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Acne Types
Acne is a very common skin disorder that comes in many shapes and variations (we
will refer at as acne types), and can equally affect men and women,
teenagers to adults. Acne can range in severity from benign to severely disfiguring, and can affect various body areas.
Acne Vulgaris - is the most common type of acne.
Mild to Moderate Acne Vulgaris can take the following forms:
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Whiteheads - a white appearance on the surface of the skin, when a pore is
completely blocked and it traps sebum, bacteria
and dead cells. It is recommended not to squeeze the whiteheads, as this would only make it worse, prolonging the
healing process and causing scars.
-
Blackheads - a black appearance on the surface of the skin, when a pore id
partially blocked and it allows some sebum,
bacteria and dead cells to drain to the skin's surface. The black color is not dirt, but the skin pigment reaction to the air.
- Papules - small, red, inflamed bumps with no head.
Papules should not be squeezed, as they may cause scaring.
- Pustules - inflamed whiteheads,
looking like a circle with red edges and white or yellow center.
Severe Acne Vulgaris takes the form of nodules or cysts. Dermatologists should be consulted for this type of acne.
- Nodules - large and painful acne spots, which can heal in months. Scaring is very common for nodules, and squeezing them is highly not recommended.
- Cysts - pus-filled nodule, with a diameter of 5mm or more. Can be very painful, and with a
high chance of scaring.
Acne Rosacea - a skin disorder affecting mostly people 30 years and older. It
appears as a red rash / inflammation on the face, neck and chest. The redness
can be accompanied by whiteheads, papules or pustules, and not by blackheads. Left untreated, rosacea can increase it's severity and it also can leave scars on
the face if not treated properly. Dermatologists should be consulted to determine if you type of acne is rosacea or acne vulgaris.
Acne Conglobata - the most severe but rare type of acne, mostly present in males. It appears as numerous large skin lesions blackheads,
nodules and pustules, interconnected under the skin. Acne conglobata can be found on a variety of body areas, and can cause severe and
irrevocable scaring.
It is advised to look for medical assistance in the treatment of acne conglobata.
Acne Fulminans - a rare but very severe form of acne conglobata. It appears unexpectedly as nodules and pustules accompanied by fever and joint pain.
Due to it's severity, it requires early treatment under dermatologist supervision.
These are the most common
acne types.
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