How to Identify Common Skin Blemishes (And What to Do About Them)

Let’s be honest: we’ve all woken up one morning to discover a strange, less-than-pleasant, concerningly unidentifiable blemish on our skin before. This is never a welcoming situation, especially if you have some sort of major event in your near future. We all want our skin to look its best, and discovering a new skin blemish often takes a toll on our self-confidence and mental state.

Luckily, even if you have no idea what that new mark on your face is, we’re here to help. The first step to finding a solution for any problem is determining the root cause of the issue. In this case, that means identifying what, exactly, that skin blemish really is. 

So, to offer our support, we’ve put together a short guide to identifying the most common skin ailments. And because we’re feeling generous, we’ve even included the best ways to treat those problems. Hopefully, with these resources at your disposal, you’ll be able to eliminate your newfound blemish in no time.

One: Acne

Let’s begin with what is possibly the most common and well-known of all the common skin blemishes—acne. If you look in the mirror to find an unusual new mark one day, your mind probably goes immediately to acne, right? Well, we are here to let you know how to tell for sure.

Unfortunately for many acne sufferers out there, this issue comes in many shapes and sizes. Here are a few common types of acne to look out for:

 

Firstly, there are pustules. Pustules essentially look like a classic pimple. However, they contain pus at their tips (hence the name). If you’re looking to identify a pustule, look for red skin surrounding a white bump in the center (they look quite similar to pimples).

Next up, papules. These blemishes can be described as raised bumps on the skin. These bumps are typically fairly small and red, but they don’t have the white center of pustules (AKA, the pus). However, papules often develop into pustules.

Nodules, the next type of acne, form underneath the surface of the skin. These hard bumps are usually painful.

Finally, we have cysts. These are like next-level nodules—they’re larger, more painful bumps under the skin that fill up with pus. 

Clearly, these types of acne vary greatly in terms of severity and symptoms. Later on, we’ll get into the best treatments for all of these issues.

Two: Dark Spots

Next up, we have another super common skin issue—dark spots. This issue can be especially concerning if you’re unfamiliar with the actual causes behind it. A mysterious dark spot comes off as a little worrisome, right?

Well, here’s the good news—most of the time, dark spots are nothing to worry about, healthwise. 

The medical term for dark spots on the skin is hyperpigmentation. This term doesn’t refer to one particular issue but rather to many. Included under this umbrella are these conditions:

 

Melasma: This is a type of hyperpigmentation that is believed to come from hormonal changes. It often develops during pregnancy. So, if you’ve recently been experiencing any form of such changes, melasma may be your issue.

Sun Spots: This type of hyperpigmentation is exactly what it sounds like. Sunspots, also known as liver spots, are linked to sun exposure. They tend to appear in areas that have been exposed to and damaged by the sun. If you spend much time soaking up those rays, it’s likely that your dark spots are actually sunspots. 

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation: This condition brings us back around to the first issue we discussed, acne. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation occurs when the skin becomes inflamed, often by acne. In response to that inflammation, the skin may react by over-producing melanin and creating a dark spot or two.

If you’ve recently recovered from an acne breakout, you may be experiencing post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Three: Dermatitis

Moving on from dark spots, we should discuss another skin issue that tends to occur quite often. Dermatitis is a prevalent skin condition that generally refers to skin irritation. In terms of symptoms, it usually involves itchiness, dry skin, rashes, or swelling. The skin might even blister, ooze, or become flaky. 

Clearly, these symptoms are far different from what you’d probably experience with hyperpigmentation or even acne. 

If you think you may have dermatitis, you should be aware of these different types:

Atopic dermatitis is perhaps more commonly known as eczema. This condition manifests as a red, itchy rash in a few particular areas—inside the elbows, behind the knees, and in front of the neck.

Contact dermatitis is a type of rash that will feel itchy and stingy. It occurs whenever you come into contact with a substance that irritates the skin or triggers an allergic reaction.

Seborrheic dermatitis is characterized by scaly patches, red skin, and dandruff. This is most common in particularly oily areas, like the face, chest, and back. This condition tends to flare up seasonally.

Finally, we have follicular eczema. As you could probably guess based on the name, this condition centers around hair follicles. It causes the skin to thicken and become bumpy in the follicles.

Luckily, there are plenty of ways to treat dermatitis, along with the other skin issues we’ve already mentioned. So, without further ado, let’s get into a few of our favorite skin treatments for these conditions.

How to Treat Common Skin Blemishes 

We don’t know about you, but when we discover a new problem area on our skin, we just want to get rid of it as soon as possible. Using these methods, you may be able to do just that.

We have one word for you: superfoods. Superfoods are natural ingredients packed full of nutrients, vitamins, healthy acids, and much more. No matter what kind of blemish you have, there’s a superfood that can help.

When it comes to acne, one of our favorite ingredients is turmeric. This plant-based spice is perfect for treating acne for many reasons—namely; it has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. So, it may kill acne-causing bacteria and reduce the redness and inflammation that often comes along with an acne breakout.

In fact, using a turmeric-based product or even a DIY face mask is ideal for both acne and hyperpigmentation. It’s great for fading dark spots and evening out the complexion. Superfoods like desert lime also serve as an excellent hyperpigmentation treatment.

When it comes to eczema or dermatitis, we love to recommend calming ingredients like oatmeal or aloe vera. There’s nothing like a relaxing oatmeal bath to soothe irritated patches of skin. 

If you’re looking to cure a skin blemish quickly, a face mask is always a great move. We just have to plug our Vitamin C Clay Mask, the superfood-heavy mask that’s perfect for treating all of these skin issues and more. A quality clay mask will do wonders for your skin. Plus, it’ll provide some much-needed rest and relaxation time. 

 

Final Thoughts 

Hopefully, this short article has helped you identify and treat your newest skin blemish. If we have one more piece of advice for you, it’s this—don’t stress too much! Everyone gets blemishes. It’s totally normal, and it’s not the end of the world. You’ll be just fine!

Sources:

Skin diseases: A list of common conditions and symptoms | Medical News Today

Hyperpigmentation: What Causes Skin to Darken? | Healthline 

Dermatitis - Symptoms and causes | Mayo Clinic