When people think of acne they tend to imagine clogged pores that manifest themselves as blackheads or pus-filled whiteheads. However, these are just two of many different types of acne. In this article, we will look at several different types of acne and their relative severity.

A blackhead typically looks like a black dot, about the size of a pin hole, on the skin’s surface. Blackheads form when oil and other pollutants travel to the skin’s surface and partially block the skin’s pores. The black appearance caomes from the skin’s pigments reacting with the air.

Most people who suffer from pimples are familiar with whiteheads. Whiteheads occur when dirt, oil, dead cells and other materials become trapped in the pore and completely clog it, causing a whitish bubble to form.

According to Stridex, which produces a leading brand of over-the-counter acne-fighting products, there are several other types of acne, in addition to blackheads and whiteheads. Those additional types of acne include:

• Papules: These are pink and bumpy lesions that can be tender or painful if touched.
• Pustules: These pimple lesions are red on the outside and have an inflamed center that is filled with pus. Pustules are often confused with whiteheads, but, in general, pustules are more severe.
• Nodules: These are large, red lesions that originate deep in the skin. They can be very painful if touched.
• Cysts: Similar to nodules, these originate deep in the skin and are painful to the touch. However, cysts are more inflamed than nodules and contain pus.

What type of acne do you have? Quite likely, it is a combination of different types. According to the Acne Group, a non-profit organization devoted to acne education, most teens get acne vulgaris, which is a combination of several types of acne. Within acne vulgaris, there are:

• Comedonal acne: Mostly whiteheads and blackheads.
• Mild acne: Again, mostly whiteheads and blackheads but with a scattering of papules and pustules.
• Moderate acne: Similar to mild acne but with some occurrence of more deep-rooted nodules or cysts.
• Severe acne: This can include all of the above but with a much larger occurrence of cysts and nodules that are deep-rooted and painful to the touch.

Comedonal and mild acne may respond well to over-the-counter treatment, but moderate and severe acne definitely require medical attention.