 A concealer or colour corrector is a type of makeup used to cover pimples, dark circles and other small blemishes visible on the skin. This product is mainly used by women, as well as by some men.
Both concealer and foundation are typically used to make skin appear more uniform in color. These two types of cosmetics differ in that concealers tend to be more heavily pigmented. Also, foundation is usually applied to larger areas than concealer is. The first commercially available concealer was Max Factor's erace, launched in 1938.
Concealer is available in a variety of shades. Some colors are intended to look like a natural skin tone, while others are meant to contrast with a particular kind of blemish. White can be used to hide dark circles or bruising, and to brighten dull skin. Green and blue can counteract red patches on the skin, such as those caused by pimples, broken veins, or rosacea. A purple-tinted concealer can make sallow complexions look brighter. Colored concealers such as these are usually applied sparingly beneath a concealer or foundation that matches the wearer's skin tone. Skin-toned concealers are not only the most common type, but are often sufficient on their own at hiding blemishes.
Concealers also come in a multitude of formulations, from moisturizing to acne-fighting. They may come in liquid, semi-solid, powder, pencil, or felt-tip form. Finishes range from matte to a "light-diffusing" look intended primarily for under-eye use. Concealer may be used by itself, or in conjunction with foundation.
Pimple
A pimple is a result of a blockage of the skin's pore.
Causes
Inside the pore are sebaceous glands which produce sebum. When the outer layers of skin shed (as it does continuously), the dead skin cells left behind may become 'glued' together by the sebum. This causes a blockage in the pore, especially when the skin becomes thicker at puberty. The sebaceous glands produce more sebum which builds up behind the blockage, and this sebum harbours various bacteria including the species Propionibacterium acnes. Since the body's natural defense against bacteria is primarily phagocytes (white blood cells), these rush to the site behind the blockage (where the bacteria are). This is what gives some pimples the 'whiteheads' (unless the Phagocytes are deeper in the skin, which means you can't see the 'white' caused by them). The white blood cells then destroy (by phagocytosis) the bacteria to prevent infection. The pain one may feel when a pimple is present is caused by the widening of skin around the white blood cells.
Over-the-counter medications
Common over-the-counter medications for pimples are Benzoyl peroxide and/or salicylic acid. Both medications can be found in many creams and gels used to treat acne through topical application. Both medications help skin slough off more easily, which helps to remove bacteria faster. A regimen of keeping the affected skin area clean plus the regular application of these topical medications is usually enough to keep acne under control, if not at bay altogether. 1-2% of the population is allergic to Benzoyl peroxide treatments.
Prescription medication
Severe acne usually indicates the necessity of prescription medication to treat pimples. Prescription medications used to treat acne include isotretinoin, which is a retinoid. Historically, antibiotics such as tetracyclines and erythromycin were prescribed. While they were more effective than topical applications of benzoyl peroxide, the bacteria eventually grew resistant to the antibiotics and the treatments became less and less effective. Also, antibiotics had more side effects than topical applications, such as stomach cramps and severe discoloration of teeth.
Popping the pimples
A common habit is to squeeze the infected material out of the pimples, by doing so, one faces the risk of making the infections deeper into the skin layers, causing more inflammation and swelling. The correct way as practiced by skin specialists is to "puncture" the pimples with a clean needle or blade, bleed out the pus and infected blood, which will promote the healing process, as the root cause of the inflammation, anti-histamine from the dying white blood cells, is now physically removed from the skin. The wound is then sanitized with iodine or any surface active sanitizer such as hydrogen peroxide or benzoyl peroxide.
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