Acne Symptoms

Symptoms of Acne
There are two main types of acne: non-inflammatory and inflammatory.

In non-inflammatory acne, there are usually just a few whiteheads and blackheads on the face. A relatively mild type of acne, it can often be treated effectively with nonprescription medicines. The majority of people with acne have this type of acne.

With inflammatory acne, the whiteheads become inflamed, and red pimples and pustules develop. In its most severe form, inflammatory acne can cause disfiguring cysts and deep, pitting scars of the face, neck, back, chest and groin. Prescription drugs and sometimes surgery are needed to treat inflammatory acne.

Acne Symptoms

What are some common acne symptoms? Surprisingly, signs of acne can go way beyond that typical pimple.

Acne vulgaris, or common acne, is a disorder of the pilosebaceous unit, causing some form of lesions on the skin.

Non-Inflamed Acne
Acne can be divided into two categories: inflamed and non-inflamed. Non-inflamed acne breakouts consist of microcomedones, blackheads, and milia. These types of comedones are not red or painful. Symptoms of non-inflamed acne include bumps or bumpiness across the skin’s surface, or an uneven skin texture. Even if comedones are not readily visible, they will make the skin feel rough or “sandpapery.”

People with non-inflamed acne experience blackheads, milia, and closed comedones but rarely have reddened breakouts, such as papules or pustules. Left untreated, non-inflamed acne may progress to inflamed acne.

Inflamed Acne
Inflamed acne is characterized by redness and inflammation. Those with inflamed acne will have microcomedones, blackheads, and milia, as well as papules, pustules, and possibly nodules and cysts. Symptoms also include redness, swelling, and irritation of the skin, along with possible crusting, oozing, or scabbing of the lesions.

Inflamed acne ranges in acuity from very mild to extremely severe. Some inflamed acne sufferers will experience only the occasional pustule while others will battle angry-looking cysts. Cystic acne is the most serious form of inflamed acne. Inflamed acne sufferers are most at risk for skin damage and scarring.

Range of Acne
The areas of the body most typically affected by acne are:

* face
* neck
* chest
* shoulders
* upper arms
* back

Less commonly, acne appears on the torso, arms, and legs.

Pigmentation and Scarring
Most acne sufferers have to deal with at least some degree of pigmentation problems or scarring. Discolored, darkened, or reddened spots or blotches are common on acne prone skin. These problems can persist even after breakouts have fully healed.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is the medical term used to describe discolored spots (macules) left behind after an acne lesion has healed. Those who have any type of inflamed breakouts are at risk for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Luckily, PIH is not a true scar and will fade over time.

Acne Symptoms

Acne typically appears on your face, neck, chest, back and shoulders, which are the areas of your skin with the largest number of functional oil glands. Acne can take the following forms:

* Comedones (whiteheads and blackheads). Comedones (kom-uh-DO-neze) are created when the openings of hair follicles become clogged and blocked with oil secretions, dead skin cells and sometimes bacteria. When comedones are open at the skin surface they’re called blackheads because of the dark appearance of the plugs in the hair follicles. When comedones are closed, they’re called whiteheads — slightly raised, skin-colored bumps.
* Papules. These are small raised bumps that signal inflammation or infection in the hair follicles. Papules may be red and tender.
* Pustules. Similar to papules, pustules are red, tender bumps with white pus at their tips.
* Nodules. These are large, solid, painful lumps beneath the surface of the skin. They’re formed by the buildup of secretions deep within hair follicles.
* Cysts. These are painful, pus-filled lumps beneath the surface of the skin. These boil-like infections can cause scars.