Acne has been one of the most common skin problems that many people have to deal with. The severity of acne varies from person to person and there is no hard and fast definition for acne. However, there are several things that you can look for that will help you determine if you have acne. Acne can come in the form of a single breakout, a group of breakouts or it can be in the form of a chronic acne problem. In order to make sure that you get the right kind of treatment for your acne condition you will need to know the different types of acne so that you know what to expect.

Those individuals that are dealing with moderate acne may only see small and isolated red bumps here and there. These small red bumps are generally known as pustules and these can disappear by themselves with time. If you are seeing a lot of pustules then you may need to consult a dermatologist to determine if these are actually acne and if you should seek medical attention.

The most severe form of acne that you will see are those cysts. These cysts are generally very painful and may even turn into a larger form such as a cystic pimple. There are several medications that your dermatologist may prescribe for you to use to relieve the symptoms of these cysts. These medications include Accutane (isotretinoin) and antibiotics like tetracycline.

The second most severe type of acne is noninflammatory acne. This form is considered to be the most difficult to treat because it can cause scarring of the skin if you don’t treat it properly. Noninflammatory acne tends to occur more in adults than teenagers but can strike at any age. There are a number of treatments for this type of acne including oral retinoids (including Accutane) and antibiotics like tetracycline. These methods of treatment are effective but often take a long time to work.

Some nodules are more severe than cysts. Nodules can also cause scarring of the skin, and sometimes they will cause permanent damage to the skin or the follicle. If you notice any kind of puss or blood in your hair or on your skin then you might have a nodule. These nodules are usually black in color and are quite painful. Your dermatologist will likely want to perform a biopsy of the nodule to ensure that it is not a cyst. If it is a cyst then your dermatologist may try to remove it surgically to get rid of the pus and infection that are often at the root of nodules.

You should always be using an acne treatment that attacks the bacteria on the skin. The most effective treatment is one that uses anti-bacterial medication. It does this by killing the acne-causing bacteria in the pores. If you find that benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid is not working for you then you might want to try natural remedies such as tea tree oil. This natural ingredient has a high antibacterial property and works very effectively.