What are the different types of acne?

There are two types of acne:

Non-inflammatory acne

• Whiteheads
The blocked pore stays below the surface of the skin in a closed comedo (or whitehead).

• Blackheads
The plug enlarges and pushes through the surface of the skin, forming an open comedo (a blackhead). The plug’s dark appearance is not due to dirt, but rather to a build up of melanin, the skin’s colour pigment.

Inflammatory acne

• Pustule
Blockages of the pores and sebaceous glands that have become inflamed. They may appear red at the base, with a yellowish or whitish centre. Scars may form if squeezed.

• Nodule or Cyst
Development of deep, inflamed bumps (nodules) and large, pus-filled lesions that resemble boils. They may persist for weeks or months. The nodules are tender to touch and feel firm. The acne may look red of even purple. Both nodules and cysts often leave deep scars.

• Acne Conglobata
A severe type of acne in which nodules are connected beneath the skin surface to other nodules or acne lesions. This rare but serious form of inflammatory acne develops primarily on the back, buttocks and chest. In addition to the presence of pustules and nodules, there may be severe bacterial infection and deep ulcers leading to keloid-type scars.