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Want to know what acne is and how to know what acne type you have? Here you’re going to learn exactly that.
The majority of the population suffers or has suffered from acne at some point in their life. Acne is actually a very common skin condition, up to 95% of people from age 11 to 30 are affected by acne, at least to some extent.
That means we are not alone in this journey, I find it comforting I must say. Also, this means there is a lot of research and people with experience we can learn from.
In this article, I condensed all of the research and information I’ve ever stumbled upon trying to figure out what acne really is. From my point of view, if I can understand this problem deeply I’m more likely to find a solution, and I kind of had an exam for uni on dermatology, so there’s that😂.
Acne is a skin condition affecting 95% of people ages 11 to 30. It affects up to 50 million Americans annually. Based on acne type it’s possible to take different approaches to clear it. In total there are nine types of acne: acne vulgaris, comedones, blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules, nodules, cysts, and acne mechanica.
Stick till the end to identify your acne type and be one step closer to completely getting rid of acne. If you already know your acne type you may be interested in how to finally clear your acne.
What is acne
To clear your acne successfully you first need to understand your acne type. I know it can look boring and maybe a bit too sciency but different acne types need to be treated differently so understanding what type of acne you have is key.
1. Acne vulgaris
Acne vulgaris is the name of common acne. It is a skin disease that can involve both blockage and inflammation of hair follicles and their sebaceous gland.
Acne lesions – what we commonly call pimples – can be inflammatory, non-inflammatory, or a mixture of both. Generally, you will find that inflammatory lesions are redder than non-inflammatory ones.
What you may know as blackheads and whiteheads are actually acne vulgaris. In this case, the lesions affect mostly the face but also the back and chest.
2. Comedones
Comedones are clogged hair follicles, they can be clogged up with dead skin cells and oil for example. A comedone can be open – blackhead – or closed by skin – whitehead. Also, comedones can occur with or without acne.
Comedones can be triggered by different ingredients which are therefore called “comedogenic”. If you suffer from whiteheads and blackheads you should look for “non-comedogenic” products, these are less likely to trigger your skin into developing comedones.
3. Blackheads
Blackheads are comedones that are open to the surface of the skin. As comedones, they are hair follicles clogged with oil and dead skin cells and they actually look as if dirt is in the bump. It’s not dirt that makes them look dark, actually, the dark color is caused by an irregular light reflection off the clogged pore.
It’s important for you to know that blackheads and whiteheads are not pimples. Pimples are usually small discolored bumps filled with a yellow fluid also known as pus.
Also, blackheads do not hurt or feel uncomfortable. They usually form on the face, especially your nose and chin.
4. Whiteheads
Whiteheads are also comedones but they are closed at the surface of the skin. Basically, in this case, the oil and dead skin cells remain “trapped” under the skin. They look like small bumps sticking up on your skin and they appear white or yellowish.
5. Papules
Papules are inflamed comedones. They look like a raised area of skin that’s less than 1 centimeter around. They can have several different shapes, colors, and sizes.
Papules can be sensitive to the touch. In fact, you should never pick them, it will only make the inflammation worse and it can lead to scarring.
6. Pustules
Pustules are another kind of pimple, they are inflammatory lesions. Pustules kind of look like a whitehead with a red ring around the bump. Also, sometimes they cluster together and form what is called a rush.
Same as papules, do not pick them because you could develop dark spots and scars which are really difficult to get rid of.
7. Nodules
A nodule is a growth of abnormal tissue. They look like large inflamed bumps and they feel firm to the touch.
If you have what appears to be a nodule you should definitely talk to a dermatologist since with over-the-counter products you will not be able to get rid of them.
8. Cysts
A cyst is basically a pocket of tissue that contains fluid, air or other substances. Generally, they are pus-filled lesions that can look like boils. Also, like nodules, cysts can be painful and can scar.
Cysts can grow almost anywhere in your body or under your skin.
9. Acne mechanica
Acne mechanica is a type of acne that can occur when constant pressure, heat, or friction is applied to the skin. To make you understand, it is the type of acne you could get from wearing a baseball cap every day.
It is very common among athletes as a result of wearing sports gear such as helmets. In fact, it is also called sports-induced acne.
If you have that kind of acne the best way to prevent it is by taking a shower as soon as you finish your sport session.
Why your acne won’t go away
Okay, so you tried everything you could possibly imagine and still, your acne is there, creeping up on your skin.
Why won’t it just go away, right?
Well, there is a plain simple reason for that: you are not using the right treatment. When you try something out because that girl on Tik Tok said it made her skin looks perfect it doesn’t necessarily mean this is going to work for you too.
Don’t worry though, you’re on the right path. Just because you read this post I know you are taking this seriously and now you are able to pinpoint your acne type.
This is the most important thing! Acne is not all the same, you need to know what to treat before you try anything. Now that you do know though, you can research exactly how to treat your acne type. This way you get better and faster results.
Also, acne has several causes and the mechanism behind those causes can vary widely. If you have hormonal acne and you try and treat it as if they are breakouts from dietary influences of course you’re acne won’t go away.
Now you just need to understand what your skin needs. Everybody’s skin is different, you just need to find out what works better for your skin based on your acne type.
If you’re interested I have an entire article where I explain exactly how to treat each acne type!
Acne vs pimples
Everybody seems to use acne and pimples as synonyms. It is not a huge deal but, if you’re dealing with acne I think it’s important you know the difference.
Acne and pimples are not the same things. Acne is a typical disease while pimples are symptoms of said disease such as papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts.
Basically, we are used to calling whatever kind of breakout we see on our face pimples. As you read in this article though, there are different types of acne lesions and more importantly, they need to be treated differently.
For example, BHA’s – or beta hydroxy acids – such as salicylic acid are fantastic for treating blackheads and whiteheads but for something like nodules and cysts you would need to consult a dermatologist.
Does acne go away naturally?
Most people have acne on and off for several years before symptoms start to improve. Also, acne often disappears when a person is in their 20s but for some of us, it can continue into adult life.
As a general rule, acne can go away on its own. Commonly though, it is a long and rough process as cysts and nodules for example may take a few weeks to go away, if not longer.
All of this is to say that yes, acne most of the time goes away naturally but it can be tough on us, especially because it can affect our self-confidence a lot. So why not speed up the process a little bit?
When you really understand your skin and your acne with the right knowledge you can absolutely clear your acne completely.
If you’re struggling right now I just want to say do not give up, do this for yourself. You can and you will get rid of acne!
This post was all about what acne is and how to know your acne type.
Want to finally get rid of acne?
Here’s everything you should and shouldn’t do to get clear skin.
