment (a true miracle of a product) or schedule an appointment to get a cortisone injection by a dermatologist. Acne Scars Most blemishes will leave a purple or red mark once the blemish is healed. Our Post-Breakout Fading Gel works well to get the blemish scar to go away. Read: Get Control of Cystic Acne–Before It Scars Your Skin! Read: 11 Causes for Acne and Blemishes Read: Are You Guilty of Picking at Your Skin? Which products are right for you? Check out our nine skin types to get products recommended. Sign up here to receive monthly emails loaded with expert skin tips and advice! 
  PERMISSION TO REPRINT: You may use any items from this article in your print, blog, magazine or electronic newsletter. But in order to do so, you must include the following paragraph including a link to www.ReneeRouleau.com. Information courtesy of www.ReneeRouleau.com, a website with skin care tips, products based on nine skin types and advice from skin care expert and celebrity esthetician, Renée Rouleau.
Posted September 8, 2009 by Renée Rouleau
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You forgot papules. I get those a lot. I actually have all of the above acne but I frequently get papules more than I do cysts
Posted on Tue, 8th Sep 2009 9:52 am by Molly
For simplicity sake (and because we couldn’t fit a sixth one in the header!) we kept it to the five. But since you mentioned papules, let me talk about those.
Papules: It’s the next stage past a closed comedone (whitehead) where bacteria has caused inflammation and infection resulting in a painful, red blemish. The main difference between a papule and a pustule is that pustule is the next stage where dead bacteria and dead skin cells rise to the surface causing yellow pus.
What you can do: The main symptom of a papule is inflammation and irritation so the goal is not to dry it out with acne products but rather to calm down the inflammation by using topical cortisone cream (found at the drug store) and ice compresses followed by a soothing mask like Renee Rouleau Azulene Gel Mask. These both will reduce the inflammation.
Posted on Tue, 8th Sep 2009 12:41 pm by Renée Rouleau
I am plagued most often by whiteheads, especially around the mouth/lip area – very painful, pustules and cysts. That said, the severity and frequency of all of the aforementioned have been greatly reduced since using your product line, Renee.
Renee – two questions:
1. Would you talk about why whiteheads/pimples form on the mouth/lip area?
2. Are cortisone injections very painful? And, does one have to undergo a series of injections, or just one? I don’t think I’m at the point where my cystic acne is so severe to warrant cortisone injections, but, since you have mentioned them, I thought I’d ask.
Posted on Tue, 8th Sep 2009 9:03 pm by Marcy
Hi Marcy,
Answer to #1
The real cause is truly unknown as to why you get them in that area. We suggest to cut out your dairy (a previous blog post discusses that) but could also be hormonal.
Answer to #2
Yes, it will be slightly painful as they are injecting a needle into a very painful cyst. Once they inject the cortisone, it should be gone within 24 hours. One injection for one cyst.
Posted on Wed, 9th Sep 2009 6:54 am by Renée Rouleau
What about small, red, raised bumps, which aren’t painful? What are these?
I have a few on my cheek.
Posted on Sat, 12th Sep 2009 9:14 pm by Marcy
Two more things:
I read up on cortisone injections. Apparently, the pimple disappears, but is replaced by a sort of dent which can take months to heal and fill in.
Also, you recommend cortisone cream for papules, but it contains petrolatum and mineral oil, which you recommend one should avoid using on the skin.
I would appreciate your comments re: the aforementioned.
Posted on Sat, 12th Sep 2009 9:40 pm by Marcy
It’s really hard to say without seeing it. If they are always there and never go away, then it’s some sort of skin growth and should be looked at by a dermatologist.
Posted on Sun, 13th Sep 2009 10:40 am by Renée Rouleau
As for papules, you can look for one that doesn’t contain that. But a one or two time use probably won’t be a problem.
-Lydia
Posted on Sun, 13th Sep 2009 10:41 am by Lydia Noel
Hi, Renee. The red bumps are some sort of inflammation. I put some ice on them last evening, and they calmed.
Also, thank you to Renee and Lydia for responding to both of my inquiries.
Posted on Sun, 13th Sep 2009 1:32 pm by Marcy
Excellent! Ice works, too! -Lydia
Posted on Sun, 13th Sep 2009 9:18 pm by Lydia Noel
Can a cystic pimple at some point develop a head? Which most likely means it wasn’t a cystic pimple to begin with. I ask because I have been treating what I thought was a cystic pimple for the past two weeks with the Anti-Cyst Treatment. However, instead of getting smaller, the pimple appears to be getting larger, not to mention more painful.
