Understanding Acne Types: Blackheads, Whiteheads, & More

Types of Acne

Blackheads

* Open comedones

* Small, black or dark-colored bumps that form when a hair follicle becomes clogged with sebum, dead skin cells, and bacteria.

Whiteheads

* Closed comedones

* Small, white or flesh-colored bumps that form when a hair follicle becomes completely blocked with sebum, dead skin cells, and bacteria.

Papules

* Small, red or pink bumps that form when the walls of a hair follicle rupture and release its contents into the surrounding skin.

Pustules

* Small, red or white bumps with a yellow or white center that form when bacteria infect a papule.

Nodules

* Large, solid, and painful bumps that form deep beneath the skin.

Cysts

* Large, pus-filled sacs that can cause scarring.