Knowing the Different Types of Acne

Acne is a common skin problem faced by many, and it does not only affect teenagers but adults as well. Although the types of acne affecting teenagers and adults may differ, it is very important to know about acne and identify them, as it is an important step in knowing the best remedies to the problem. It is also important to be informed about this common skin condition because it is a fact that some types of acne can leave permanent scars that may adversely affect your disposition in life.

If you are one of the millions suffering from acne, you may want to check which of the types of acne you are experiencing, especially if you want to know how severe your acne is, or if you already need medical attention. Below are the common types of acne.

The 'Common Acne' (Acne Vulgaris)

The common acne is known as Acne vulgaris in medical terms. We are very familiar with blackheads, whiteheads or that little bump on the skin we call 'zit' or 'pimples'. These skin disorders are different manifestations of acne vulgaris. Blackheads, as its name suggests, are tiny black spots that are notably appearing on the face and the neck. In contrast, whiteheads are those tiny whitish spots also commonly found on the face or neck. Both may not be those types of acne that have inflammation but these tiny little bumps can lead to an inflammation. When these tiny little bumps swell, they can give rise to more severe bumps.

If these seemingly simple skin discolorations are inflamed, they will form tender swollen bumps called papules. If these bumps develop pus, they are called pustules. It is important to note that the common acne is not just a simple and safe type of acne, as this can sometime progress to its more severe form where there is the occurrence of large and pus-filled lesions that cause permanent scarring.

The more severe forms of acne vulgaris are the nodular and cystic acne. Deep lesions and severe inflammation characterize these types of acne vulgaris, and both often result to deep scars that could be difficult to wipe out. Permanent scarring is one thing you might want to avoid if you are having acne problems, thus it has always been an important advice, especially for teenagers, not to prick those small bumps. Some severe acne scars may become disfiguring, and you may want to avoid that before it is too late.

Other Not Common yet Severe Types of Acne

These types of acne may occur rarely but when these affect an individual, it can be very damaging physically and psychologically. Acne conglobata, for instance, is severe form acne that is formed by large groups of deep skin infection that are usually connected together and are painful. Acne fulminans on the other hand is similar to acne conglobata but is identified by its sudden outbreak. Like acne conglobata, it also causes deep scarring. Another severe case of acne is the Pyoderma faciale which is uniquely identified to be affecting only women.

Knowing what kind of skin problem you have is indeed a very important step in treating acne. Treatment of course, varies on the severity of these skin infections. Therefore, if you want to have that blemish-free, glowing skin, it pays to know what is acne, the types of acne, and how to get rid of them.



Author Resource: Carolyn Anderson overcame acne during her teenage years. For fast acne cure, check out natural acne treatments. If you are suffering from another skin condition called angular chelitis, you can also check Angular Chelitis Foundation, for effective remedies.

Take care of your skin: Go for organic skin care

Skin is one of the most important organs of our body. Apart from being a sensory organ it reflects vitality and health. A glowing smooth skin without blemishes indicates your emotional wellness as well as your physical heath. With a glowing smooth skin you generally tend to be confident about your looks. If you have a dull dry skin with patches it shows unhealthy state of your physical and emotional health. Everybody wants good skin. For this you must adopt a healthy lifestyle. There are plenty of products in the market that claim to improve your skin quality, but the best results have come from natural skin care product and organic skin care.



Natural skin care product refers to the use of natural ways of maintaining your skin health which includes using natural sources like milk or almond oil to rejuvenate the skin. Organic skin care refers to using of those things which have been grown organically, i.e., growing of fruits, vegetables and herbs without the use of insecticides and pesticides. The things you are using may be natural but these things may still harm your skin if they are grown with chemical fertilizers. Also, when you eat vegetables, you are consuming a part of the harmful substance which has been used to grow the vegetable or cereal. This is an indirect way to harm your skin.



When you want to go for natural skin care product you can also take some measures which will not cost you anything but do a lot of good to your skin. Firstly, drink a lot of water. Water is a detoxifying agent which helps in digestion, blood purification, and so on. You must have at least 2 to 5 liters of water everyday. You will find a clearer skin after sometime. A little honey with a dash of lime juice in slightly warm water taken first thing in the morning gives a shiny smooth skin.



