Whiteheads
Whiteheads are clogged pores that are not inflamed and are located underneath the skin. Whiteheads remain closed and often look like little white bumps that you can feel on your skin.
Blackheads
Blackheads are non-inflamed clogged pores, very similar to whiteheads. Blackheads are on the surface of the skin though and are exposed to air. The air oxidizes the oil from your body that is present in the clogged pore and as a result turns black.
Papules
A papule is when a clogged pore like a whitehead or a blackhead gets irritated and becomes inflamed. Once it gets inflamed it becomes bigger and turns red, not to mention it also hurts. Papules look like small red bumps (although some can be big) and are normally elevated above the skin by a small amount.
Pustules
Pustules are pimples that are hard and inflamed with a white or yellow centre. They are also full of pus. Although they might be painful, and pimple popping is oh-so-fun, don’t pop pustules!
Nodules
Nodules are hard, inflamed, painful pimples that are not filled with pus. They are much more severe that papules or pustules. Because nodules are under the skin it can create scarring and take longer to go away then regular pimples.
Cysts
Cysts are large, inflamed and filled with pus. Cysts and Nodules can be created the same way as papules and pustules only cysts and nodules happen when the pimple starts much deeper in the skin and therefore becomes more severe. You shouldn’t try to squeeze any of these pimples-especially cysts and nodules.
So how do I get rid of pimples?
There are many acne treatments out there – some work better than others, depending on the severity and type of acne you have! A good place to start is with a daily skincare routine. And internal and external acne treatment method will treat acne the fastest and get you the best results!
Wash your face morning and night with a light cleanser to remove excess oil and dirt (look for something with a low salicylic acid content). In addition to your topical regime, look for an internal acne supplement to help regulate skin oil production.
There are natural acne supplements (SkinB5 is a popular one) and prescription acne drugs (like Roaccutane). Natural acne treatments are good because they are cheaper and generally don’t have any side effects! However, if you chose to use a prescription drug for acne, be sure to consult your doctor about its safety and possible side effects.
