Types of Acne and How to Treat Them

Acne types

People may use the word “breakout” to describe all types of acne, but this isn’t always right. Acne doesn’t always spread all over the skin.

Zits are caused by clogged pores. These could be caused by:

• excess production of oil (sebum)
• bacteria
• hormones
• dead skin cells
• ingrown hairs

Acne is usually caused by changes in hormones that happen when you are a teenager, but adults can also get acne. Acne is one of the most common skin problems in both children and adults, affecting about 17 million Americans.

The key to treating acne successfully is to figure out what kind you have. Acne can either cause inflammation or not. Within these two types of acne, the following are subtypes:

• blackheads
• whiteheads
• papules
• pustules
• nodules
• cysts

You can have more than one kind of acne at the same time, and some cases may be bad enough to need a trip to the dermatologist. If your acne is bothering you and you don’t already have a dermatologist, you can use the Healthline FindCare tool to find one near you.

Continue reading to find out more about the different kinds of acne and how to treat them.

Noninflammatory acne

Blackheads and whiteheads are types of acne that don’t cause inflammation. Most of the time, these don’t cause swelling. Also, over-the-counter (OTC) treatments work pretty well for them.

Salicylic acid is often advertised as a treatment for acne in general, but it usually works best on acne that does not cause inflammation. It naturally removes dead skin cells that can cause blackheads and whiteheads by exfoliating the skin. You can find it in cleansers, toners, and lotions.

Blackheads (open comedones)

When sebum and dead skin cells get stuck in a pore, it can lead to a blackhead. Even though the rest of the pore is blocked, the top of it stays open. This makes the surface black, which is what makes it stand out.

Whiteheads (closed comedones)

Whiteheads can also happen when sebum and dead skin cells get stuck in a pore. But unlike blackheads, the pore closes up at the top. It looks like a little bump sticking out of the skin.

Because the pores are already closed, it’s harder to get rid of whiteheads. Products with salicylic acid in them can help. Comedonal acne responds best to retinoids that are put on the skin. As a retinoid, adapalene (Differin) can be bought over-the-counter right now. If it doesn’t work, you can get stronger topical retinoids from your dermatologist if this one doesn’t.

Inflammatory acne

Acne that is both red and swollen is called “inflammatory acne.”

Even though sebum and dead skin cells can cause inflammatory acne, bacteria can also clog pores. Deep inside the skin, bacteria can cause an infection. This could cause acne spots that are painful and hard to get rid of.

Products with benzoyl peroxide may help reduce swelling and get rid of bacteria on the skin. These can also get rid of too much sebum. Along with the benzoyl peroxide, your doctor may also give you an antibiotic that you take by mouth or put on your skin. Topical retinoids are also a key part of treating papules and pustules that cause inflammation.

Papules

When you have severe inflammation, the walls around your pores break down. This makes papules. This makes the pores hard and clogged, so they hurt when you touch them. Most of the time, the skin around these pores is pink.

Pustules

When the walls around your pores break down, pustules can also form. Pustules, which are different from papules, are full of pus. Most of the time, these red bumps stick out of the skin. Most of the time, their heads are yellow or white.

Nodules

When clogged, swollen pores are irritated more, they get bigger and form nodules. Nodules are deeper under the skin than pustules and papules.

Most of the time, you can’t treat nodules at home because they are so deep in the skin. To help clear these up, you need to get a prescription.

Your doctor or dermatologist will probably give you the pill isotretinoin to take by mouth (Sotret). This is made from a form of vitamin A and is taken every day for four to six months. It can treat and stop nodules by reducing the size of the oil glands in the pores.

Cysts

When bacteria, sebum, and dead skin cells get into pores and block them, cysts can form. The clogs are deeper in the skin than the nodules.

Large red or white bumps that hurt when you touch them. Cysts are the biggest type of acne, and they usually form because of a very bad infection. This kind of acne also leaves the most scars.

Isotretinoin, sold under the brand name “Sotret,” is often used to treat cysts. If a cyst is very bad, your dermatologist may have to cut it out with surgery.

How severe is each type of acne?

The mildest forms of acne are blackheads and whiteheads. Some over-the-counter (OTC) treatments, like toners with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide spot treatments, can help clear these up. Comedones are easy to treat with topical retinoids if over-the-counter medicines don’t work. One type of retinoid, called adapalene, can now be bought without a prescription. It works well to get rid of both blackheads and whiteheads.

Pustules and papules are forms of acne that are not as bad. These may or may not go away with over-the-counter drugs. A dermatologist may write you a prescription for oral or topical medicine to use on moderate acne that is widespread.

The worst kinds of acne are nodules and cysts. If you have really bad acne, you need to see a dermatologist. If you pick at or pop nodules and cysts, you might end up with scars.

What you can do now

You need to be patient as you treat your acne. Some treatments may work right away, but you might not see a big difference for a few months. You should also be careful not to use too many acne treatments at once. This can cause your skin to get dry. In response, your pores may make more sebum, which can cause more acne problems.
You should also check to see if any bumps or lumps are really caused by acne. There are a few skin conditions that have symptoms that are similar to acne, but they are not the same thing. These things are:

• folliculitis
• keratosis pilaris
• milia
• rosacea
• sebaceous filaments
• sebaceous hyperplasia

The only way to get a full and correct diagnosis is to see a dermatologist. In some cases, the only way to get rid of and keep your acne under control is to see a doctor.