The different types of acne

Hi everyone, I hope you are all doing great. In today’s blog post, I will be detailing below the most common forms of acne, how they can accumulate collectively on your skin as well as their individual characteristics and some of the most common treatments for each different type.

I would advise that you do further research into these different types, cross-reference from a variety of reliable sources and also consult your dermatologist or GP if you are unsure of how exactly to treat whatever type of acne you may be experiencing, particularly if it is more severe with the prevalence of cystic and nodular acne.

I hope that you find this blog post beneficial, please do subscribe to my mailing list to receive updates on similar posts which are to follow and also do not hesitate to get in contact with me if you have any further questions or wish to make some requests on the kind of content you’d like to see on our site. My contact details are located at the bottom of the website, and if you write me a short message alongside attaching your email address, then I will be able to respond to you by email as soon as I can. Take care and enjoy reading the following information.

Specific types of acne which can accumulate:

Acne Vulgaris – the medical name for the most common type of acne, characterised by blackheads, whiteheads and pimples typically on the face or on the back

Acne Conglobata – one of the most severe kinds of acne more common in men, sometimes as a result of taking steroids and testosterone. Most commonly seen in the neck, chest, arms and buttocks and is characterised by excess nodular acne highly likely to cause scarring

Acne Mechanica – caused by heat, pressure and friction being put onto the skin, typically from wearing sports caps. It can be somewhat easily prevented through wearing more absorbent materials and showering after doing a sport as soon as possible

Different types of acne and their origins:

Comedones – defined as trapped hair follicles, clogged with oil and dirt that develop into whiteheads and blackheads – within this, blackheads are open comedones on the skin which contain more excess oil and dead skin cells whereas whiteheads are closed comedones on the skin where the oil and skin cells prevent the clogged hair follicles from opening

Blackheads tend to also look dark in appearance due to light reflection making them darker whereas whiteheads tend to appear lighter in appearance. Blackheads and whiteheads are also classified as noninflammatory comedones which makes them easier to treat, typically using some over-the-counter products which are detailed below.

Treatments: resolved through purchasing over-the-counter products which tend to treat both issues simultaneously i.e. salicylic acid which works best on noninflammatory blackheads and whiteheads by removing the dead skill cells that can lead to their formation as well as retinols which can work to prevent dead cells from clogging pores (be mindful that these are exfoliants and actives so must be used appropriately and sparingly, in connection with your skin type and other types of skin sensitivity which you may have) - can also be resolved by purchasing non-comedogenic skincare products, particularly moisturisers

Papule – Inflamed comedones that cause small red and pink bumps on the skin, are sensitive and tender to touch and are likely to result in scaring from picking or squeezing the inflamed area – a large number of these may serve as an indicator of moderate to severe acne

Pustules – another kind of inflamed pimple which forms a red ring around the bump identifiable in a whitehead, it is typically filled with either white or yellow pus and should not be picked or squeezed as they are highly likely to cause scarring

Treatments: Products containing benzyl-peroxide are seen as highly effective for treating this kind of moderate acne as they help to remove bacteria from the skin, reduce swelling and may also be useful for decreasing sebum production

Nodules – large, inflamed bumps that develop deep under the skin and feel firm to the touch. These should be looked at by a dermatologist as they are highly likely to cause scarring

Cysts – pus-filled lesions that look similar to boils and should also be seen by a dermatologists as they are highly likely to cause scarring

Treatments: This type of acne cannot be so easily treated with over-the-counter products so it is best to visit a dermatologist, where they are likely to give you products containing Vitamin A to treat the prevalence of nodules on your skin by decreasing the oil gland size of your pores

Once again, I hope that you found this useful and do not hesitate to research more and also reach out to me if you feel as if anything described in this post resonates with you.

Thank you for reading x