Understanding and Treating Different Types of Acne

You’ve recently noticed that spot in the mirror and felt that breakout coming.

But did you know that blemish has been brewing for a while?

That’s why the first step toward clearer skin is to understand not all acne is the same.

You can’t treat pimples like you’d approach an inflamed pustule.

There are different types of acne, and your breakout must go through various stages before it fully develops.

So, we have called in our clinical skin expert, Samantha.

Who is here to help you demystify your breakouts and put acne classifications into perspective?

We have also put together a free ebook for further reference, which you can read here.

The 4 Different Types of Acne

First, a quick recap: why does acne occur in the first place?

Your skin contains countless pores (news flash)—but do you know what that means? Pores are tiny openings on your skin’s surface, including a hair follicle and a sebaceous oil gland.

When skin is healthy, pores release sebum that moisturises it. However, if debris from bacteria, white blood cells, and dead skin cells becomes trapped in the pores, it can lead to inflammation.

This causes swelling, ruptures the pore wall, and allows bacteria to spread into the surrounding area, leading to breakouts—a vicious cycle. While oil at healthy levels keeps skin supple, overproduction can increase the risk of acne.

In fact, (1) scientific evidence has found that the average rate of sebum production is much higher in those with acne than in those without.

Acne can start mild but quickly progress into more severe forms, such as cystic acne. These inflamed lesions are more likely to scar and cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). This is why it is essential to get your breakouts under control as soon as you notice them.

We cover this in our article “10 Skincare Hacks to Prevent Acne.” We examine the factors that can cause breakouts, such as hormones, genetics, lifestyle, and environment.

Understanding the five stages of acne is essential for controlling your condition, but first, let’s examine how a pimple forms on your skin.

How Breakouts Are Formed

When pores become infected, your breakout changes; thankfully, not every pimple reaches the second, third or fourth stage.

When it does, your pimples may take several forms, ranging from mild to severe, as outlined below.

It’s also important to know that acne can be classified as inflammatory or non-inflammatory.

When a pimple starts, microscopic amounts of dirt and debris get trapped in the pore. Microcomedones, which are baby blemishes, are undetectable to the naked eye.

This buildup of sebum and dead cells forms a plug that blocks the pore, preventing it from opening and leading to even more buildup.

Now, at this point, your blemish will become a full-fledged comedone. Yikes!

Five Acne Classifications

Your dermatologists will visually assess your skin to determine its severity and the types of acne present.

In general, the types of acne fall into one of these four stages:

Grade 1: Non-inflammatory acne; this consists of micro-comedones, comedones, and the occasional papule and pustule.

Grade 2: This is still non-inflammatory acne; comedones, papules, and a few pustules may be present on your skin, mainly confined to your face.

Grade 3: At this level, inflammatory acne occurs. This acne severity classification is usually associated with papules, pustules, nodules, and the occasional cyst.

It can also progress to a more severe form that may be present on your back; grade 3 is also associated with sensitivity and inflammation.

Grade 4: This is a chronic form of inflammatory acne and, aside from your face, may be present on your arms, back, chest, neck, and upper thighs.

Grade 5: This can do untold damage in the form of acne scars and dark spots (PIH) if you don’t get this condition under control early enough.

With this acne classification grade, a lot is going on in your skin:

• cysts
• scarring
• abscesses
• post-inflammatory pigmentation
• large dome-shaped lesions
• painful pus-filled cysts that have difficulty healing
• blackheads and whiteheads on your T.Zone
• acne scar classifications and treatments are challenging to assess and treat.

The different types of acne and their grades are diagnosed by observing the presence or absence of inflammation, the number and type of dominant lesions, and the extent of the acne.

If you’re interested in learning more about the different grades of acne, we have put together a comprehensive article here.

Other Acne Types

Acne fulminans is a rare form of acne that appears abruptly. This study discusses how it causes acute inflammation, leading to ulceration, joint aching, and even fever (2).

Gram-negative folliculitis is an inflammatory acne disorder caused by a bacterial infection. Complications from acne vulgaris or Rosacea usually cause it. Antibiotics can treat it.

Timely intervention by a dermatologist is critical when treating this type of acne,

The Best Treatment Options

Most acne medications and treatments target only one or two of the critical factors that cause acne, either decreasing or blocking sebum production.

Mild to Moderate Grades 1 and 2

Proven natural treatments can help control breakouts, as our article discusses how to get rid of acne with essential oils.

Some over-the-counter medications and creams are enough to treat and clear your skin at this grade.

There are common side effects of topical medications ranging from mild irritation to dry skin, so you must watch your skin and become your label detective.

Moderate to Severe Grades 3, 4 and 5

Systemic medications can be much more helpful.

Retinoids are Vitamin A derivatives that your doctor or dermatologist may prescribe. They regulate healthy cell turnover, unclog pores, destroy bacteria, and reduce inflammation in your skin.

Research (3) supports this, showing that retinoids can help decrease the number of comedones and inflammatory lesions by as much as 50% to 70%.

Antibiotics such as doxycycline and minocycline help to kill off bacteria; the downside is that they can make you more resistant to other strains of healthy bacteria.

If you are experiencing hormonal acne, you may be prescribed birth control pills with other medications, such as retinoids, to get your breakouts under control.

Don’t Squeeze, pop, or pick 

. Doing so could push the infection deeper, worsening the condition and causing permanent scarring.

We advise our clients to cover their blemishes with a spot treatment, such as Resq anti-blemish skin shot with salicylic acid and manuka, to deter pimples, protect and heal them, and ease inflammation.

Even if you leave your breakout alone, there’s still a good chance you’ll experience post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), those brown spots that can linger for what feels like forever after a breakout.

To conclude, the naked truth

Effectively controlling acne means managing it at every stage, as there are several different types. Preventing breakouts from the outset is crucial.

Understanding the different classifications of acne is essential. Once you know the correct grade, you can treat your skin more effectively.

If you are experiencing Grade 1 or 2 acne, treat your skin with a combination of natural ingredients.

For stage 3, you may require over-the-counter topical medications.

For those with a more severe form of acne, grade 4 or 5, your doctor or dermatologist will diagnose your condition and prescribe a course of retinoids or antibiotics to help clear your skin.

We would also recommend talking to your doctor about any possible side effects from your treatment and discussing any concerns you may have.

References

1. Changes in Epidermal Lipids and Sebum Secretion with Aging.

2. Pseudo-acne fulminans associated with oral isotretinoin.

3. Why We Should Consider Evidence-Based Treatment Options for Truncal Acne