Acne Lesions
The two types of acne are inflammatory and non-inflammatory. Blackheads, or open comedones,
and whiteheads, or closed comedones, are examples of non-inflammatory acne.
Nodular acne is an example of inflammatory acne.
Inflammatory acne
Inflammatory acne includes pimples (or ‘zits’), red blemishes and deeper, swollen lesions called
nodules.
1 Pustules are closed comedones that become inflamed and then begin to rupture into the
skin. Then, they form pustular heads of different sizes.
2 Papules are closed comedones that become swollen, red and then inflamed.
3 Nodules are the most severe form of acne and can produce scarring if they are not treated
in time. These are large, swollen and tender acne lesions. They become intensely inflamed
and rupture under the skin. Proper treatment should be sought quickly for them.
Non-Inflammatory acne
Non-Inflammatory acne is of two types; blackheads and whiteheads.
1 Open comedones are enlargement of the plug formed by oil and flakes of skin inside the
hair follicle.
2 A closed comedo is formed if the hair follicle plug is not exposed to outside air and, thus,
no black color develops. It appears as a tiny, pink bump on the skin.
3 If, however, the plug is exposed to outside air, the oil inside the plug turns black (the
black color is not due to dust) and is known as a blackhead