A blood-filled pimple is a red, swollen bump on your skin that contains blood. You can cause a blood-filled pimple by damaging blood vessels around an existing pimple. This often happens when you pop, squeeze, pick or over-exfoliate a pimple. Blood-filled pimples usually heal on their own if you prevent further damage and keep the area clean.
A blood-filled pimple is a red, swollen bump on your skin that contains blood. It can form anywhere on your body after a regular pimple experiences trauma, such as picking, squeezing or over-exfoliating.
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Regular pimples form when skin pores get clogged with dead skin cells, oil, dirt or sweat. Bacteria and pus collect in the clogged pore, causing it to swell into a bump. A pimple can be a singular blemish or part of more widespread, frequent breakouts, called acne.
A blood-filled pimple looks like a pimple, but it’s filled with blood. Blood-filled pimples tend to look more irritated and inflamed than regular pimples. And they’re more likely to lead to infections and acne scars.
A pimple may fill with blood when it has had trauma (injury). This can happen when you do the following to a regular pimple:
Many people squeeze or pop pimples to remove pus and try to make the pimple go away faster. But when you squeeze or pop a pimple, you can damage or burst blood vessels in the area. That can make the pimple fill with blood.
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A blood-filled pimple is often:
Pimples don’t spread, but you may get several in one area. Or they may appear over your entire face or back, for example.
Popping pimples, however, can cause bacteria to spread under your skin to other pores. This can result in more pimples.
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You can self-diagnose a blood-filled pimple based on how it looks and feels. Or you can seek a diagnosis from your primary care provider or dermatologist (a doctor who specializes in the skin).
Your healthcare provider will examine the pimple, possibly using a bright light or a magnifying glass.
Don’t pop or squeeze a blood-filled pimple. That can cause:
Blood-filled pimples usually heal on their own if you keep them clean, but otherwise leave them alone.
If pimples don’t heal as they should, or if you keep getting acne breakouts, treatment and prevention options include:
For severe blood-filled pimples or acne that frequently causes them, your dermatologist may recommend a procedure, such as:
Several strategies can help you prevent blood-filled pimples:
Blood-filled pimples usually heal on their own in a few days to a few weeks. You can help them heal faster by keeping them clean and not picking or squeezing.
If you continue picking at blood-filled pimples, they can cause infection and permanent scars.
Blood-filled pimples can be tender or even painful. In addition to treatments, consider applying ice. Put a cold pack on the area for 15 minutes several times a day. This’ll reduce redness and swelling.
If a pimple shows any signs of infection, call your healthcare provider. Signs include:
A note from Cleveland Clinic
A blood-filled pimple is a red, swollen bump on your skin that contains blood. It can happen when you pop, squeeze, scratch or over-exfoliate a pimple, breaking the surrounding blood vessels. If you have frequent blood-filled pimples or other acne problems, talk to your primary care provider or dermatologist. Several remedies are available over the counter and by prescription.
Last reviewed on 04/18/2022.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy