Summer pimples: what happens?
By Dr. Aurélia Nha-Huyen Nguyen Gouez, a family physician and medical director of French origin, based in Quebec since 2016.
Summer is synonymous with warmth, the great outdoors and activities in the sun. But it's also the season when many patients, children and adults alike, seek help for pimples that have suddenly appeared on their skin. Between heat, insects, allergens and infections, the causes are multiple. Should we be concerned? How can we relieve the itching? And when should you consult a doctor?
Here's an overview of the main causes, and the right reflexes to adopt.
1. Hot spots (miliaria)
These small, often clustered, red or translucent pimples appear when sweat glands become blocked by excessive perspiration. They are common in the folds of the skin (back, chest, armpits, neck), especially in active people, those overheated or exposed to humid environments.
2. Insect bites
Mosquitoes, black flies, ants, wasps and spiders leave red, sometimes swollen, intensely itchy marks. Some people experience exaggerated reactions, with swelling or intense redness.
3. Hives (heat, sun, allergies)
Urticaria manifests itself as raised, red, itchy patches that migrate over the body. It can be caused by heat, sun exposure (solar urticaria), food, medication or chemicals. It often disappears within a few hours, but can recur.
4. Allergic contact reactions
Certain plants (weed, poison ivy), sun creams, anti-mosquito lotions or swimming pool products can cause localized, red, irritated, sometimes oozing skin eruptions.
5. Folliculitis
These are small red or white spots around the hairs, often on the legs, chest or back. They are favored by perspiration, shaving, or bathing in contaminated water (such as certain spas or swimming pools). It can be infectious or simply irritating.
6. Skin infections
Impetigo, shingles, chickenpox (in non-immunized people) or summer viral rashes can also cause pimples, sometimes accompanied by fever or general malaise. These cases require medical evaluation.
When should you consult?
You should consult a doctor if :
- Buttons expand rapidly or change appearance
- They are painful, oozing or pus-filled
- You have a fever, chills or general malaise
- Intense itching prevents you from sleeping or functioning normally
- You don't know the cause and the situation doesn't improve after a few days
- A history of severe allergies (generalized urticaria, edema, anaphylaxis)
Why consult a home doctor in Montreal?
If you have an uncomfortable rash, waiting hours in a waiting room isn't ideal.
A home doctor in Montreal can :
- Evaluate the cause of pimples at home
- Prescribe appropriate treatment: antihistamine, anti-inflammatory cream, local or oral antibiotic
- Advice on prevention (clothing, products, allergens to avoid)
- Preventing you from contaminating or being contaminated in a clinical setting
At Allodocteur.ca, we regularly treat adults and children with unexplained pimples or summer skin reactions.
Conclusion
Summer pimples are common, but they shouldn't be trivialized. Sometimes benign, they can also reveal an infection or allergic reaction requiring treatment. If in doubt, don't wait for the situation to get worse. A Montreal home care physician can quickly assess your situation and suggest an effective treatment without leaving your home.
