Knowing the types of acne is your best way to know which treatment will suit your condition. The most common form is called acne vulgaris. This is manifested through different forms of lesions. Blackheads and whiteheads are characterized by how sebum or oil is trapped on each pore. The former appears when pores are partially blocked, while the other appears when pores are completely blocked. Papules and pustules are other acne vulgaris lesions. Both are inflamed and red bumps. However, the first one is tender and without a head. The other has a white or yellow circle.

Severe cases of this type of acne manifest nodules and cysts. Nodules are large hard bumps that could be very painful and long-enduring. Cysts are sometimes similar to the former type of lesion but these are larger, about 5mm across and are filled with pus.

Acne rosacea is also among the types of acne that appears in form of red bumps, pimples, blemishes and even visible blood vessels. These are often found in several parts of the face from the forehead to the chin.

Other rare severe acne types include acne conglobata (interconnected large lesions with widespread blackheads all over the face and body), acne fulminans (pus-filled more severe form of the previous acne type), gram-negative folliculitis (bacterial pustule and cystic formations) and pyoderma faciale or rosacea fulminans (large nodules, pustules and sores that affect only females).

The more severe acne types are often the ones needing acne scar removal treatments as their lesions leave deeper and larger marks. Surgical operations are often recommended for these types.