Different Types of Acne

Are you tired of your occasional acne visiting you each time you want to look flawless or the permanent acne that won’t leave you ever no matter how many remedies you try? Are you worried about getting the wrong treatment or do you have no idea about the type of your acne? If you are facing such situations, don’t worry. This blog will not only clear your understanding of acne but also will help you know your acne stage. Sometimes we think we won’t get acne as we have normal or dry skin and other times we assume that we do not have any acne because apparently, we have no pimples. This is completely not true. Acne can be hidden and visible.

What is acne and how it is caused

We will start by discussing what acne actually is. It is a skin condition that occurs after your hair follicles become plugged with oil and dead skin cells. This blockage causes whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples. Acne-prone skin is more seen in teenagers, although it affects people of all age groups. Although, there are numerous reasons that cause acne; clogged pores are most common. Other reasons can be; genetics, hormones, improper skincare, stress, excessive use of dairy, overactive sebaceous glands.

We divide acne into 2 main types:

1) Non-Inflammatory acne

Non-Inflammatory acne includes blackheads and whiteheads. They usually don’t cause swelling.  The response rate to treatments is relatively receptive. Salicylic acid is often advertised for acne in general but it works best on non-inflammatory acne. Whiteheads and blackheads are types of non-inflammatory acne.

2) Inflammatory acne

Pimples that are red and swollen are referred to as inflammatory acne. Although dead skin cells and sebum contribute to inflammatory acne. In inflammatory acne, bacteria cause deep infection beneath the skin’s surface. Papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts are types of inflammatory acne.

Following are examples of acne:

Whiteheads

Too much oil, bacteria, dead skin cells, or hormonal changes cause clogged pores and these blockages are the reason behind acne formation. Comedonal acne is the primary stage of acne formation. Instead of inflamed pimples, the appearance of bumps and blackheads is common in this stage. Closed comedones are whiteheads. Normally, they are found at the opening of skin pores. This type of acne can be seen anywhere on the body and it ranges from very mild to quite severe.

Blackheads

Dissimilar to whiteheads, Blackheads appear black on the surface of the skin. They are known as open comedones. In this condition, the head of the pore remains open while the rest of the pore is clogged. Blackheads are a mild type of acne that forms on the face but they can also appear on the back and chest.

Note: Dermatologists highly discourage squeezing out blackheads or whiteheads as they can cause severe scarring.

Papules

Papules are tiny red bumps that form due to blockage of pores with excessive oils and bacteria. The contents of this blocked pore spill out that allow bacteria to escape into the surrounding skin tissue. The bacteria cause an inflamed abrasion. Papules do not enclose pus.

Pustules

Pustules are small types of bulging bumps with a white or red center that has inflamed skin surrounding them. They appear on the chest, face, or back in the form of clusters. Pustules are a result of infected pores but they are also caused due to hormonal changes in the body. They are similar to papules. The only main visible difference is that pustules contain a yellowish fluid known as pus. Squeezing pustules causes the bacteria to spread to other parts of the skin. So it is suggested, don’t pop or squeeze them. Only your doctor can carefully drain pustules.

Nodules

Nodular acne is a severe type of inflammatory acne. It causes large and painful breakouts called acne nodules. Nodules are larger than typical pimples and they affect deeper layers of skin. This type of acne is also known as nodulocystic acne. This acne is the result of a deep infection within the pore.

Cysts

Cystic acne is the most severe form of inflammatory acne. In this condition, oil and dead skin cells build up deep within pores. Cystic acne is large, inflamed, painful, and filled with pus. Cysts are softer than nodules. They often burst, infecting the surrounding skin. Cystic acne can be very difficult and challenging to treat.

How severe is each type of acne?

Blackheads and whiteheads are the mildest forms of acne. These can be cleared with salicylic acid-based toners or benzoyl-peroxide spot treatments. If they are stubborn and are not leaving, you can treat them with retinoid.

Pustules and papules are moderate forms of acne. These may not just go away with OTC medicines. This type of skin condition requires a prescription from a dermatologist but you can also treat it at home by following a proper skincare routine.

Nodules and cysts are the most severe type of acne. You have to see a dermatologist to clear up severe acne. Popping this type of acne leads to scars and spread out of bacteria that can severe your skin condition.

Ways to stop and prevent acne:

MandelAc serum

The serum works magically for acne. There are many benefits of mandelic acid-like gentle on the skin, accelerates cell turnover, and promotes collagen production. Mandelac serum is made of mandelic acid. This serum is perfect for acne or post-acne skin. It is a perfect peeling solution for those with; Acne, Uneven skin tone, Hyperpigmentation, Anti-aging wrinkles, and Dead skin cells.

Dead sea mud mask

Dead sea mud helps to minimize acne. It extracts out impurities and makes skin smooth. It reduces redness and evens skin tone making it one of the best masks for acne-prone skin.

Charcoal mask

A charcoal mask is considered a natural remedy for acne. Activated charcoal helps in removing bacteria and impurities from your pores.  It removes dead skin cells and absorbs extra oil in the skin. Activated charcoal gives skin a radiant glow without making it too much shiny.