Types of Acne

Acne Vulgaris

Acne vulgaris is just another name for common acne that primarily affects adolescents. This type of acne can persist however and become more severe when one reaches adulthood.

Mild to Moderate acne vulgaris can have the following lesions:

Whiteheads

Whiteheads occur when a pore is completely blocked. Sebum, bacteria, and dead skin cells become trapped resulting in a white appearance on the surface of the skin. Whiteheads clear up faster than blackheads.

Blackheads

Blackheads occur when a pore is only partially blocked. This can allow some of the trapped sebum, bacteria, and dead skin cells to rise to the surface. The dark color of blackheads is not caused by dirt. It is a reaction rather, of the skin pigment melanin, reacting with the oxygen in the air. Blackheads have a firmer structure than whiteheads, and can often take a long time to clear.


Papules

Papules are inflamed, red, tender bumps that have no head.

Pustules

Pustules are similar to whiteheads, but are inflamed, and appear as red circles with a white or yellow center. More severe types of acne vulgaris can be distinguished by the presence of nodules and cysts:

Nodules

The lesions described above tend to be smallish, but nodular acne consists of much larger acne spots that can be quite painful and can sometimes last for several months. Nodules are large, hard bumps under the skin's surface. Scarring is very common. You should never attempt to squeeze these lesions. You could cause trauma to the skin and the lesion might last for months longer than it normally would have if left alone.

Cysts

An acne cyst can be similar in appearance to a nodule, but it is filled with pus, can have a diameter of 2 inches or more, and is often times very painful. Again, scarring is common with cystic acne. Squeezing an acne cyst can cause a deeper infection with more painful inflammation which will last much longer than if you had left it unthouched.

Adult Acne

Adult acne is a form of acne vulgaris that tends to affect adults over 30 years of age. Even people who had no problems with acne as a teen have found they are having breakouts. Since acne is normally associated with the hormonal changes that occur during puberty, its appearance in adults should be investigated to determine the underlying causes.

There are several reasons why acne might appear after the age of 30. Here are three of those reasons:

Sometimes the acne that one had in adolescence reappears later in adult life. It isn’t always clear why this occurs but it is one of the reasons that has been identified for adult acne.

In women, acne can reappear during pregnancy even when there had been no activity for months or years. This can also be true for a woman during a menstrual period. Again, this is attributed to hormonal changes in the body.

Acne can also appear in adults for the first time who have never had it before. With this third reason, it will likely be more obvious that something unusual is going on and it may be wise to talk with a dermatologist or family physician.

With some reasons established, we can now talk about some of the possible causes of adult acne:

Medication: As was previously states, some medications can induce acne. Steroids, anti-epileptic medications, anti-tuberculosis drugs rifampin and isoniazid, lithium and medications that contain iodine.

Chronic physical pressure on the skin:  Pressure against the skin and chaffing from wearing a helmet or had can lead to adult acne breakouts.

Industrial chemicals: Working in industrial environments where one is exposed to certain chemicals can cause acne-like symptoms or even chloracne, an occupational skin disorder caused by prolonged exposure to chemicals such chlorinated dioxins.

Metabolic changes: Changes to the body’s normal hormonal balance, such as those that occur during pregnancy or menstruation can produce acne in adults.

Rosacea

Rosacea is often misdiagnosed as acne. Rosacea is not acne. In the U.S. alone Rosacea affects thousands of people, most over the age of 30. It usually appears as a red rash on the cheeks, nose, forehead and chin. The redness is often accompanied by bumps, pimples, and blemishes which is why it is so commonly mistaken for acne. Rosacea tends to be more prevalent in women than in men. When found in men however, it tends to be more severe. If you are seeking treatment and you think it may actually have rosacea, you should be aware that the treatments for rosacea can be quite different from those used to treat of acne vulgaris.


Acne Mechanica

This form of acne is caused by external mechanical forces such as chronic pressure, continual and repeated friction, covered skin, and heat. This is a common condition for those involved in sports, in the military or other high-activity jobs where restrictive uniforms or equipment must be worn. These kinds of jobs can also include certain kinds of factory work where an employee performs repetitive tasks that may irritate the skin and lead to break outs.

Acne Cosmetica

Women who often wear make up or cosmetics may find that they are getting breakouts on the forehead or cheeks. This might be what is called acne cosmetica. This form of acne is generally caused by the type of cosmetics that a person is using.

Back to Top