Kinds of Acne
Kinds of Acne
All the various kinds of acne, blackheads, whiteheads, pimples and cysts will develop when pores in our skin become blocked.
This is caused by sebum (an oil in our skin).
When our hormones surge our bodies produce more sebum.
This is the reason teenagers get acne and also why women often breakout in acne before their periods. As the hormones fluctuate in the years leading up to menopause, many women in their 40s and 50s get acne.
• Each pore is an opening to a follicle. A follicle contains a hair and an oil gland. The oil gland helps to lubricate the skin and also assists in removing old skin cells
• If any glands produce excess oil, the pores can become blocked. Dirt, bacteria and inflammatory cells build up. The clogging is referred to as a ‘comedone’.
• The top of this ‘plug’ may either be white (a whitehead) or dark (a blackhead).
• Should the plug break open the material inside causes swelling and red bumps form.
• Should the inflammation be deep in the skin the pimples will enlarge and form firm painful cysts.
Acne is caused by swelling and inflammation, not by bacteria
There is a wide variety of the kinds of acne that you can get, the variations range from mild to severely disfiguring.
Kinds of acne – Acne Vulgaris – mild/moderate
This is the most common of the kinds of acne. The lesions formed include blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules, nodules and cysts
- Whiteheads - these are created when a pore becomes completely blocked, trapping sedum (oil), bacteria and dead skin cells, causing a white spot to show on the skin surface.
- Blackheads - these are created when a pore is only partially blocked, which allows some of the trapped sedum (oil), bacteria and dead skin cells to slowly leak to the surface of the skin. The black color is caused by the skins pigment, melanin which reacts with the oxygen in the air.
- Papules – these are inflamed, red, tender bumps under the skin with no head. Squeezing them won’t do any good and may make scarring worse
- Pustules – these are inflamed and show on the skin as a red circle with a white or yellow centre. These are the ‘zits’!
Kinds of acne – Severe Acne Vulgaris
This takes the form of nodules and cysts
- Nodules – these are large hard lumps under the surface of the skin. They are usually painful and may last for months. Scarring is common. When left untreated they can leave a dip in the skin which can flare up repeatedly. Don’t try to squeeze any of the lumps as this can cause very severe skin trauma and they may last for months longer than they usually do
- Cysts – these can look the same as nodules but are filled with pus, which usually is larger than 5mm in diameter. They can be very painful. Scarring is common. Don’t try to squeeze the cyst as this can cause a much deeper infection and also result in a more painful inflammation which will last a lot longer than if you leave it alone.
Kinds of Acne – Acne Rosacea
Similar looking to acne vulgaris and is usually confused with it.
Rosacea affects millions of people, usually over the age of 30. It shows as a red rash which is usually on the cheeks, nose, forehead and chin. Bumps, pimples and skin blemishes often accompany the redness. Some blood vessels may become visible in the skin. This is more commonly found in women although if it is found in men it is usually more severe. If it’s left untreated it may cause swelling of the nose and a growth of excess tissue on the nose. Treatment is normally different for rosacea than other acne and you should consult a dermatologist if you think you have it.
Kinds of acne – Severe forms
Severe forms of acne are very rare but for those people who get it causes them real hardship
These are;
Kinds of acne – Acne Conglobata
This is the most severe form of acne vulgaris and is usually more common in males. It shows as numerous large lesions which may be interconnected, also with blackheads covering a large area. It can cause very severe permanent damage to the skin, with disfiguring scarring. It is usually found on the face, chest, back, buttocks, upper arms and thighs. The normal age for this to occur is usually between 18 to 30 years old. The condition can remain active for many years. Treatment commonly includes isotretinoin although acne conglobata can be resistant to treatment, it can often be controlled with aggressive treatment over time.
Kinds of acne – Acne Fulminans
This is an abrupt start of acne conglobata which mainly affects young men. The symptoms are severe nodulocystic, usually ulcerating acne are usually apparent. Causes extreme, disfiguring scarring which is common. The individual commonly has a fever and aching joints. It does not respond very well to antibiotics. Isotretinoin and oral steroids are normally used.
Kinds of acne – Gram-Negative Folliculitis
This is a bacterial infection in the form of pustules and cysts which may be caused from long term antibiotic treatment of acne vulgaris. It is a rare condition. At this time it is unknown whether it is more common in men than women. Treatment is usually affective using isotretinoin.
No matter what types of acne you have, paying a visit to your dermatologist can help you devise a proper skin care regimen and a treatment plan if necessary.
Kinds of acne – Pyoderma Faciale (Rosacea Fulminans)
This is one of the kinds of acne that is a severe type of facial acne that only affects females. Normally they are between 20 and 40 years of age. It takes the form of large painful nodules, pustules and sores, all of which may cause scarring. It starts abruptly and can affect a woman who has never before had acne. It is confined to the facial area and normally doesn’t last longer than a year, but can create a lot of damage in a very short time. Treatment for this is normally isotretinoin.
So now you know that there are various kinds of acne that individuals can get and what those kinds are.
Information provided in this article is intended for general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions.
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