Basic Acne Terminology

Pustule: White cells of the body respond to the inflammation of the sebaceous gland and form pus.

Inflamed papule: A red bump without an overlying pustule occurs when the inflammation is deeper and not able to point to the surface of the skin.

Cysts or nodules: Avery intense or deep inflammation causes painful, pus-filled cysts which can be as large as half an inch. These heal with a scar due to the depth of the inflammation

Localized cystic: a few cysts on face, chest and back

Diffuse cystic: wide areas of face, chest and back involved

Pyoderma faciale: inflamed cysts localized on the face of females

Acne conglobata: highly inflammatory, with cysts that communicate under the skin with abscesses and burrowing sinus tracts