What should you know about dog pimples?

Pimples can be red, skin-coloured, pus-filled, tender, or clustered. Causes include acne, folliculitis, irritation from shaving or friction, hormonal changes, rosacea, and perioral dermatitis. A spot around a hair can reflect an inflamed follicle, while repeated lesions around the mouth may need a different approach. The [Pimples](/symptoms/pimples/) guide describes these patterns. A symptom is not a diagnosis, so location, duration, medications, and skin-care products all matter.

Wash gently, avoid picking or squeezing, and pause harsh scrubs or fragranced products if they sting. Keep pillowcases, phones, helmets, or grooming tools clean when they contact the area. A clinician can distinguish acne from [Folliculitis](/conditions/folliculitis/), [Rosacea](/conditions/rosacea/), or [Perioral Dermatitis](/conditions/perioral-dermatitis/) and choose treatment accordingly. LED light therapy may be discussed for selected acne concerns, but it is not a substitute for diagnosis.

Arrange a review if spots are deep, painful, scarring, rapidly spreading, recurrent in the same area, or not settling with gentle care. Seek urgent help for severe swelling around the eye, vision changes, fever with a rapidly worsening rash, or facial swelling with breathing difficulty. Prompt assessment is also useful when a new product, medicine, or hair-removal method preceded the eruption.

Ask what pattern the spots follow, whether a follicle or surrounding skin is involved, which products to stop, whether treatment could irritate sensitive skin, and how to reduce marks or scarring while the cause is treated.