What are the different types of acne?

Right from blemishes, pimples, breakouts – many words are used to describe acne. Because there are so many different types of acne that exist, knowing the difference can be tough at times.

Acne types

Here are the common types of acne

• Whiteheads:

  Whiteheads, also known as closed comedones, occur when pores are clogged. The head of the pore and the length of the pore are closed, creating a little white bump on the top of the skin.

   

• Blackheads:

  Unlike whiteheads, blackheads look dark on the skin’s surface and are known as open comedones. Here, the head of the pore remains open while the rest of the pore is clogged.

   

• Papules:

  Papules are small red bumps that appear when oil or excess skin cells block a pore and mix with the bacteria on your skin known as Cutibacterium acnes or C acnes. Papules do not contain pus. The content of the blocked pore spills out, which allows the bacteria to escape into the surrounding skin tissue and then this bacterium creates an inflamed lesion which gives rise to papules.

   

• Pustules:

  Pustules are small, bulging bumps with a white center and red, inflamed skin surrounding them and are usually found in clusters on the face, chest or back. Pustules can be caused by hormonal changes in the body or when a blocked pore gets infected. They are similar to papules but they contain pus, a yellowish fluid.

   

• Nodules:

  Nodular acne consists of red or flesh-coloured bumps that are deep under the skin’s surface. Nodular acne usually results due to the C acnes bacteria causing a painful infection deep within the pore.

   

• Cysts:

  Acne cysts are red, large, inflamed, painful and pus-filled. Cystic acne is the most severe form of acne and is the result of an infection deep within the skin. This acne is painful but is softer than the nodular acne because they are pus-filled and often burst, infecting the surrounding skin.

These are the different types of acne that need to be treated carefully.