A 23-year-old member asked:
I scratched a pimple on my arm and the skin arround the wound tend to yellow. is that alarming?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Robert Kwokanswered
Pediatrics 34 years experience
Maybe, maybe not: A pimple (whitehead) contains white blood cells (forming the whitish or yellowish stuff). The stuff is called pus, and is a reaction to trapped bacteria, oils, and/or skin cells (called a comedone). Once the pus is out, the pimple dries up in less than 2 days. However, if it stays mushy, reddened, tender, or has more pus coming out, it may be infected (and so needs a doctor's evaluation).
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Dec 9, 2013
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