I’m a 17-year-old girl who has pimples on my extreme lower back. I’ve tried several medicines but nothing seems to work. Help!

The sudden eruption of pimples exclusively involving the area you mention most likely indicates an infection, most commonly bacterial primarily targeting the hair follicles, a condition known as eruptive folliculitis. Hair follicle infection can be caused either through direct contamination of the skin after coming in contact with another infected source, or it could be initiated by follicular injury of any nature, for example, shaving, lasering or waxing the body hair, or by vigorous scrubbing of the skin. These traumatised follicles initially developed an inflammatory reaction which later become an attractive site for bacteria to invade. Hot oil deep body massages can also cause such eruptions. We would recommend that you see an experienced dermatologist, who could first established a conclusive diagnosis which will also require taking a skin surface swab from the affected areas, to detect the involved bacteria and the most optimally effective antibiotic to treat it by performing a culture/sensitivity test.

I’m a 16-year-old boy who exercises extensively. Of late, I have noticed painful red pimples erupt on my forehead. Is there a way to get rid of the pimples?

The sudden eruption of multiple painful red pimples mainly on your forehead is more likely suggestive of a diagnosis of eruptive folliculitis (hair follicle infection). Folliculitis is mostly caused by bacterial infection and staphylococcus is the most common bacteria involved. However, in many cases, streptococcus and certain species of bacteria can also cause folliculitic lesions. Your indulgence in extensive exercise can also be considered as one of the precipitating factor for your skin lesions. Such strenuous physical activity usually produces excessive sweating which can over-humidify the hair follicle making it first inflamed and then infected. Any frictional component involved in your exercise regime at the gym, or even use of headbands can further increase the risk of folliculitic eruptions on these areas. Similarly, consumption of high-caloric protein shakes also significantly contribute in precipitating or aggravating such folliculitic eruptions. To effectively treat your complaints, your dermatologist will need to take a skin swab from the affected areas for a bacterial culture and drug sensitivity. Depending on the result, he can select an appropriate course of medication.