You’re most likely to get pimples in areas with a lot of oil glands, which includes your face, neck, shoulders, chest, and back. Common types of inflamed pimples include papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts.
Acne comes in several types, depending on the types of pimples it causes. Knowing which type you have can help you choose the best treatment for your skin.
All pimples begin as a pore blockage or comedo. At first, a pimple is a small bump that isn’t inflamed. A comedo becomes inflamed when bacteria infect it. This can also happen when it’s irritated by squeezing. An inflamed pimple is red and swollen.
Different types of pimples respond to different medications. Certain types of acne may require specialized treatment.
This article looks at the main types of acne. It also discusses the causes and treatment of different types of pimples.
Papules
Papules are inflamed blemishes. They appear on the skin’s surface. They look like red bumps or lumps on the skin. They don’t have a white head.
Papules can be large or small. They can occur anywhere on the face or body, including your:
Neck Chest Shoulders Back Buttocks
Causes
Papules can be caused by acne vulgaris. This occurs when the wall of a hair follicle ruptures. Hair follicles are also called pores.
When this happens, cellular debris and bacteria spill into the dermis. The dermis is the deepest layer of skin.
A break in the pore can occur when the follicle fills with dead skin cells and oil. Pressure from squeezing a blackhead or blocked pore can also cause a rupture.
The rupture triggers inflammation in and around the follicle. The area turns red and swells. This is what creates the firm red bump we call a pimple.
Treatment
Don’t squeeze a papule to try and make it come to a head. You probably won’t extract any debris from the pore. Instead, you may simply make it more inflamed.
Papules are not deep lesions. This means most of them will heal quickly without scarring.
Pustules
Pustules are red and inflamed with an obvious head. The head is often white. That’s why these blemishes are also called whiteheads. The head can also be cream to yellow in color.
Sometimes a brownish spot appears in the middle of the head. This is the comedonal core. It is a plug of debris within the pore.
Acne pustules range in size from small to fairly large. They develop in the same areas that papules do. This is usually the face, back, and shoulders.
Causes
Pustules follow papules. When the pore ruptures, the body sends white blood cells to fight bacteria. This is what causes pus.
A mixture of pus, dead skin cells, and excess oil gives a pustule its white cap. Squeezing a pimple extracts this material.
Popping pimples is never a good idea. When you squeeze a pimple you can drive the contents deeper into the pore. This can make the blemish much worse.
Treatment
Mild acne or occasional pustules can be treated at home with OTC benzoyl peroxide creams or cleansers. Acne spot treatments containing salicylic acid can also help.
Nodules
Nodules are serious acne pimples. They are large, inflamed lesions. They feel like hard, painful lumps under the skin.
You have many pustules Your pustules are very inflamed Your acne is hard to control with OTC products
Prescription medications like topical retinoids or combination acne treatments can help.
Papules and pustules occur at the surface, but nodules form deeper within the skin.
Causes
An acne nodule develops when the follicle wall ruptures deep within the dermis. Contaminated debris from the follicle infects nearby follicles.
The damage and irritation causes the area to swell. This makes nodules quite painful.
Like pustules, nodules can be filled with pus. Because they occur deep within the skin, though, you won’t see a white head.
Females are prone to getting acne nodules around the time of their monthly cycle.
Treatment
Occasional nodules can usually be treated at home. If your blemish is painful, you can ice the area to help relieve swelling. Don’t try squeezing a nodule or any other pimple.
Nodules can take between a few weeks and several months to fully heal. This is because they are large and deep.
Ask your dermatologist about a cortisone injection. This can help make your pimples go away faster.
Cysts
Cysts are very large, inflamed lesions. They feel like soft, fluid-filled lumps under the skin. Acne cysts are the most severe form of pimple. They can be very painful.
Causes
Like nodules, cysts begin as a deep break in the follicle wall. The body tries to wall off the infection by surrounding it with a membrane.
As an acne cyst works its way to the surface, it damages healthy skin tissue. This can destroy the follicle. The likelihood of acne scarring is very high.
An acne cyst isn’t a true cyst. It is actually a severe, swollen, acne nodule. You may hear the terms acne cyst and acne nodule used interchangeably.
Acne cysts are filled with pus. They may also contain blood. They can take several weeks to several months to fully heal.
Never try to extract an acne cyst on your own. If they must be drained, it has to be done by a doctor.
Treatment
If you are prone to cystic acne, talk to a dermatologist. OTC acne treatments won’t help these blemishes. There are no home remedies that can successfully treat cystic acne.
Oral acne medications like Absorica (isotretinoin) are the best treatment options for cystic acne.
Summary
There are four main types of pimples. These include papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts.
Papules and pustules can be treated at home. Try a benzoyl peroxide cleanser or a salicylic spot treatment.
Nodules and acne cysts may require help from a dermatologist. A dermatologist can give you a cortisone injection or prescribe medication that will help clear up your skin.
A Word From Verywell
Getting a pimple every now and again isn’t a big deal. If you’re constantly battling breakouts and struggling to get them under control, though, it’s time to make an appointment with a dermatologist.
This is especially true if you’re prone to larger blemishes like acne nodules. Medications can help you clear your skin.
