When you think of acne, you think of
pimples. However, not all pimples are alike. While most acne
stems from the same cause, being overproduction of oil in the
sebaceous glands of the skin leading to blockage and
irritation, there are differences in the lesions and treatments
appropriate to each kind.
Acne Vulgaris
is what most people experience,
because it is the most common form of acne. It includes
several types of pimples: blackheads, whiteheads, papules,
pustules, nodules and cysts.
Whiteheads:
Whiteheads appear because the
pore is completely blocked. Sebum (oil) and bacteria
are trapped inside, along with dead skin cells,
causing a white “head” on the surface of the
skin.
Blackheads:
These blemishes
are due to a partially blocked
pore. They allow contents of the pore to seep to the
surface. What causes the blackness is melanin (skin
pigment) reacting to oxygen. Since blackheads are
fairly stable, they can take quite a while to heal
and disappear.
Papules:
Inflamed, tender, red
blemishes, papules do not have a “head.” It is best
to avoid squeezing a papule. At best, it will do
nothing, and at worst it will lead to
scarring.
Pustules:
While similar in appearance to
a whitehead in that it has a white (or yellowish)
center, the pustule is quite a bit different because
it is usually inflamed.
Nodules: Much
larger and quite often more painful, acne nodules can last
for months. They lie under the skin’s surface, and are hard
bumps which commonly cause scars. Nodules should not be
squeezed, and medical attention should be sought for this
type of acne, not only to prevent scarring, but to also
reduce pain and swelling.
Cysts:
This type of acne can look
similar to a nodule. The main difference is that it
is pus-filled, and is characterized by having
diameter of 5mm or more across (akin to a pencil
eraser.) Cysts can be painful, and cause scars. Do
not try to squeeze an acne cyst. Squeezing may lead
to worse infection, more painful inflammation, and
longer lasting symptoms. Cysts should be addressed by
a medical professional.
Acne
Rosacea: A type of
acne that is often confused with acne vulgaris, acne
rosacea’s causes are not known. Affecting mainly
people over thirty years old, rosacea affects
millions of people. People with rosacea may or may
not have the acne associated with it. Rosacea appears
as intense redness on the cheeks, nose, forehead and
chin. Although it is not like other forms of acne,
the blemishes that accompany rosacea can be treated
with antibiotics. The underlying rosacea has to be
treated separately with other drugs and lifestyle
changes that help to avoid triggering the rosacea
symptoms.
Rare and severe types of acne:
There are several types of acne that most people will never
experience, fortunately for them, because the symptoms can
be very extreme. Among the extreme acne types are Acne
Conglobata, Acne Fulminans, Pyoderma Faciale, and
Gram-Negative Folliculitis. Complicated-sounding names for
complicated types of acne. Rather than discussing the
severe forms here, suffice it to say that if you are
experiencing extreme problems with your skin, do not
hesitate to seek medical advice.
