Although acne is not usually a life threatening problem, for many people it can severely alter their entire life. More than 80% of people will deal with acne at some point in life; however, it is definitely nothing that anyone wants to deal with. Some people only have a very mild case of acne, but others may end up with severe acne that is disfiguring and leaves long term scarring. Many people experience acne problems while they are teenagers, while others never suffer from it until they are adults. So, what exactly is acne?

Well, there are many different types of acne. It can refer to clogged pores that result in whiteheads and blackheads, or it may refer to pimples. In some cases acne may even refer to cysts or nodules that occur on the skin. Each one of these problems can lead to scars and while it can occur almost anywhere, it most commonly affects the face. Other places that are often affected by acne include the chest, back, arms, shoulders, and the neck.

Acne Definitions

There are a variety of words that can describe acne, so it is important that you understand the different terms that are used and what they actually mean.

Cyst – A cyst refers to a type of abnormal sac that usually is filled with pus. Cysts tend to go deep into the skin and can be extremely painful. When many cysts appear together it is often referred to as nodulistic acne.

Papule – A papule is a very small, red, bump on the skin that does not contain any type of pus. It may be a bit tender and painful.

Nodule – While a nodule is a bit like a papule, it is usually dome shaped and white. A nodule is inflamed and is a very severe type of acne. It can also be quite difficult to treat nodules.

Macule – A macule is a red or pink spot that has been left by a previous lesion. Usually it will disappear within a few days or a couple weeks.

Lesion – A patch of skin that is affected. Usually this refers to a sebaceous gland that is inflamed.

Pustule – Pustules are small puss filled bumps and are often referred to as pimples.

Comedo – A comedo is a pore that has become clogged with a mixture of dirt, bacteria, dead skin cells, and sebum. A closed comedo is referred to as a whitehead, while an open one is called a blackhead.

What is Mild to Moderate Acne?

There are several different types of acne that make up what is known as mild to moderate acne. Blackheads, whiteheads, papules, and pustules all make up what is known as mild to moderate acne. Usually the moderate type of acne actually goes on to include lesions of this type of acne and it is more prone to leave scarring as well. Mild to moderate acne is usually fairly easy to treat with over the counter acne treatments. Some of the best ingredients that are used to treat this type of acne include salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and products that contain sulfur. There are also a variety of excellent natural treatments that have been proven very effective in treating mild to moderate acne as well.

What Characterizing Severe Acne

Sever acne usually either involves cysts or nodules, or in some cases it may even involve both. This type of acne is usually the most likely to leave scars that last for a lifetime. When this type of acne is very severe or deep, or if the nodule or cyst is squeezed, the inflammation can actually further affect the surrounding tissue, causing even more severe problems. Swelling often takes place, which leads on to large cysts that can be extremely painful to deal with.

Acne Rosacea – Is it Really Acne?

When discussing the different types of acne, many people bring up acne rosacea. It is a very common misconception that acne rosacea is a type of acne. In reality rosacea is actually a very different problem; however, some of the symptoms of rosacea actually do look a bit like acne. This skin problem is usually characterized by redness, red bumps, pimples, flushing, and thickening skin. Usually this skin problem will affect primarily the face, but in some cases both the neck and the chest may also be affected as well. Acne rosacea should never be confused with acne since the treatments are very different for the two problems.

Types of Acne Scarring

Just as there are different types of acne, there are also different types of acne scarring as well. Many people end up with very mild scarring from acne, but some people may have more severe scarring if they have dealt with severe forms of acne. The most common type of acne scarring is called ice pick scars. These are deep pits in the skin that are left by acne. Boxcar scars are another type of scarring that usually seen on the cheeks and they are angular and look a bit like scars left from the chicken pox. Another type of scarring is called rolling scars. These scars look a bit wave like in appearance and are not quite as common as other types of scarring.