Acne appears when hair follicles and pores become clogged and create sores on the surface of the skin. These lesions can take many forms, including blackheads, cysts, pimples, abscesses, and in some people even permanent scarring.

Acne is most commonly observed during puberty, part of the adolescent period. This is when the human body starts to experience big variations in hormone levels as a result of the devoloping a grown-up, adult body. Acne can afflict both genders at all ages; sometimes throughout their complete adult lives.

Pimples inflammation is the most apparent symptom in regard to the appearance of the skin. Inflammatory acne can mostly be located on the face, but can appear on a variety of other spots on the body like the scalp, upper arms, shoulders, chest, back, neck, and legs. The most prevalent form of acne is the pimple. A pimple appears when a pore or hair follicle becomes irritated and develops small red sores on the skin surface. Before the blemish is fully formed there are symptoms that can be seen. These symptoms include open comedos, closed comedos, cysts, and pustules. Blackheads are clogged pores that have a darker coloration with an opening at the surface of the skin. Whiteheads are a bit different in that they don't have an open ended pore. If they are left alone for a couple of days, they will commonly turn into pustules. If the zits are popped or squeezed, they will generally become more infected and could become scarred. So it is a good idea to leave pimples alone.

Inflammatory and non-inflammatory are the main types of acne. Two categories compose the non-inflammatory type: closed comedos and open comedos. A closed comedo is also called a whitehead and appears on the skin as a small white or yellow lesion. The open comedo is otherwise known as a blackhead.

Pustules are discolored sores that are filled with pus and have a whitish or yellowish color. They can form from whiteheads or blackheads. They are round lesions that have become inflamed because of damaged sebaceous glands. The skin has many sebaceous glands that secrete an oil-like chemical known as sebum. When sebum is in contact with the skin for a long time, the hair follicles and pores become irritated and infected. Cysts are larger sores filled with pus that can be seen on the surface but are in reality deep within the epidermis.

Whatever types of zits or scars there are, you will find a proper treatment that is available. A better knowledge of the different types of acne will give the acne sufferer a better chance to find the best treatment product for a particular condition. Remember, you don't have to live all your life with an acne problem. With a bit of research and time, anybody can find the treatment that is right for them.