Acne question

[amanda]

I have had a certain zit for three weeks.  My zits usually go away in less than a week.  This one used to have a lot of puss in it but now it just has a little.  The area bordering the zit, however, is red and puffy.  Is this zit infected?  (By the way I don't pick at them.)  What should I do if it is infected?  If it's not?

[shelly thursday 5:20 p.m.]

To whomo it may concern,

I have little fine bumps all over my face
what is causing these bumps ?

thank you

Shelly (aka)bumps

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Amanda:

There is no correct time for zits to go away.  Even if unpicked, they can vary a trememndous amount in their duration, from a couple of days to many weeks or months.  I've never been able to figure out shy there's so much difference, or how to predict which zits hang around and which don't.

Once you have a zit, the less you do, the better.  Hot compresses may help a bit at first, if there's a lot of inflammation.  Antibiotics, whether oral or topical, are OK at prevention but not at "drying them up."  Makeup to hide them is fine, as long as it's water-based or oil-free.

Best advice: patience and no picking!

Best.

Dr. R