Woman with papule acne on face.

How to Cure Different Types of Acne

Acne takes a long time to heal. It starts at puberty and can extend into adulthood. With the right products, it can go away and leave people with a confident new face.

Keep reading to learn how to cure different types of acne.

Whiteheads

Whiteheads occur as a type of acne due to:

  • keratin, a protein present in hair, skin and nails
  • sebum, oils produced in the sebaceous gland
  • bacteria on the skin

They are white or yellow in color and hold oil caused by the sebaceous gland. As with all acne, people often feel tempted to pop their pimples. However, this can lead to further skin scarring or introduce more bacteria into the whitehead opening. Rather than popping, using face washes can reduce their appearance. These include salicylic acid, which helps to reduce the appearance of pimples, and benzoyl peroxide, which removes bacteria.

Man with whitehead acne on face.

Blackheads

Blackheads occur as a type of acne due to:

  • sebum
  • keratin
  • hormones
  • bacteria

They are bumps that appear black and are filled with sebaceous oils and dead skin. They differ from whiteheads in that they lack sebum or pus in the open bumps, making them not pimples. Squeezing blackheads leads to further skin damage. Effective products for removing them include retinoids, which break up blackheads and prevent clogged pores, and tea tree oil, which prevents bacterial growth.

Papule

A papule occurs as a type of acne due to:

  • sebum
  • bacteria
  • medication
  • androgens, a hormone group responsible at puberty for body development and reproductive health

Red and inflamed bumps appear on the skin. Papules are also inflammatory and contain no pus or sebum. Squeezing them causes further inflammation, as they cannot be popped. Products such as azelaic acid, which reduces swelling and kills bacteria, and dapsone, which helps clear bacteria, combat this condition.

Acne may take time to disappear, but the right products help to reduce it and leave people with a new, confident face.

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