Signs and Symptoms
Acne results in a variety of lesions. The most common acne locations include the face, neck, chest, and back, where the most sebaceous glands are located. "Blackheads" (open comedones) and "whiteheads" (closed comedones) are follicular plugs that are either oxidized from being exposed to the air (blackhead) or sitting below the skin surface (whitehead). Papules are small pink to reddish-brown bumps; pustules are superficial pus-filled lesions, and nodules or cysts are deeper pus-filled lesions.
Mild acne consists of a few papules/pustules and/or comedones. Moderate acne has an increased number of lesions. Severe acne has numerous comedones, papules, and pustules and may have painful nodules.
Picking can result in scabs, shallow sores, and permanent scars, which can either appear as depressions in the skin or hyperpigmentation, which is dark red or brown flat marks where the acne lesions were. The habit of picking at the skin may persist long after the acne has improved.
Who's At Risk
