A small pimple can also be fatal

Recently, the media reported that an 11-year-old girl named Xiaona often squeezed pimples on her face with her hands to eliminate them. As a result, she suddenly became infected with Staphylococcus aureus, causing severe sepsis and osteomyelitis, which endangered her life. The professor said that such cases are not common in clinical practice, but it is important to remind you that acne on the face should not be squeezed casually, especially the triangular area around the nose, which is rich in blood vessels and is like a minefield.

It is dangerous to squeeze pimples with dirty hands

Squeezing acne can lead to infection with Staphylococcus aureus. Lai Wei explained that this is because the pathogen of acne is mainly Propionibacterium acnes, not Staphylococcus aureus. There are several possibilities for Staphylococcus aureus infection.

First, the patient may not have acne, but bacterial folliculitis or furuncle caused by Staphylococcus aureus, or acne may be combined with Staphylococcus aureus infection;

Second, the patient did not pay attention to hygiene and was infected with Staphylococcus aureus when squeezing with his hands;

Third, acne is near the nasal cavity, because the vestibule of the nasal cavity is where Staphylococcus aureus is most colonized, and it is easy to bring Staphylococcus aureus into the blood circulation when squeezed.

According to Xiaona's attending physician, the girl was most likely in danger due to factors such as not paying attention to hygiene.

Speaking of the area near the nasal cavity, there is a "dangerous triangle area", which is the triangular area formed by the lines from the corners of the mouth to the root of the nose, including the upper and lower lips, nose, and both sides of the nose.

The professor said that because this area is rich in blood vessels and close to blood sinuses, it is easy for bacteria to be brought into the blood circulation and brain, and the vestibule of the nasal cavity is also the place where Staphylococcus aureus is most colonized, so acne in the "triangle area" should not be squeezed casually to avoid accidents.

The doctor at the hospital where the 11-year-old girl works also said that the human head and face have an abundant blood supply, and the veins in the head and face lack valves to prevent blood reflux, so the blood can flow upward into the skull. When inflammation occurs on the face, it may spread to the brain, causing intracranial infection. In addition, bacteria can enter other parts of the body through the arterial circulation. If they enter the lungs, they will form lung abscesses, and if they enter the liver, they will form liver abscesses.

Acne is not exclusive to young people

People generally call it acne, which is medically called acne, also known as pimples and blackheads. It refers to problems with the sebaceous glands of the hair follicles hidden in the skin, resulting in local chronic inflammation.

It often occurs in the fatty areas of the face, manifesting as acne and red papules, and sometimes develops into small pustules, cysts, nodules, abscesses, and sinus tracts. After healing, pigmentation and scars will be left, which will seriously affect the beauty. Generally speaking, the rash that appears on acne is different in different people and at different times. As we age, sebum secretion decreases and acne will gradually decrease or even disappear. However, many people still get acne when they reach middle age and don’t understand what is going on. Nowadays, acne is no longer exclusive to young people. Many working women aged 20-40 and even elderly people in their 60s have acne on their faces.

The professor introduced that there are two types of adult acne: one is persistent acne, which refers to acne that starts in adolescence and continues into adulthood, that is, acne remains even after adolescence; the other is late-onset acne, that is, acne first appears in adulthood, but did not exist before, which can be called late acne.

Among them, post-adolescent acne in the age of 20-40 is mainly caused by stress, while post-menopausal acne occurs after the age of 50 and is mainly caused by endocrine disorders and estrogen reduction.

Some people clinically divide acne into several different types.

Including papular acne: skin lesions are mainly inflammatory papules, with blackheads or translucent lipid plugs (whiteheads) in the center of the papules. Whiteheads rarely leave scars;

Pustular acne: The skin lesions are mainly pustules and inflammatory papules. The inflammation is relatively severe. Pustules often occur at the top of the papules. After rupture, sticky pus often flows out. These people will have pigmentation or scars after recovery. Early treatment is critical and very necessary.

Nodular acne: When the inflammation infiltrates deeply, the pustules will develop into thick-walled nodules of varying sizes, which are dark red or purple. The duration is long. Some are absorbed slowly, while others become purulent and rupture to form scars. In this case, the treatment time is long and the prognosis is usually scars.

Cystic acne: In addition to the above rashes, the deep inflammation may form huge abscesses or cysts, some of which contain large blackheads and jelly-like pus with blood. Later, obvious scars will occur, and some will form keloids. It is very important to use internal and external medication during the period.

Atrophic acne: papular or pustular lesions destroy glands, causing pitted atrophic scars that often require reconstructive treatment.

In addition, there is conglobate acne: the most serious type of acne, which includes various types of lesions, including comedones, papules, pustules, abscesses, cysts and fistulas with pus. When they heal, they often form significant keloids. In some patients, lesions occur in the lower back, buttocks and thighs, and treatment is also very difficult.

Different acne, different treatments

The best way to deal with acne is to see a dermatologist, because not all pimples on the face are acne, there may be many other skin diseases that have similar symptoms. For example, folliculitis, pityrosporum folliculitis, acne-like drug eruption, occupational acne, rash, rosacea-like tuberculous rash, etc.

Although the rash site and rash morphology are similar to acne to some extent, the causes and rash characteristics are different, and the treatment methods are not exactly the same.

Even acne has different treatment methods depending on its severity.

Make a correct diagnosis based on the patient's actual situation and adopt appropriate treatment methods according to the severity of the disease. Of course, to deal with mild acne, the first thing to do is to pay attention to facial cleansing to prevent the openings of the sebaceous gland ducts of the hair follicles from being blocked. For patients with oily skin, it is recommended to use facial cleansing soap (such as STC beauty soap); secondly, never squeeze it with your hands.

There are also some topical medications that can be used. If there are red papules and pustules, Lai Wei said that such drugs can be used with benzoyl peroxide gel or clindamycin gel. If it is mainly acne, adapalene gel can be used externally. Sometimes both drugs can be used in combination, but when using the drugs, pay attention to whether there is irritation and allergies.

In addition, you can use some anti-acne skin care products, such as Neutrogena, Avene, La Roche-Posay, Vichy, Winona and other brands. For patients with more severe acne on their faces, Lai Wei recommends taking oral medication to solve the problem from the inside. At this time, it is necessary to see a dermatologist.

In addition, it is best not to use cosmetics if possible, as they do not do much good to young people's facial skin. For example, some people think that there is too much oil on their face and they will feel that it is not cleansed without facial cleanser.

In fact, this does not do much good to the face. Over time, the face will become dry and oily, and the oil will be unevenly distributed. Just wash with clean water every day, and avoid washing your face with soap or other alkaline products. It is also important to maintain adequate sleep, good eating habits and develop the habit of regular bowel movements.

If a female patient experiences significant menstrual irregularities, she needs to see a gynecologist. In daily life, we should also pay attention to sun protection, drink plenty of water, and do more physical exercise.