Acne is the term to define clogged pores on various part of the body, technically called whiteheads and blackheads. Acne is also the most widely used to define pimples, cysts and nodules. Acne occurs on the face, neck, back and sometimes other places of the body and mostly affects teenagers. Though mostly associated to teenagers, there are adults who continue to have acne during their early twenties, some even in their 30s and 40s. Even if acne is not life threatening, it can really affect the sufferer emotionally and also causes permanent scarring in case of severe acne.
Types of acne
You may have very often come across very confusing words or phrases when searching about acne. Papules, pustules, cysts or nodules are understandable only if you know the word's definition. Also photos say a thousand words as they say, th
ere's no need for word description.
Papule
A papule is a small solid lesio
n of about 5mm or less of slightly elevated skin. A group of papules together on the skin will give the feeling of sandpaper to touch. Papules can either be the same color of your skin, red, brown, purple or pink.
Best is to get papules treated with your dermatologist, as papules can open when scratched or runned and become infected and sometimes crusty.
Pustule
Nodule
A nodule is very similar to a papule, solid and dome shaped lesion of the skin but unlike a papule, a nodule is caused by an inflamation that also extends to deeper layers of the skin and may cause tissue distruction resulting in scarring.
Cyst
Cystic acne are nodules of inflamation. It is less common than any other type of acne but like all of them it is caused by an excess of sebum in the pores. To the contrary of popular beliefs, cystic acne is not caused by hygiene and is not affected by it in any way. Cysts are often filled with pus like substance and are a few millimeters to 1 cenimeter in diameter and are usually very painful.
