Brief Answer:
Kindly send pictures of the affected area.

Detailed Answer:
Hello Meghna,

Welcome to the forum and thanks for posting your query.

I can understand your concern for red bumps on the face. It appears from your query that you have a sudden outbreak of pimples on face.

In view to help you best I request you to kindly upload few good resolution pictures of the affected area of face so that I can analyze the exact grade of pimples.

For the same you have a feature on the right side of the page.

Hope to hear soon from your side.

With regards,

Dr Sanjay Kanodia
MD-DERMATOLOGY

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Brief Answer:
Moderate to severe Acne: Kindly stop protein powder.

Detailed Answer:
Hello Meghna,

Welcome again and thanks for posting your details and pictures.

I can understand your concern for pimples. It is really bothersome to have something unwanted present on one's face.

The one thing I can make out form your pictures is that the condition is really not good and you have grade three (moderate to severe) pimples.

I first and foremost suggest you to stop the protein powder immediately as it might be containing some preparation which is not suiting and therefore has caused sudden eruptions.

Before I proceed to guide you for solution of your issue let me explain you elaborately regarding pimples-

Acne or pimples in most of teenage people starts appearing at the age of 13-14 years and then almost vanishes by the age of 25-30 years. So it is quite unusual to get pimple a the age of 30 years.

The main cause of pimple formation is basically due to hormones (chemicals which are influencing one or other body functions) in addition to the influence of certain other factors causing its aggravation. The hormone plays the most important role in high oil secretion and increase the size of oil glands. As the pores or ducts of the glands are blocked so it leads to formation of pimples.

There are certain other factors such as application of oily or creamy products, over exposure to sunlight, heat and humidity or due to pinching, popping and squeezing of the pimples and sometimes over medications also leads to formation of pimples. Once these are healing they leave the most problematic thing which are either marks or scars. Therefore any of the above factors along with hormones can cause appearance of pimples at the age of 30 years.

In your case especially it appeared right after the consumption of protein powder so it is one of the main chemical which might have induced the formation. You are also trying to conceive so it is the best time when you must be more careful regarding all these things and should not consume anything without prescription of a doctor and in particular a dermatologist.

There are certain best of suggestions

1. Do not pinch, pop or squeeze any area on face.

2. Do not apply any creamy or oily stuff or any other cosmetics over face.

3. Try to avoid any home remedies suggested by your friends or family members or otherwise self implicated therapies also. Most of the times any of the home remedies blocks more of the pores and results in more aggravation of pimples.

4. Do not take steam or steam bath or massage on your face as these also aggravates the pimples.

5. Try avoiding situations of direct continuous exposure to sunlight or heat and humidity for long hours.

6. Kindly do not use any antibiotic as self medication.

7. Do not apply any hair oil on scalp or apply in very less amount. Wash your scalp daily with some good shampoo and let there be no dandruff in your scalp ( because dandruff itself causes blockage of pores of oil glands and then pimples).

For the treatment proper and medications part of pimple I suggest you to meet a dermatologist and get the further suggestions. : In my patients I suggest them to apply a gel based topical application containing clindamycin and adapalene gel

It should be applied at night time only. A very thin application of gel is sufficient on the affect3ed area only so that it should not be visible to the naked eye. You may feel mild to moderate of burning sensation if you are applying on higher side. So a mere touching of the gel is sufficient.

I also suggest my patients to take oral antibiotic such as Azithromycin 500 mg 3 days per week for few weeks.

Hope these informations will help you. I will be glad to guide you any further.

Regards,

Dr Sanjay Kumar Kanodia
MD- Dermatology

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Brief Answer:
Do not use cream based moisturizer. Use a gel based one.

Detailed Answer:
Hello Meghna,

Welcome again to the forum and thanks a lot for your swift follow up.

Regarding your further queries:

- If you have not conceived yet or would not be conceiving in in further few weeks then you can take Azithromycin tablets under medical supervision.

Though the antibiotic is one of the safest one but in my personal view once you have conceived then even not a pain killer should be taken within 3 months of pregnancy.

Regarding the use of moisturizer: I suggest you to either don't use the moisturizer or can use a gel based moisturizing lotion. I can see a lot of black and white heads and on applying moisturizer would cause more eruptions. SO it is better to use a gel based (Such as Elvoera based) moisturizer.

You can continue with Folic acid as it is totally harmless and also helps in pregnancy time. So it can be very well continued.

For the gel based cream: You can visit your local pharmacy and just check whether you can get Clindamycin gel or any other related antibiotic for local application. For azithromycin I think you require a prescription as is antibiotic. SO you can meet a family physician or a nurse who can prescribe you the same or any related antibiotic as per requirement.

Over all you would require a personal dermatological supervision which is quite easy in XXXXXXX Nevertheless if you are following the suggestions of the previous mail then also you will find improvement in few days of period.

Hope these informations will help you. I will be glad to guide you any further.

Regards,

Dr Sanjay Kumar Kanodia
MD- Dermatology

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