Ask Dr. Pimple Popper: ‘I Have Hyperpigmentation Under My Lip That Smells Like Funky Cheese—Help!’

Dr. Pimple Popper: It’s frustrating to deal with zits, especially ones that don’t want to come to the surface because they stay under there and you can feel them. But remember, YOU can feel them but others can’t see them, so try to leave them alone and try as hard as you can to forget about them. They can persist for months, but if you stop pushing and poking at bumps like this they can often start to shrink and then one day you realize that the bump is gone and you don’t even really remember the day that they disappeared.

RELATED: Ask Dr. Pimple Popper: ‘My Bacne Is Ruining Everything—What Can I Do?’

However: If you have what looks like a zit or any other kind of blemish that bleeds and heals and bleeds again, you should get that evaluated by a dermatologist to make sure it is indeed a pimple rather than anything more serious, like skin cancer.

“Hi, do you have any tips for pregnancy acne? I’m just entering my second trimester and I heard it should get better, but it hasn’t yet.” —Megan H.

Dr. Pimple Popper: Sorry to tell you, but being pregnant makes the acne better in some lucky people, but in many others (sounds like you, too), pregnancy can make acne worse! The fluctuations in hormones that come with pregnancy is the reason. The tough thing about treatment is that pregnancy limits the types of acne treatments you can use. You don’t want to take medications that could possibly cross the placenta and affect your growing baby, such as Tretinoin and Tazarotene. Topical clindamycin and oral erythromycin are acne medications that dermatologists usually prescribe that are proven by studies to be safe during pregnancy and when breastfeeding, but consult your dermatologist, who can really personalize a treatment for you.

You can also use most of the regular over-the-counter acne treatment products that you would normally use, with a few exceptions. Be cautious about products containing adapalene, benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and sulfur. They are considered “Class C” products by the FDA, meaning that their safety in pregnancy is unknown (although animal studies show they have an adverse effect on a developing fetus).

Also FYI: Some people have acne breakouts throughout their pregnancy, so you may have a few more months to go. Good luck (and congratulations!).

Here’s everything you need to know about adult acne:

“I want to know about the hyperpigmentation I have in the crease under my bottom lip (under my chin). It also has an odor sometimes…like funky cheese. The discoloration is spreading ever so slightly to the left of the crease and I’m getting a little frightened. Exfoliating, toners, cleansers, nothing’s working. I’m African American, mid-30s.” —Sylvia

It sounds to me that you may have a natural deep crease between your lower lip and your chin? If so, this crease is likely there without even making a facial expression. Creases in the skin are more prone to trapping moisture, creating a perfect environment for yeast to thrive.

First of all, don’t get grossed out. Yeast is everywhere and you are not unclean or weird if this happens. You may want to try a product on the area that has some antifungal properties to help kill what may be growing in there, such as over-the-counter products with miconazole or clotrimazole. These are commonly seem in athlete’s foot treatments, but if you buy a cream and apply it to that area, you may notice an improvement.

If that doesn’t help, you feel uncomfortable trying that, or it irritates your skin, please see a dermatologist. He or she can evaluate the area and prescribe stronger medications for you, such as azole antifungal medications (which inhibit growth of the fungus and are very potent) as well as stronger concentrations of the above-mentioned OTC products. Good luck!

Dr. Pimple Popper sets out to promote the practice of dermatology and to educate the public on proper skincare and dermatological procedures. She provides information and solutions to common (and uncommon!) skin concerns, such as acne, cysts, rosacea, and more. For more skincare advice, visit Dr. Pimple Popper’s The Pretty Pimple, Dr. Pimple Popper, or SLMD.