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Understanding Acne: Acne Causes, Acne Cures & Acne Myths

Part 5: Types of Acne

Acne /'akni/ n a skin disorder found esp among adolescents, characterized by inflammation of the skin glands and hair follicles and causing red pustules, esp on the face and neck [Gk akne eruption of the face, MS var of akme, lit., point] - acned adj

Part 5: Types of Acne

• Acne Vulgaris

Acne vulgaris is another name for common acne. This is the type of acne that mainly affects adolescents but may persist and become more severe as one reaches adulthood.

Mild to Moderate acne vulgaris is characterized by the following lesions:

Whiteheads

Whiteheads result when a pore is completely blocked, trapping sebum, bacteria, and dead skin cells, causing a white appearance on the surface. Whiteheads have a shorter life span than blackheads.

Blackheads

Blackheads result when a pore is only partially blocked, allowing some of the trapped sebum, bacteria, and dead skin cells to slowly drain to the surface. The dark color associated with its appearance is not caused by dirt. Rather, it is a reaction of the skin's own pigment, melanin, reacting with the oxygen in the air. As a whitehead has a short life cycle, a blackhead is a firmer structure, and can often take a long time to clear.

Papules

Papules are inflamed, red, tender bumps with no head.

Pustules

A pustule is similar to a whitehead, but is inflamed, and appears as a red circle with a white or yellow center. (This is what is commonly called a “zit.”)
Severe acne vulgaris can be distinguished by the presence of nodules and cysts:

Nodules

As opposed to the lesions mentioned above, nodular acne consists of acne spots which are much larger, can be quite painful and can sometimes last for months. Nodules are large, hard bumps under the skin's surface. Scarring is common. Absolutely do not attempt to squeeze such a lesion. You may cause severe trauma to the skin and the lesion may last for months longer than it normally would have left untouched.

Cysts

An acne cyst is often similar in appearance to a nodule, but it is pus-filled, and has been described as having a diameter of 2 inches or more across and is often very painful. Again, scarring is common with cystic acne. Squeezing an acne cyst may cause a deeper infection and more painful inflammation which will last much longer than if you had left it alone.

The article "Understanding acne: causes, cures and myths" continues on the next page ...

For more information on acne, acne treatments, acne prevention and skin care, see the "resources" section of this website. 

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