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Types of Acne

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Imprtant Types of Acne

Non inflammatory acne lesions (whiteheads and blackheads) are very commonly not considered as acne lesions but a seperate skin disorder.

Broadly speaking acne lesions may be divided into,
1. Non inflammatory acne
2. Inflammatory acne

NON INFLAMMATORY ACNE

These are the earliest lesions and include white heads and blackheads.

WHITEHEADS (Closed Comedons)

Whiteheads are small collections of pus around the follicle and the sebaceous glands. These are formed when a pore is completely blocked, trapping sebum (oil), bacteria, and dead skin cells, causing a white appearance on the surface. In this case, the trapped sebum and bacteria stay below the surface of the skin. Whiteheads may look like tiny white spots. Sometimes these may be so small that they are invisible to the naked eye. A whitehead usually has a shorter lifespan than blackheads. It can release its contents to the surface and cure itself.

BLACKHEADS (Open Comedons)

Blackheads are a common problem but mostly people do not know that what are the blackheads. These are also a form of acne that result when a pore is only partially blocked, allowing some of the trapped sebum (oil), bacteria, and dead skin cells to slowly drain to the surface. The black color is not caused by dirt and can not be washed away. Rather, it is a reaction of the skin's own pigment, melanin, reacting with the oxygen in the air.
A blackhead tends to be a stable structure, and can often take a long time to clear. This is because the contents very slowly drain to the surface. Most people are wonder how can they get rid of blackheads. They may be surprised to know that like whiteheads, a blackhead may also heal itself by releasing its contents on the surface. However, new lesions may appear to take it's place.

INFLAMMATORY ACNE

When a non inflammatory lesion ruptures, this results in inflammatory acne. This rupture may occur randomly or as a result of squeezing or touching a comedone. It is therefore recommended to leave an acne prone skin untouched. These lesions can be of following types:

Papules
Pustules
Nodules
Cysts
Macule