Types of Acne - Whiteheads and Blackheads - Papule and Pustule - Cysts

Types of Acne
Whiteheads and Blackheads

Whiteheads are formed when a plug of sebum closes up the pore and forms a tiny bump
with a white center.
Blackheads are clogged pores with a dark center. A lot of people think the dark center in a
blackhead is dirt, which is not true. The dark color you see is a result of the pores being
opened up and exposed to air.

Papule and Pustule

Papules and pustules are commonly known as zits. When your pores become blocked,
they become irritated and open up, allowing bacteria to get under your skin. When this
infection under the skin builds up and bulges out, a small red bump called a papule is
formed.
If the bump is filled with pus, a yellowish white substance, it is called a pustule. Pustules
are a sign of a greater infection and are more severe.

Cysts
A large, painful, pus-filled lump under the skin is a cyst or nodule. This is the most
severe kind of acne. Cysts form when the infection is deep under the skin. If the
inflammation is very severe, the pus can burst under the surface of the skin, which can
lead to greater infection and more cysts. This kind of acne can lead to permanent scarring.

Types of Acne