Question 1. Is the acne mild or severe?
Yes. Mild forms of acne include: whiteheads, blackheads, papules and pustules. Moderate to sever acne include: nodules, cysts, rosacea and conglobata. If the acne is inflamed or swollen or is not limited to acne "spots" the acne may be moderate to severe acne. More Information
No. If the acne is not inflamed or swollen and is limited to acne "spots" the acne is probably mild acne.

Question 2. What does the acne look like?
Yes. If acne appears as a rash: red, swollen, oozing, blotchy, covers a larger area of the face, cheeks, back, buttocks, arms or legs and does NOT appear as acne "spots" the acne is probably a more severe form of acne: rosacea or conglobata. More severe forms of acne may be comprised of cysts or nodules. A mix of whiteheads and blackheads are more common with severe forms of acne. More Information
No. If acne does NOT have a "rash" appearance, does NOT cover a larger body area and appears as "spots" the acne is probably a mild form of acne: whiteheads, blackheads, papules or pustules. Individual forms of acne are not limited to only one type. It is possible to have multiple forms of acne like whiteheads and blackheads or pustules and whiteheads.

Question 3. Is the acne localized?
Yes. If acne is localized to a SMALL areas of the forehead, cheek, chin or other body areas, does NOT appear as a rash, and appears as acne "spots" the acne is probably a mild form of acne. More Information
No. The acne is NOT limited to small areas of the forehead, cheek or chin and has effected larger body areas like the back, arms, legs, or buttocks the acne is probably a more severe type of acne.

Question 4. Is the acne getting worse?
Yes. If acne appears to spread, develop as a rash (red, swollen, oozing, blotchy, contain nodules or cysts), or covers a larger body area the acne may be a more severe form of acne. More Information
No. The acne is localized, is NOT spreading, or does NOT appear as a rash. The acne is probably a more mild form of acne.

Question 5. Is the acne inflamed or swollen?
Yes. If acne appears inflamed or swollen, oozing, red, blotchy or contains nodules or cysts similar to a rash, the acne is probably a more severe form of acne. More Information
No. The acne does NOT appear inflamed or swollen and does NOT appear like a rash. The acne is probably a more mild form of acne.

Question 6. Does the acne look infected?
Yes. If the acne appears infected: is painful to the touch, oozing, smells, is not healing, is spreading, or has red streaks radiating away from broken skin see a physician immediately. More Information
No. The acne is probably NOT infected and should heal over time with correct treatment. Always monitor the skin for signs of infection.

Question 7. Do you feel sick? (nauseous, headache, weak, fever, ache, stiff neck, short of breath, body ache)
Yes. See a physician immediately. More Information
No. It is probably NOT a major illness associated with infection, or severe allergic reaction. If in doubt See a physician immediately.

Formation of Acne

All forms of acne start similarly. Different forms of acne appear to react differently with different types of people. The common formation of acne starts with an enlarged hair follicle plugged with oil and bacteria. To the naked eye, the bacterial clogged hair follicle waits for the right conditions to grow into a inflamed lesion. As the skin produces more oil bacteria grows within the swollen follicle. The surrounding skin becomes inflamed as white blood cells fight the invading bacteria.

Mild to Moderate Acne

Whiteheads: Whiteheads are the result of a completely blocked pore that traps serum (skin oil), bacteria, and dead skin cells. White blood cells attacking invading bacteria gives the pore a white appearance. The appearance of whiteheads are filled with a mix of white blood cells and bacteria. Incorrectly "popping" the whitehead can result in the spread of bacteria. Whiteheads typically heal more quickly than blackheads. A strict skin care and treatment plan is important for healing whiteheads. 

Blackheads: Blackheads are the result of a partially blocked pore that traps some serum (skin oil), bacteria, and dead skin cells. This causes oil to slowly drain to the surface of the pore. The black color of the blackhead is not caused by dirt. It is a reaction of the skin's own pigment (melanin) reacting with oxygen in the air. Blackhead tend to be a stable formation and can often take a long time to heal. 

Papules: Papules are small, red bumps with no whiteheads. This type of papule does not come to a head and does NOT benefit from squeezing. Squeezing may spread bacteria or cause scaring. 

Pustules: Pustules are similar to whiteheads, however, pustules are red, inflamed with a white or yellow center. Pustules are common types of "zits." Improper squeezing of pustules can cause the spread of bacteria or scaring .

Moderate to Severe Acne

Nodules: Nodules consists of acne spots which are much larger than papules, can be painful, and can last for several months. Nodules are large, hard bumps or lumps under the skin. Scarring is more common. Do NOT squeeze nodules. You may cause severe scaring or trauma to the skin and the lesion may take an extended period of time to heal. Dermatologist commonly prescribe a medical treatment regimen for this type of acne.

Cysts: Cysts similar similar to a nodule, however, cysts are pus-filled and can been described as having a diameter of 5mm or more across. They can also be painful. Scarring is more common cysts. Do NOT squeeze acne cysts. You may cause the spread of bacteria, more inflammation and a longer healing period. Dermatologists commonly prescribe a medical treatment regimen for this type of acne.

Rosacea: Acne Rosacea can appear similar to acne vulgaris (more mild form of acne). Rosacea is typically confined to cheeks, nose, forehead and chin. Skin is often read with bumps, pimples and skin blemishes. Redness from blood vessels is typically more visible. Blackhead are typically not associated with rosacea. Rosacea tends to be more common in women, but is typically more severe in men. If untreated, rosacea of the nose can produce excess tissue. If in doubt over the type of acne you may have consult a physician.

Conglobata: Acne Conglobata is the most severe form of acne. It is typically more common in males. It appears as many large lesions that may be interconnected with widespread blackheads. It can cause severe damage to the skin with disfigurement. Conglobata is typically located on the face, chest, back, buttocks, upper arms, and thighs. The onset for acne conglobata is usually between 18 and 30 years of age and stay active for many years. Aggressive medical treatment is advised.