Acne Pustules: How to Get Rid of Pustules?

Updated on: 23rd Apr, 2025

One of the main causes of pustules is acne. Other causes include psoriasis, rosacea, chickenpox and smallpox. Acne pustules appear in the form of red bumps that can be sore or tender. When the pores in the skin get irritated and their walls break, acne pustules are caused.

Pustules are small red bumps which have a white or yellow centre. They appear in the form of pimples with pus, on the face, neck and scalp, as well as on the back, upper chest, hands and feet. Pustules are mostly harmless. When they occur due to a serious skin infection, their symptoms include redness, swelling, and pain.

A pustule is a bulging patch of skin with a yellow pus-filled tip, while acne papules are solid, inflamed bumps on the skin that do not have a tip filled with pus. Papules can form pustules. So, if you wish to compare a papule vs pustule, one should look for whether its tip is pus-filled or not.

Mostly, skin pustules go away on their own. The healing process can be sped up with the following measures:

• Wash the area with soap and use a clean cloth for cleaning.
• Apply an OTC calamine lotion, cortisone cream, benzoyl peroxide gel or salicylic acid.
• Do not touch, pick or pop at the pustules, as this may worsen the condition and cause infections and scarring.
• Avoid using skin products that can irritate the skin.
• Clay masks contain natural clays that can draw oil and dirt from the skin. This helps reduce pimples.
• Essential oils with anti-inflammatory properties can reduce pain and inflammation.

You should seek medical treatment for pustules if they stay for a few weeks. The treatment would consist of medications based on the cause of pustules.

• The pustules acne treatments include the following.
  • An antibiotic cream or gel can help seek relief from acne pustules.
  • Oral antibiotics may be prescribed as a treatment for acne pustules.
• An antifungal cream or shampoo, or oral medicine, is another good acne pustules treatment.
• Steroid creams are another good treatment for acne pustules.
• Prescription-strength azelaic or salicylic acid cream can also be effective as a pustule treatment.
• OTC products with ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, resorcinol and salicylic acid are another good treatment for acne pustules. These three ingredients help reduce the generation of oil, can kill bacteria, dry excess oil and accelerate the turnover of skin cells.
• How to treat pustules would be answered best by an expert in the field. So before opting for any treatment for pustules on skin, you should Consult a Best Dermatologist.

This was an overview of acne pustules causes, symptoms, home remedies and treatments and a comparison of papules vs pustules. If you have pustules on face or any other area of the skin it is advisable to consult a dermatologist, especially if they are not going away on their own, or with home remedies. For the best treatment to get rid of pustules or for all your queries related to any skin condition, one of the best places to approach is Clear Skin. It is a skin clinic in Pune with a team of experienced dermatologists who can guide you well in attaining in healthy and beautiful skin.