Nodules, black buttons, white, red ...Acne can take different forms. Unsightly, embarrassing and even crippling, acne appears mostly in adolescence and then tends to disappear.

The origins of acne

Pilosebaceous follicles are at the root of hair and sebaceous glands. The function of these is to secrete sebum (skin protective fluid) under the influence of male hormones (androgens). But sometimes the sebaceous glands overreact to hormones and produce too much sebum. Result, the skin is too oily, especially in the nose, forehead and scalp.

Meanwhile, the cells of the pilosebaceous follicle (usually renewed and disposed on the surface of the skin) begin to proliferate, to obstruct the opening of the follicle and the sebaceous gland canal. Sebum, previously produced in excess and can no longer escape, forms what is called the black button (open comedo)or the white point (closed comedo or microcysts). This process is called acneretentional. 

Acne retentional

This form of acne is characterized by the presence of numerous comedoneslocalized on the nose, cheeks, forehead, and sometimes on the shoulders, flags ears. Unlike the white dots, the black buttons are easily visible. 

Acne or inflammatory papulopustular

Once trained, the blackheads become inflamed, caused mainly by the presence of bacteria in the pilosebaceous follicle. Occur when the red or papules and redpimples or pustules bald. Papules and pustules usually coexist on the face, chest and shoulders. 

Acne polymorphic

This type of acne characterized those who have both forms of acne described above: retentional acne and inflammatory acne. This is the most common form.In other words, people who have acne tend to have black buttons, white spots, red pimples and pustules. 

Besides these traditional forms of acne, there are two major forms (nodular acne and acne conglobata) characterized by the formation of nodules (large hard buttons under the skin) or abscesses. These types of acne often leave scars. 
And lastly, acne fulminans, very rare, progressing to ulcers. 

We can say that acne is a skin disease which, according to its intensity and discomfort, needs to consult a dermatologist to implement appropriate treatment, even if the acne naturally tends to disappear before the age of 20 years.