What do I do?
Posted on Tue, 15th Sep 2009 11:24 am by Marcy
Generally speaking, cysts don’t come to a head. So it was probably a papule which turned into a pustule. But a lot of people have great luck with using our Anti Cyst Treatment for those.
Posted on Tue, 15th Sep 2009 12:51 pm by Lydia Noel
I am hoping you can shed some light on this. I have a couple of large pores on either cheek that never form a head. Yet, ever so often, I squeeze the skin around these pores and a long thread like pus like substance comes out. What could this possibly be? Thanks!
Posted on Tue, 22nd Sep 2009 12:11 pm by Nikki
It sounds like you have a clogged pore that keeps filling up with oil. Since you can get it cleaned out with squeezing it, then regular monthly deep pore cleansing facials and using a Glycolic Acid serum at home will help keep those pores cleaned.
Since it’s a large pore with a wide opening, it will probably always keep “filling up” if you don’t keep it cleaned out. Hope this helps!
Posted on Tue, 22nd Sep 2009 2:27 pm by Lydia Noel
Can the estheticians at RR extract milia?
Posted on Mon, 19th Oct 2009 12:20 pm by Stephanie Haynes
Yes, we can. Depending on how close to the surface they are will depend on how easy it will be to get them out. When you call to schedule, let them know you have milia so they can schedule a little extra time for extractions.
Posted on Mon, 19th Oct 2009 3:50 pm by Lydia Noel
[...] Acne and Blemishes- All blemishes are not equal. Whiteheads, blackheads, pustules and cystic acne must all be treated differently. Read about how to care for the different types of acne breakouts. [...]
Posted on Sun, 14th Feb 2010 7:05 am by It’s Valentine’s Day! Do You LOVE Your Skin?
I have little bumps on my chin. When I squeeze them, it’s just like squeezing a white head, although they never really come to a head. But they don’t go away! I know they’re not cysts, so what are they?
Posted on Sun, 21st Mar 2010 6:35 pm by Lexi
Is it in the crease of the chin? If so, that’s the way the pores form within that crease. Everyone has them but deep pore cleansing facials and home use of Glycolic Acid will help.
If it’s not necessarily in the crease, then they might be leftover old oil from previous breakouts. Again, the same advice as above.
Posted on Tue, 23rd Mar 2010 1:28 pm by Lydia Noel
[...] you have whiteheads, blackheads, pustules, milia and cysts? Read why all blemishes are not [...]
Posted on Mon, 19th Apr 2010 7:39 pm by What’s the Best Remedy for Removing Blackheads?
[...] Do you have whiteheads, blackheads, pustules, milia or cysts? All blemishes are not equal. Read the different types of breakouts and how to treat them [...]
Posted on Tue, 8th Jun 2010 7:03 am by Skin Care Expert, Renée Rouleau Shares 11 Causes for Acne Blemishes
Renee-
I started using your products recently and my skin has never looked better! I tend to get alot of milia, and I’ve had several treatments at the dermotologist to extract them. Do you have a product that will minimize them?
Posted on Mon, 28th Jun 2010 10:01 am by Teresa Williams
One of our Glycolic Serums and/or Triple Berry Smoothing Peel is your best bet. It speeds up cell turnover to prevent the dead skin cells from blocking the oil.
Posted on Mon, 28th Jun 2010 10:21 am by Renée Rouleau
[...] 1. Do You Have Whiteheads, Blackheads, Pustules, Milia or Cysts? [...]
Posted on Wed, 22nd Sep 2010 8:04 am by The Ten Most-Popular Renée Rouleau Blog Posts
I started using 1 week back and i have strted seeing results in 1 week time .
Posted on Tue, 18th Oct 2011 7:55 am by mendy
Which product are you referring to? So glad that you’re getting results with our product.
Posted on Tue, 18th Oct 2011 10:23 am by Renée Rouleau
my large portion of jaw area have become hard ,red, above al this there are many pus secreting heads on then i dnt know what it is and its lasting from more thanone and ahalf month i am helpless what should i do????????? plese do reply
Posted on Wed, 22nd Feb 2012 7:12 am by ankit
Take a look at our Anti Cyst Treatment. Using that on the jaw area works very well to PREVENT breakouts as well as treat them. Use it every night on that area and watch them clear up!
Posted on Mon, 27th Feb 2012 8:52 pm by Renée Rouleau