Pimple

“ Pimples and blackheads are both due to inflammation about the glands of the skin which secrete oily material; the [Pg 146] mouths of the glands become plugged with dust, thus retaining the oily secretion and causing blackheads. Then if these glands are invaded by germs producing pus, we have a pimple, which usually results in the formation of matter as described above. Constipation and indigestion favor the occurrence of pimples and blackheads; also a poor state of the blood, or anæmia. ”

“ Symptoms.—About eight days after the exposure a little redness and then a pimple, which soon becomes an open sore, makes its appearance, on or about the end of the penis in males or on the external or inner parts of the uterus of females. Pimples and sores soon multiply, and after a time little hard lumps appear in the groin, which soon develop into a blue tumor called bubo. Copper colored spots may appear in the face, hair fall out, etc. Canker and ulcerations in the mouth and various parts of the body soon develop. ”

“ When the pimple appears on the outside of the prepuce for instance, it assumes generally a larger form, and, as the head is broken off, crust after crust rises up, until the process of ulceration has very far advanced, or the applications that are generally employed prevent its re-formation. ”

“ If choking is threatened, give an emetic of mustard, one teaspoonful, and warm water, half a pint.
PIMPLES; BLACKHEADS (Acne) .—This eruption is situated chiefly on the face, but often on the back, shoulders, and chest as well. It is a disorder which is seen mostly in young men and women at about the age of puberty. It consists of conical elevations of the skin, from a pin head to a pea in size, often reddened and tender on pressure, and having a tendency to form matter or pus, as shown by a yellow spot in the center of the pimple. ”

“ It begins in very small papules or minute red pimples, which rapidly multiply, and these run together into patches which have a tendency to a horse-shoe, or crescent, shape, while the portions of skin between are of a natural colour. Commencing on the face and neck, the blotches spread to the arms, then the trunk of the body, and gradually reach the lower extremities. ”

“ Hard, red pimples frequently appear on the face, forehead and body, scaly patches round the ears, eyes, nose and lips, a black or bluish semi-circle shows itself under the eyes, and there is a hollow mark from the corner of the eye in a slanting direction under the cheekbone to the angle of the mouth, which tells its tale. ”

“ With most women, pimples are caused by indigestion or constipation. Unless the body throws off its waste material as it should, the poisonous matter will endeavor to find a way out through the pores of the skin. The face, being the most sensitive, is usually the first part of the body to be afflicted. The remedy for facial blemishes is found in exercise, baths and a careful diet. ”

“ It may begin and spread at the same time from the face, the trunk of the body or the limbs. A dozen pimples may be seen the first day, while three or even ten times as many may be visible the next day, and so on for several days in succession. ”

“ The first symptoms of lues consist either of a sore throat or a spotted skin. When the skin is the seat, a red spot, not unlike a flea-bite, is perceived; the color soon dies [99] into a brownish or copper-colored hue. Occasionally, at the outset, a small pimple is observed, which breaks and scurfs; the coppery-colored spot next feels rough, and a kind of scurf will exude that after a few days falls off to make way for more. ”

“ The small, hard, distinct pimples—“acne, or acne simplex” of medical writers—that occur on the forehead, and occasionally on the temples and chin, generally yield to stimulating lotions, consisting of equal parts of strong vinegar, or spirit, and water, or to weak lotions of sulphate of zinc, assisted by occasional doses of cooling laxatives, as the salines, or a mixture of sulphur or cream of tartar. ”

“ One dram each of camphor and flowers of sulphur in four ounces of rose-water is a good lotion for external use. Do not pick or squeeze pimples, unless pus has formed in them. Nothing is more disgusting than a face broken out in pus-filled pimples. See a physician if thus afflicted.
FRECKLES.—These have been poetically called "the kisses of the sun," but no girl cares for evidences of that sort of affection. Prevention is easier than cure. Simple home remedies are lemon juice and glycerin, sour buttermilk, and elderflower soap used in bathing. ”

