Types of Facial Acne: Get to Know Your Skin

​Here on the Simply Skin blog, we talk a lot about acne. That’s because it’s one of the most common skin conditions, affecting around 50 million Americans annually.

But as common as it is, not all acne is created equal. In fact, for all the words we use to describe it — blemishes, bumps, pimples, breakouts — many people don’t realize that there are actually several distinct types of facial acne, each with their own appearance, causes, and treatment options.

To see clearer skin, it helps to know what types of blemishes you're dealing with. In this blog post, let’s explore the different types of acne — how they form, what they look like, and what you can do to treat them.

Types of Facial Acne

​In almost all cases, acne happens because the pores in your skin are clogged. Clogged pores can happen when there is too much oil, bacteria, or skin cell production. But the types of acne and treatment options can vary based on a variety of factors.

There are three main types of facial acne: comedonal acne, inflammatory acne, and cystic acne.

Noninflammatory (or Comedonal) Acne

​One of the different types of acne we’ll discuss — comedonal — is non-inflammatory. This is usually harder to treat than inflammatory acne. You’re probably familiar with comedonal acne because it’s most closely associated with blackheads and whiteheads. Comedones are formed when dead skin cells and sebum clog hair follicles, and are commonly found on the forehead, nose, and chin.

• Whiteheads, also known as "closed comedones," happen when your pores become clogged all the way through. The length and the head of your pore are closed, creating a little white bump on top of your skin.
  
• Unlike whiteheads, blackheads look black on the skin’s surface. They are known as "open comedones." This is because the head of the pore stays open, while the rest of the pore is clogged.
  

​Types of acne treatment that work well for for comedonal acne include topical exfoliants, which help to unclog pores. 

Inflammatory Acne

​Inflammatory acne, on the other hand, takes the clogged pore a step further with a bacterial infection — causing an immune response that results in inflammation. Unlike whiteheads and blackheads, inflammatory acne is a type of acne on the face that's characterized by the appearance of red, swollen, and often painful pimples. There are two types of inflammatory acne:

• Papules are small red bumps that form when oil or excess skin cells block a pore and mix with bacteria on your skin. The contents of this blocked pore spill out, which allows the bacteria to escape into the surrounding skin tissue. The bacteria then create an inflamed lesion. Papules, however, do not contain pus.
  
• Pustules are small, bulging bumps with a white center and red, inflamed skin surrounding them. They are usually found in clusters on the chest, face, or back. Pustules form when a blocked pore gets infected, but they can also be caused by hormonal changes in the body. They are like papules, except pustules have yellowish fluid known as pus. 
  

​Types of acne treatment for inflammatory acne include topical mandelic acid  or benzoyl peroxide, which help to reduce inflammation and kill bacteria.

Nudolocystic (or Cystic) Acne

​Nodulocystic  or cystic acne is a form of inflammatory acne that (as the name suggests) often includes acne nodules or cysts. This leads to severe breakouts that penetrate deep into the skin and often cause permanent acne scars when they heal. You’re probably familiar with this type of facial acne because of how painful it can be — often feeling akin to a bruise.

• Nodules are flesh-colored or red bumps that are deep under the skin’s surface. It happens when a clogged pore gets inflamed. A nodule is different from a cyst in that it doesn’t have any pus, so it feels hard to the touch.
• Cysts are large, red, inflamed, painful, and pus-filled. Cysts are softer than nodules because they are pus-filled and can burst, infecting the surrounding skin.

​This is considered one of the most severe types of acne on the face — so if you have acne that looks like this, you’ll need the help of a licensed professional to treat it. The sooner you start treatment, the fewer permanent scars you’ll have.

Identifying Types of Facial Acne

​It's essential to distinguish between the different types of facial acne to determine the most effective type of acne treatment. Two things to keep in mind:

• A person can experience more than one type of acne on their face over time, or even simultaneously.
• Several skin conditions can look similar to acne — including dermatitis, eczema, and rosacea.

​Otherwise, a good way to tell what type of acne you have is by whether or not your breakouts leave scars.

• Comedonal acne (black and white heads) typically heals without leaving a mark. 
  
• Inflammatory acne can leave red or dark marks that fade with time. 
  
• Nodulocystic acne is more likely to leave textural scarring, dents, and pits.
  

Preventing Different Types of Acne

​Prevention measures for any type of facial acne begins with proper skin care. Wash your face twice a day with a gentle cleanser and choose products that are labeled “non-comedogenic” (meaning they’re less likely to make you break out). Avoid the temptation to pick or squeeze pimples — doing so will only make acne worse, and increases the chance of scarring. And of course, nurture your skin from the inside out by living a skin healthy lifestyle.

Understanding Types of Acne and Treatment

​If you feel discouraged with your acne treatment and believe that nothing will work, don’t give up. Effective treatment is available — sometimes it just requires a little help.

An esthetician can help determine the most effective treatment options for your specific type of facial acne. And the good news is, regardless of what type you have, virtually everyone with acne can achieve clear skin.

Schedule your free consultation today to learn more.

SCHEDULE YOUR FREE CONSULTATION