Acne
...bad that goes deep into the skin and can lead to scarring. There are different types of acne blemishes, called lesions. Lesions are characterized as being either "inflammatory" or "noninflammatory". Noninflammatory lesions are the most common. They include whiteheads and blackheads. These two types of lesions are referred to as comedones. More specifically, whiteheads are closed comedones, and blackheads are open comedones. Blackheads form when the oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria in the hair follicle become tightly compacted. Contrary to popular belief, blackheads do not turn black because they contain dirt. Whiteheads form when the contents of the follicle (skin cells and oils) are contained under the skin. They can easily develop into inflammatory lesions. Inflammatory lesions are those that have ruptured. They appear red and sometimes have pus in them. They occur when the follicle contents from a non-inflammatory lesion gets into the surrounding tissue. The body reacts by sending blood cells and chemicals to get rid of the invasion. As a result, the area becomes swollen and inflamed. Irritating acne lesions by scratching, picking, or squeezing them can worsen the inflammation which may lead to scarring, so it's important not to irritate or agitate the lesions. Inflammatory lesions fall into three categories: papules, pustules, and nodules. Papules are commonly referred to as "pimples." They are small, firm, reddish lesions. They are the least severe of infla...