“ Pimples on the face are usually due to obstruction of the sebaceous glands; sometimes the obstruction leads to inflammation around the sebaceous gland (acne) which often permanently injures the skin.
2. Accumulation of effete matter on the skin occurs, unless frequent ablutions are performed. The epidermis is constantly shedding its older and more superficial parts, in the form of minute scales or “scurf.” In the absence of frequent washing, the scales of epithelium tend to accumulate, the sebaceous secretion matting the scales together, and rendering them more adhesive. ”

“ Nosebleed, in the morning. Pimple at the forehead. Weight above the eyes, he is unable to read long. 150. Sense of weariness in the arms, though lying down. The pain at the sacrum decreases; sometimes, however, it rises again to the cervical vertebræ. Prickling in the eyes. A cluster of pimples breaks out at the wrist, on the external and inferior surface [72] of the radius; they are vesicular, (like those which he had after his return from Brazil.) Bloating sensation in the eyes. 155. Throbbing at the sacrum, without pain. Pale face, eyes sunken, with redness around the eyelids. ”

“ HOW TO CURE PIMPLES OR OTHER FACIAL ERUPTIONS.
1. It requires self-denial to get rid of pimples, for persons troubled with them will persist in eating fat meats and other articles of food calculated to produce them. Avoid the use of rich gravies, or pastry, or anything of the kind in excess. Take all the out-door exercise you can and never indulge in a late supper. Retire at a reasonable hour, and rise early in the morning. ”

“ On looking very closely—more closely indeed than most persons are wont to do—this appearance will be seen to be produced by innumerable small pimples, smaller than pins' heads, and which itch violently. ”

“ In the course of the next four-and-twenty hours in some cases, and in others not until the expiration of two or three days, it completely covers the body; not being confined exclusively to the skin, but frequently extending to the mouth and throat, and even to the external membrane of the eye.
In the course of two or three days from their first appearance the little pimples, increasing in size, will be found to contain a thin transparent fluid, to pit or become depressed in their centre, and the skin in the spaces between them will be found red. ”

“ In young persons of both sexes; generally in phlegmatic habits. The disease shows itself by hard pimples, with a small black spot on the apex, unaccompanied with redness or inflammation at first, but after a while they become red and inflamed, and sometimes suppurate, with a greasy look of the skin between them. ”

“ The pimples on the face of young people is a harmless skin disease known under the name of Acne, and is due to the surplus of fat secreted 158by the young skin, but it has nothing to do with the sexual function. It is just as much and to an equal degree spread among people indulging in sexual intercourse as among those who are continent. ”

“ It will purify and beautify the skin and remove Pimples, Blackheads, Moth Patches, Rash, Freckles and Vulgar Redness, Yellow and Muddy Skin, giving a delicately clear and refined complexion. It is highly recommended by leading society and professional ladies, and cannot be surpassed when preparing for evening attire. ”

“ These pimples are so well known by most persons as scarcely to need description; they are conical, red, and hard; after awhile, they become white, and yellow at the point, then discharge a thick yellow-colored matter, mingled with a whitish substance, and become covered by a hard, brown scab, and lastly, disappear very slowly, sometimes very imperfectly, and often leaving an ugly scar behind them. To these symptoms are not unfrequently added considerable pain, and always much unsightliness. ”

“ We have so frequently discussed this trouble that we cannot again enter into a full description of its cause and cure. Wash your face with warm water and sulphur soap, and every evening apply sulphur ointment to the place where the pimples are most numerous. Wash away the ointment in the morning and squeeze out a few of the most prominent spots. You are at the age for acne, but with a little care you are not likely to be troubled for long with it. For your hands, wash in warm water and use sulphur soap. Always wear thick gloves when you go out. ”

