Blackheads are small bumps that appear on your skin due to clogged hair follicles. Blackheads are a mild type of acne that usually form on the face, but they can also appear on the back, chest, neck, arms and shoulders.

Whiteheads are a type of acne that forms when dead skin cells, oil, and bacteria become trapped within your pores. Common causes of whiteheads include increased sebum production & shedding cells in the hair follicles. Androgen hormones (reproductive hormones) play a role, which explains why acne is widespread in puberty.

Acne papules are solid, inflamed bummps in your skin that don’t have a white or yellow pus-filled tip, and can develop into pastules. Pastules have a white or yellow pus-filled tip. They are usually caused by too much ssebum production, an increased presence of bacteria on your skin and also androgen hormones.

Nodular acne is a more severe form of acne and it’s painful to the touch. Nodular acne can’t be treated with over-the-counter (OTC) products because it happens deep within the skin. Nodular acne may also be skin toned but can turn red as the surrounding area gets more inflamed.

Cystic acne is the most severe type of acne. Acne cysts are filled with pus, a fluid, often painful & more likely to cause scarring. It’s usually caused by overproduction of sebum & overgrowth of skin cells, causing the pores to clog, making it the perfect conditions for the overgrowth of P. acnes. The skin reaction causes swelling deep in the skin’s middle layer.