Don't pick at these pimples! These pimples may be caused by a virus. Be careful, the more you pick at them, the more they will appear...

For small pimples on the skin

Many people have the habit of scratching and scratching.

Like acne on the face, mosquito bites

I can't help but pick it up

Those little bumps you know all about

It's okay to just pick and choose

But there are some things that I don't know what they are.

Don't pick it.

These small bumps the size of rice grains are actually the so-called "flat warts". They may grow on the face, the back of the hands, and the forearms, and may grow in large patches.

Image source: Wikimedia

Some flat warts appear normal skin color, while others appear brown, which can easily lead people to mistake them for a "spot" or "mole."

In fact, flat warts are an abnormal proliferation of the epidermis caused by the HPV virus (human papillomavirus). Simply put, it is a viral infection located in the epidermis.

When you hear about HPV, you may be a little uneasy: "Is this HPV the kind that causes cervical cancer?"

Don't worry, although they are both members of the HPV family, the HPV that causes flat warts and the HPV that causes cervical cancer are not the same type.

Data source: Zhao Bian. Clinical Dermatology-3rd Edition[M]. Jiangsu Science and Technology Press, 2001.

However, this does not mean that flat warts do not need to be taken seriously. Flat warts may feel itchy, making people particularly want to pick at them.

I advise everyone to keep their hands off!

Scratching and rubbing may spread the virus to other parts of the body, causing new flat warts to grow, and may even transmit the virus to others through contact.

These protective measures must be taken:

1. Keep your hands clean to prevent the virus from infecting other parts of the body through your hands;

2. Use personal hygiene products separately as much as possible to prevent the HPV virus from indirectly spreading to others

3. Try to avoid skin damage around flat warts to prevent HPV from taking advantage of the situation

4. Don’t pick at flat warts, as the more you pick, the more they will appear.

If you are really troubled, just go to the hospital for targeted treatment. Leave professional matters to professionals.

If a small bump the size of a soybean grows around your eye and it doesn't hurt or itch, it could be xanthelasma.

Image source: Wikimedia

Xanthelasma is primarily caused by lipid deposition and is therefore considered a sign of hyperlipidemia.

Patients with hyperlipidemia have elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and this "bad cholesterol" particularly likes loose skin areas, such as the eyelids.

The eyelids are the part of the human body that is most susceptible to aging and sagging, which can easily lead to lipid deposition and the formation of xanthelasma.

If left untreated, xanthelasma may spread over the entire eyelid and even appear on the hands and legs.

To treat xanthomas, the first thing to do is to adjust your diet, lose weight, and restore your normal metabolism. If the xanthomas are caused by metabolic disorders, then the most important thing is to treat the cause. You can also go to the dermatology department for targeted local treatment to achieve cosmetic results.

Hyperlipidemia is closely related to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Once the signs of hyperlipidemia are found, they must be taken seriously.

The round bumps that are hard and difficult to move may be epidermal cysts.

Epidermal cysts usually grow on the face, neck, back and other oily areas. Although it does not hurt or itch, if you do not maintain good hygiene and like to touch and pick at it, it is easy to cause further infection of the epidermal cyst.

Image source: Wikimedia

What if one day you accidentally tear it? I can’t even imagine that scene.

In short, these bumps that suddenly appear may not be as simple as they seem. If you can’t help but pick and scratch them, you may make the problem worse. Be sure to control your hands!

Statement: This article is a medical-related educational popular science article. It does not involve specific treatment methods or medical behaviors and cannot replace hospital visits.

Experts collaborating on this article

References

[1]Xu Xiaotong, Sui Xiulin, Wei Shuxiang. Clinical experience of flat warts[J]. Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine Dermatology and Venereology, 2023, 22(06): 559-561.

[2] Li Yi, Fan Qin, Yao Yan, et al. Research progress of drugs and photoelectric treatment of flat warts[J]. Journal of Laser Biology, 2020, 29(06): 501-505+522.

[3] Wang Jing, Huang Chunmei, Tang Haoying, et al. Correlation between eyelid xanthomas and genetic factors in hypercholesterolemia[J]. International Journal of Ophthalmology, 2023, 23(04): 689-693.

[4] Li Na. Nursing experience of patients with multiple sebaceous cysts[J]. Chinese Journal of Health Standard Management, 2022, 13(12): 183-186.

Content Production

Editor: Zhang Fuyao

Map: Eastern Zhou Dynasty