“ Bróffola, a push, a wheele, a bile, a gall, a blister, a pimple, an itch, a tetter. Also the marke or print of a sore or scab.
Broffoláre, to grow to spots or scars in the skin.
Broffolétta, a litle Bróffola.
Broggiáre, as Brogliáre.
Bróggio, as Bróglio, or Imbróglio.
Brogiáre, to grow full of red pimples.
Brógie, red pimples in mens faces.
Brogiótti, red pimples or pushes in mens faces. Also a kind of excellent figs. ”

“ The signs peculiar to this disease are slight inflammation, itching, and the formation of minute scales.
Causes. Pityriasis is caused by nutritive debility, and is often associated with erysipelas, rheumatism, and bronchitis.
Lichen. (Papular Rash.) Lichen is a term used to designate an eruption of minute conical pimples, which are more or less transparent, red, and occasion great annoyance. The eruption is attended with a severe, hot, prickling sensation, as if the flesh were punctured with hot needles. The pimples contain no pus, but if opened, they exude a small quantity of blood and serum. ”

“ Usually on the second day of the disease, the face, neck, breast and hands to the tips of the fingers became of a deep erysipelatous colour with perceptible swelling, the fingers in particular being often of so characteristic a tint as at once to suggest an examination of the throat. A great number of small pimples, of a deeper red than the skin around them, appear on the arms and other parts; they are larger and more prominent in those subjects, and in those parts of the same subject, where the redness is least intense, which is generally on the arms, the breast, and lower extremities. ”

“ When you—with your face all covered with pimples, and your skin all muddy and sallow—start talking as you've been talking, there's only one thing should be done. Your mother should take your trousers down and smack you with a hair brush ”

“ The intimate connection between the skin and the sexual sphere is also shown in pathological conditions of the skin, especially in acne as well as simple pimples on the face. The sexual development of puberty involves a development of hair in various regions of the body which previously were hairless. ”

“ Pimples must never be irritated. Breaking or bruising the skin only adds to its diseased condition and general irritation. If the complexion is unsightly with red blotches, a solution of boric acid in boiling water, used warm, will be an effective lotion. Its application should, of course, be combined with proper living as laid out above, care being taken as to diet, exercise and the tepid daily bath. A good cold cream should also be used. ”

“ The whole of the scalp becomes hot and [Pg 81] swollen, and covered over a large surface by a thick dirty crust, through cracks in which a thick ill-smelling greenish-yellow matter exudes on pressure. At different points around, pimples form with mattery heads,—pustules they are called—while the glands on each side of the neck become swollen and tender. ”

“ Small pimple at the inside of the left elbow, causing a smart itching. Half past 7, lancinations in the right side, every second. Cold feet. 515. Eight o’clock, pain as if the right arm had been stretched a long time, contusive pain at the back of the right hand, especially at the middle-finger. Lancinations in the gums on the right side. Itching at the forehead. Small pimples at the forehead. [84] Suffocative oppression in the chest, especially when thinking of any thing contrary. 520. The oppression ascends and immediately after descends again. Heat mounting to the face. Pain at the sternum. ”

“ The same sapient writer recommends you, if you are troubled with pimples, to watch for a falling star, and then instantly, while the star is still shooting from the sky, to wipe the pimples with a cloth or anything that comes to hand. Just as the star falls from the sky, so the pimples will fall from your body ”

“ The skin, filled with nerves, is continually reporting to the brain concerning what is the condition of all parts of the body. The condition of the skin reflects the condition of the [79] digestive organs. Many girls are trying to cure pimples on the face by the use of salves and lotions, when in all probability all that they would need to do to gain a good complexion is to pay attention to diet, to quit eating between meals, and not to eat so much pastry, pickles or sweetmeats. ”

“ In consequence the face will appear lean and haggard, the skin shrivelled and folded, and lines and wrinkles will appear already in the faces of young women. Besides, as the sufficient amount of fluids will be wanting, the toxic products formed daily in our bodies is not washed out through those natural channels, the kidneys and the intestines, but will take their way through the skin, and eruptions and pimples will develop, much to the damage of the complexion. ”