Proper sleep is the next important thing if you want your natural skin care product to be more effective. Lifeless, blotchy skin with dark circle around eyes shows you are not getting enough sleep. Smoking also makes you skin dry. So it is best to avoid smoking. Natural skin care product works wonder when you are eating right. Eat a lot of fibrous food. Try to cut down on carbohydrates and fatty food. Too much of sugar too harms your skin. Not doing enough exercise hampers your blood circulation. These are part of unhealthy lifestyle which has a direct effect on your skin.



If you believe in natural skin care product you should go in for organic skin care. The food you consume should be grown in an organic way. It will help in the well being of your skin. Organic skin care also includes using natural things for skin care. Ground oatmeal combined with honey, egg yolk or fruits make natural face masks in organic skin care. Yoghurt and sour cream serve as exfoliating and moisturizing agent in organic skin care treatment. Wheat germ can be used for natural scrub.



These natural products are often used by manufacturers to make natural and organic skin care products. You have to be very careful when you select one of these products for your skin. Some of the companies are known for their authentic products and are quite popular in spite of their high price. If you are unable to afford these it is better to mix a recipe for natural skin care product yourself and apply it.


To look after your skin better use natural skin care products. To get a glowing shiny skin prepare your own organic skin care recipe or order products with authentic organic ingredients in them.

A Brief Look at Alpha and Beta Hydroxy Acids in Skin Care

Of all the products on the market today for skincare, the most readily recognized are the alpha and beta hydroxy acids. One of the reasons for their success, excluding an incredible marketing push, is the fact that they actually do what they claim to do. They both act as chemical "peels" for the skin.

Alpha-hydroxy acid is derived from fruit (citric, glycolic, tartaric and malic) acids or dairy (lactic) acids while Beta hydroxy acid is salicylic acid which is derived from aspirin. Neither of these products is new. Both have been around and in use for thousands of years. The difference is in the amount of research and marketing that has gone into the modern products.

While these acids do what they claim, that does not mean they are without their drawbacks. Sun sensitivity and irritation are the worst and most common side effects. So while they do reverse the effects of sun damage to the skin, at the same time they make the skin more susceptible to further damage from the sun. Unfortunately a sunscreen mixed with hydroxy acids is not very effective at the ph levels required for the hydroxy acids to be effective. You have to give the acids a little time to soak in and then apply a sunscreen.

Consumers are restricted to solutions of 10% or less. Trained cosmetologists are allowed to use solutions of 20% to 30% and physicians can handle 50% to 70%. Remember that as the concentration goes up so does the intensity of the side effects. While a doctors treatment may last much longer than your home treatment, it could take a full month to recover from the treatment.

The big difference between alpha-hydroxy and beta-hyroxy acids is that beta-hydroxy acid is oil soluble while alpha-hydroxy acids are water soluble only. This makes the beta-hydroxy acids the preferred solution to treating problems with oily skin such as acne, whiteheads, and blackheads. Beta-hydroxy acids also are less irritating since they are derived from aspirin and retain the anti-inflammatory properties of aspirin.

Be wary when buying products proclaiming alpha- hydroxy as part of their makeup. They work best with concentrations of 5% to 8% and a ph of 3 to 4. This information is rarely, if ever placed on the labels. Obscure manufacturers have nothing to lose by playing loosely with these figures, while the better known producers have a reputation to protect. But the bottom line controls everybody's actions.

A few pearls of wisdom:

Buy alpha-hydroxy formulated with a moisturizer
Do not buy alpha-hydroxy combined with a sunscreen
Do apply sunscreen liberally after your alpha-hydroxy has had time to soak in.
If practical, test the product with a ph test strip(available at pool, pet, and drug stores)


Author of this article is James Mizzell, owner of 3 websites; www.ghilliesandstuff.com www.uniquegiftsandfigurines.com www.melanesianskincare.com He is retired, living in Florida and working on another site.