Types of acne and your options for treatment – explained in details

There are so many different types of pimples that affect the face and body. Some are minor and will go away without any treatment, whereas other types of pimples are more severe that might require extensive treatments and care. I am listing very common types of acne and what you should do in each case to properly treat / care for them. This list is in the order of mild to severe forms of acne.

Whiteheads – it is very small pimple that is not inflamed at all. They are small bumps and not very visible to the eyes unless you look closely. It is not painful and heals very quickly without using any over-the-counter or prescription medicine. They don’t scar even when you pick at it. However, it is still not recommended that you pick any kind of acne. Our skins are different and what scars for one person will not for another. Over-the-counter face washes that unclog pores (active ingredient: salicylic acid) should be enough to treat this kind of acne.

Blackheads – these are acne that is not inflamed at all. They are mild acne that is mainly on the nose and part of the cheeks. It takes a long time for them to go away because it is a very stable structure under the surface of the skin. Your best options here are using a gentle exfoliating scrub or a strip that pulls out the blackheads. These pimples will not scar but are the hardest to permanently get rid of among all types of acne.

Papules – these are moderate acne that is inflamed. These are a small bump in the center that is surrounded by an area of redness. This type of acne needs treatment such as benzoyl peroxide gel. The most important thing to remember about this type of acne is absolutely do not pick these lesions. It will cause the bacteria to go into deeper layers of the acne which has very high risks of scarring. Popular acne system sold on the market today such as Proactive is sometimes effective at this type of acne. If no treatment is effective and amount of acne increases, you should seek a dermatologist’s advice.

Pustules – these are very similar to papules with the exception of having a white center. The acne is pus filled and the visible pus in the middle will get bigger. Most of these pimples will break open by itself and many people speed up healing by squeezing out the pus. If you do it wrong, it has the risk of scarring. Again, depending on the severity and amount of pimples, you might need to consult a dermatologist when it doesn’t respond to over-the-counter treatments. Theses are moderate to severe type of acne.

Nodule – this is one of most severe type of acne that you can get. It is red, huge and hard. It can be under the skin for months without anything happening. Most over-the-counter medicines will have no effect on this type of acne. Your best bet is to see a dermatologist for a cortisone injection that can help it go down. If you don’t do anything to it, it can take several months to up to a year for the nodule to heal. Fortunately, Accutane is an extremely effective drug for people suffering from severe acne. Most dermatologists will prescribe it to you when all the other treatment options failed. For more than half of the people, Accutane will completely get rid of your acne. Other people will see a dramatic reduction in the severity and amount of acne that they suffer from. At the very least, skin will be a lot more manageable with Accutane treatment.

Cyst – this is also one of the most types of acne that you can get. It is very similar to nodule because it is very painful as well. It differs from nodule because it is pus filled. And it has a lot of pus. This type of acne is large and very noticeable. Not even makeup can cover all of it. You should visit a dermatologist for this type of pimple. Effective treatments are similar to what people use for nodules.