Acne has been known to plague all different types of people. From age, to race, to gender — acne does not discriminate. Different types of acne can be mild, to moderate to severe. Acne as a whole can also be considered mild, moderate or severe. There are a variety of factors that can cause acne, such as a child inheriting it from a parent, or an individual’s skin type.
Different Types of Mild or Moderate Acne
There are four different types of acne that are considered to be mild to moderate in form: papules, pustules, whiteheads and blackheads. While these types are considered mild, an excessive amount of the acne type can be considered severe.
Pustules are the most common type of acne. These are most most commonly referred to as “pimples” or “zits.” They are red inflammations that have a “head” that is filled with pus. The pus can be any shade of white, cream, yellow or in extreme cases have a green tint.
Papules are similar to pustules but they lack a pus-filled head. They are often found together on the skin with pustules. Papules are tender and inflamed, giving them a red appearance. Attempts at squeezing a papule are useless (due to the lack of pus) and almost always result in some sort of scarring.
Whiteheads and blackheads are an indication of a partially or fully blocked pore. Whiteheads are similar in appearance to a pustule except they lack any redness. They also indicate a fully blocked pore. Blackheads, on the other hand, are an indication of a partially blocked pore. Both are caused by a buildup of oils, dead skin cells and dirt that are trapped in the pore.
Different Types of Severe Acne
Severe acne refers to the type of acne, rather than the amount of acne. There are two common types of severe acne: nodules and cysts.
Nodules are extremely painful, hard “lumps” beneath the skin’s surface. They are often red, inflamed and extremely tender to the touch. However, nodules do not contain pus, so individuals attempting to “pop” a nodule will often cause severe scaring and trauma to the skin.
Cysts are similar to a nodule but are pus-filled. They have the potential to be significantly larger than nodules, but are just as painful. Scarring is also common with this type of acne because many individuals attempt to pop the cyst.
Both nodules and cysts are difficult types of acne to get rid of. For both types, it is always best to seek out the help of a dermatologist.
There are many different forms of acne, but all types of pimples can be treated. The causes of acne can vary from individual to individual, so it is important to see a dermatologist to determine the best approach to getting rid of acne, as well as determining the causes of the acne.
Additional Information on Acne:
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