There are many different types of blemishes that people experience when suffering from acne. Some depend on the specific type of acne that you actually have, while others are simply different manifestations caused by the same source. Here, we’ll discuss some of the most common types of blemishes, as well as what causes each one (and, therefore, what you can do to help reduce the severity of these outbreaks).
Acne Vulgaris
Acne vulgaris is the most common type of acne of them all. Some sources estimate that more than 85% of the population will experience acne vulgaris, most often during puberty. Acne vulgaris causes two different types of blemishes:
· A “blackhead” is a plug formed in the skin by a buildup of oil and skin cells in the hair follicle.
· A “whitehead” occurs further down below the skin, with a plug below the surface.
When either of these types of blemishes occur, something known as inflammatory acne often occurs as well. Inflammatory acne is a visually mild occurrence, where the skin behind the plugged pore becomes irritated due to the buildup. This is why pinkness and swelling occur around the site of a plugged pore. This is a very common acne manifestation for people suffering from general acne vulgaris.
Cystic Acne
If you pop, prod, pinch, or squeeze a pore that is clogged with puss, you can raise your acne vulgaris to instances of cystic acne. Squeezing a clogged pore can sometimes clear the pore outward, but it can also cause oil to burst inward, and thus build up even further under the skin. This is called cystic acne. It causes infection deep under the skin that is painful and causes (sometimes visible) swelling. This infection can also spread deeper under the skin, causing the visible outbreak to spread as well.
Cystic acne is also much more likely to cause long-term acne scars, which is why it is important to avoid popping blemishes, and being very careful when you feel you must.
Comedonal Acne
Comedonal acne, or “T-zone” acne, involves outbreaks on the chin and forehead. Comedone is another name for a clogged pore (such as black and whiteheads), and it occurs on the chin and forehead because these areas tend to accumulate oil.
Cysts/Nodules
When cystic acne becomes very severe, nodules may start to develop. These are essentially large cysts that bulge under the skin, increasing pain and further the spread of visible outbreaks.
