Types of Acne and Cures
Anyone can suffer from acne, whether as a teen or as an adult. However, that does not make blemishes any easier to deal with everyday. In order to seek out the most appropriate cure for skin problems, you'll need to know from what type of acne you have. Most acne treatments are targeted, making this information vital to your recovery from acne.
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Blackheads
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Blackheads are fairly common and involve a partially clogged pore. Oil, bacteria and dead skin cells become trapped within the pore, but only partially, allowing oxygen to touch these substances, thus causing the black appearance of your skin's pigment or melanin. Blackheads can be treated a number of ways, from topical creams like benzoyl peroxide to prescription-strength preparations like Retin-A. You may also benefit from pore strips, which stick to the skin and when pulled off, removed numerous blackheads.
Whiteheads
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Whiteheads are also common and occur when the pore becomes entirely blocked with dead skin cells, bacteria and oil. This forms a pus pocket under the skin. Whiteheads can go away quickly if you don't mess with them. A standard over-the-counter treatment will usually suffice in these cases, specifically a cleanser that contains benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.
Papules
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Papules are another kind of pimple. They look like a red raised bump on the face and are often tender to the touch. Papules are slightly harder to treat because they have no head. However, a topical cream or cleanser will usually do the trick, like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. These are a type of pimple that you should never try to pop, as this will just force the bacteria deeper into the skin and could cause scarring.
Pustules
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Pustules are basically an inflamed whitehead. They have a white or yellow pus-filled spot in the middle and are surrounded by redness and look generally irritated. In small numbers, pustules can be treated fairly easily with benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid or a mild alpha hydroxy acid peel. However, if you get many pustules at a time, a dermatologist may be able to prescribe a stronger formulation of benzoyl peroxide or an oral medication like Accutane.
Cysts
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Cysts are nodules that develop and fill with pus. They can be large and very painful. Most lead to some level of scarring. It is best to not treat acne cysts by yourself and instead see a dermatologist for professional help. While a topical cream may be prescribed at first, an all-over approach, such as an oral vitamin-A derivative like Accutane, may be used to achieve the best results. A corticosteroid may also be injected directly into the cyst to reduce the irritation and help it heal.
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