Expert SaysLifestylePhysical HealthWellness

Types of acne & when to start worrying

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Acne is a stranger to no one. Acne comes and goes, uninvited, as and when it wishes to and all we can do is pray that it leaves without a scar. Unsettling, yes, but we can get a step closer to understanding acne — keep your enemies close! — by analyzing it. 

Here’s how Dr. Poonam Wadhwani categorizes them:  

  1. Comedones

Comedones are clogged pores filled with oil, dead skin and bacteria. When it is open, it is popularly known as ‘blackhead’ and when it is closed, we call it ‘whitehead’. Comedones are painless and easy to get rid of. You can try a vacuum patch, you could exfoliate, and you could even just use your fingers to remove them (but do consult with your doctor before you do).

  1. Papules 

Papules are a little hard to spot because they’re small, tender bumps that form on the surface of your skin. It happens when clogging causes hair follicles to become inflamed. They can be irritating and cause some level of itching, so keep a lookout. 

  1. Pustules

These are also small, tender bumps like papules, except they are red and accumulate pus at the tip. Popping these may leave some scarring so avoid touching them as much as you can. These mostly occur in teens so we really mean it when we say don’t touch them. There are several OTC medications that you can purchase to relieve yourself of these bad guys (again, do talk to your doctor first).

  1. Nodules

These mighty painful inflammations are pretty severe and may leave you feeling extremely irritated. They often occur when your

  • Cysts
  • Cysts are literally defined as “liquid-filled sacs”, emphasis on ‘sac’. If you have a cyst, you won’t miss it. They are irritating, painful and very, very evident. Like the nodule, they manifest as part of moderate to severe acne and you’d be extremely well-off talking to a doctor about it. 

    All the abovementioned kinds form when skin pores or hair follicles get clogged to the brim with dust, bacteria, oil and dead skin. A gland called the sebaceous gland is mostly responsible for this. 

    What happens, according to Dr. Poonam is when your body goes through hormonal changes, especially the rise and fall of oestrogen levels, the sebaceous glands get pushed into overdrive. This forces them to produce sebum, which is an oily substance, in excess. Where is the sebum to go but for the pores in your skin?

    Your acne may be ‘mild’ (yay!) so long as your lifestyle is well-regulated. Sometimes, with bouts of extreme stress, your acne might move to a ‘moderate’ phase. That’s completely manageable too. Finally, your acne does have potential to be ‘severe’ but don’t worry; always remember that a dermatologist is only a call away.

    Top 5 Home Remedies for Acne Treatment

    Our experts work round the clock to provide you with the answers that you are looking for. So, if you have any, leave it in the comment section below or send us a DM at @nuawoman. This is a safe space that we have built for you so do not hold back on any doubts you may have about your body and mind.

    Read other articles by Dr. Poonam Wadhwani on InSync here.

    Dr. Poonam Wadhwani
    5 posts

    About author
    Dr. Poonam Wadhwani is a dermatologist and cosmetologist who has been working for nearly 19 years. She completed her education from Mumbai University. While skin, hair, and beauty are her forte, she also performs routine skincare and cosmetic procedures.
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