Spots or pimples are small inflammations of the skin. Spots are the result of pores that have become clogged, resulting in black or whiteheads that then become infected. Spots can appear on any part of the body but are usually found on the face, chest, back, neck and shoulders.

What causes spots?

We have thousands of oil glands on our back, chest and face. The area between the cheek and nose can contain as many as 2000 oil glands for every square inch of skin; these glans produce oil or sebum to lubricate our skin.

If there is an irregular shedding of dead skin then the glands will become clogged. Bacteria then feed on the oil. Our body will fight the bacteria with white blood cells.  As the cells die off they develop into puss and swell, this then becomes a spot or pimple.  Some spots can be so deep that they become painful and may even scar.

There are five basic steps that everyone should follow to help prevent spots.

1. Cleansing Regime
   Each morning and evening you should wash your face with a cleanser suitable to your skin type.  Always try to avoid cleansers that contain alcohol and oil as they can dry out your skin.  Try not to wash your skin more than twice a day as over cleansing can make your skin produce more oil – this will cause more breakouts.
2. Hands Free
   Where possible, avoid touching your face with your hands. Our hands are always dirty regardless of how often we wash them. By limiting the amount of contact our hands have with our face we can limit the amount of dirt and bacteria that can clog your pores.
3. Sweat
   If you take part in regular sports or exercise always wipe away sweat. You should always clean your face with a suitable cleanser following a period of excessive seating.
4. Never squeeze
   As tempting as it may be you should never scratch or pop a spot. If you do you are increasing the chances of scarring and spreading the bacteria further, resulting in spots somewhere else on your body.
5. Treatment
   If you are experiencing more than the occasional spot or blemish you should consult your doctor. They will be able to prescribe products or treatments that can speed up the healing process and help prevent future infections, if the condition is too serious for a doctor to deal with, they will send you to a dermatologist.

Over the counter treatments

If you don’t suffer from spots as such, you just tend to get the odd blackhead or white head, then there are plenty of over the counter products that could help you.

This article was written by Susan Waters, a dermatologist who specializes in adult acne treatment, for www.thelasertreatmentclinic.com.