Types of acne

  Tip: Never pop a zit.

Acne appears in various shapes, sizes and even different colors.

White head: (closed comedone )
When the pores get clogged by the sebum, the skin cells, bacteria and the oil get trapped under the skin and a white head is formed.

Blackhead: (open comedone)
When a lump with a partially open pore is formed it is called a blackhead. In this type of acne the sebum finds its way out to the surface and generates a black layer which is not caused by dirt. Some say it is a chemical reaction that causes the black surface while others say it is an assembling of skins pigments.

Papule:
When the lump show up as a solid and slightly raised one and in clusters, it is called a papule. Papules may be invisible but when touched, the skin feels like sand paper.

Pustule:
These are fragile dome – shaped lumps containing pus that typically consists of a mixture of white blood cells, dead skin cells and bacteria.

Macula:
A macula is a temporary red spot left by a healed acne lesion. It is flat and usually red or red- pink
with a well defined border.

Nodule:
like a papule, nodule is a solid and dome-shaped lesion. But the difference is that a
nodule is characterized by inflammation and extending to deeper levels. Nodules can be very painful.

Cyst:
Cyst is the most severe form of acne. It is a sac – like lesion containing liquid or semi liquid material consisting of white blood cells, dead cells and bacteria. Cysts and nodules often occur together forming a server type called nodulocystic acne. This form is often resistant to normal treatments and may leave scars after healing.

  Tip: Remember, even "good" stress can trigger
                internal chemical responses that result in
                acne, too.

• Causes of Acne