Types of acne

There are many variations of acne, ranging in severity from mild to severe.

Mild to moderate acne:

WHITEHEADS:
When the trapped sebum and bacteria stay below the skin surface, a whitehead is formed. Whiteheads may show up as tiny white spots, or they may be so small that they are invisible to the naked eye.

BLACKHEADS:

A blackhead occurs when the pore opens to the surface, and the sebum, which contains the skin pigment melanin, oxidizes and turns a brown/black color. It is not dirt and can not be washed away. Blackheads can last for a long time because the contents very slowly drain to the surface

PAPULES:

A papule occurs when there is a break in the follicular wall. White blood cells rush in and the pore becomes inflamed.

PUSTULES:

A pustule forms several days later when white blood cells make their way to the surface of the skin. This is what people usually refer to as a "zit" or a "pimple".

NODULES:

When a follicle breaks along the bottom, total collapse can occur, causing a large, inflamed bump that can be sore to the touch.

CYSTS:

Sometimes a severe inflammatory reaction can result in very large pus filled lesions.

MILIA :

Milia are tiny white bumps that occur when normally sloughed skin cells get trapped in small pockets on the surface of the skin. Milia is common in newborns across the nose and upper cheeks and can also be seen on adult skin. The bumps disappear as the surface is worn away and the dead skin is sloughed. In newborns, the bumps usually disappear within the first few weeks of life. However, for adults milia may persist indefinitely.