4 Types of Pimples and How to Treat Them

Some types of acne require specialized treatment

Pimples are clogged pores (hair follicles) that have become inflamed. They're generally the result of the overproduction of oil in your skin combined with bacteria.

Known medically as acne vulgaris, pimples are a common part of adolescence. More than 80% of teens experience recurring breakouts. By adulthood, that figure drops below 10%.

You're most likely to get pimples in areas with a lot of oil glands, which include your face, neck, shoulders, chest, and back. Common types of inflamed pimples include papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts.

This article looks at the main types of acne pimples. It also discusses what causes acne and how to treat different types of pimples.

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Click Play to Learn How to Identify Inflamed Pimples

This video has been medically reviewed by Casey Gallagher, MD.

Types of Pimples

Acne pimples come in different forms, but all pimples begin as a pore blockage or ​comedo. At first, a pimple is a small bump that isn't inflamed.

A comedo becomes inflamed when bacteria infect it. This can also happen when it's irritated by squeezing. An inflamed pimple is red and swollen.

Papules

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Acne Papules

 Happyfoto / Getty Images

Papules are inflamed blemishes. They appear on the skin's surface. They look like red bumps or lumps on the skin. They don't have a white head.

Papules can be large or small. They can occur anywhere on the face or body, including your:

Papules can be caused by acne vulgaris. This occurs when the wall of a hair follicle ruptures. Hair follicles are also called pores. When this happens, cellular debris and bacteria spill into the dermis (the deepest layer of skin).

A break in the pore can occur when the follicle fills with dead skin cells and oil. Pressure from squeezing a blackhead or blocked pore can also cause a rupture.

The rupture triggers inflammation in and around the follicle. The area turns red and swells. This is what creates the firm red bump we call a pimple.

Don't squeeze a papule to try and make it come to a head. You probably won't extract any debris from the pore. Instead, you may simply make it more inflamed.

Papules are not deep lesions. This means most of them will heal quickly without scarring.

Pustules

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Pustules

Arnuphap Yaiphimai / Getty Images

Pustules are red and inflamed with an obvious head. The head is often white. That's why these blemishes are also called whiteheads. The head can also be cream to yellow in color.

Sometimes a brownish spot appears in the middle of the head. This is the comedonal core. It is a plug of debris within the pore.

Acne pustules range in size from small to fairly large. They develop in the same areas that papules do. This is usually on the face, back, and shoulders.

Pustules follow papules. When the pore ruptures, the body sends white blood cells to fight bacteria. This is what causes pus. A mixture of pus, dead skin cells, and excess oil gives a pustule its white cap.

Nodules

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Cystic acne

 CMSP / Getty Images

Nodules are serious acne pimples. They are large, inflamed lesions. They feel like hard, painful lumps under the skin.

An acne nodule develops when the follicle wall ruptures deep within the dermis. Contaminated debris from the follicle infects nearby follicles. The damage and irritation cause the area to swell. This makes nodules quite painful.

Like pustules, nodules can be filled with pus. Because they occur deep within the skin, though, you won't see a white head.

Nodules can take between a few weeks and several months to fully heal. This is because they are large and deep.

Females are prone to getting acne nodules around the time of their monthly cycle.

Cysts

This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.

Acne nodules

Dr. Milton Reisch / Getty Images 

Cysts are very large, inflamed lesions. They feel like soft, fluid-filled lumps under the skin. Acne cysts are the most severe form of pimple. They can be very painful.

Like nodules, cysts begin as a deep break in the follicle wall. The body tries to wall off the infection by surrounding it with a membrane.

As an acne cyst works its way to the surface, it damages healthy skin tissue. This can destroy the follicle. The likelihood of acne scarring is very high.

An acne cyst isn't a true cyst. It is actually a severe, swollen acne nodule. You may hear the terms acne cyst and acne nodule used interchangeably.

Acne cysts are filled with pus. They may also contain blood. They can take several weeks to several months to fully heal.

Never try to extract an acne cyst on your own. If they must be drained, it has to be done by a doctor. Cystic breakouts scar easily. The sooner you see a dermatologist about your acne, the sooner you will see improvement.

What Causes Pimples? 

Pimples can be caused by a combination of different things, including what you eat, hormones, genetics, and stress.

Diet

What you eat can contribute to acne breakouts. Foods associated with an increase in pimples include: 

  • Animal protein, like chicken and beef, which is high in leucine, an amino acid linked to increased oil production and skin inflammation
  • Chocolate
  • Cow’s milk, including whole, low-fat, and skim, but not yogurt or cheese
  • Fast food and other fried or greasy foods
  • High-glycemic carbohydrates, such as white bread, white rice, white potatoes, corn flakes, puffed rice, potato chips, French fries, doughnuts, pastries, and sugary drinks

In fact, research shows that following a low-glycemic diet can help to curb breakouts. Vegetarian or vegan diets may also help to promote clearer complexions. 

Hormones

Hormones are a common cause of teenage acne but can contribute to breakouts in adults as well. Fluctuating hormone levels increase the production of sebum, a waxy oil that can trap dead skin cells and clog pores.

Hormonal acne is a type of bacterial acne that affects adults between ages 20 and 50. While it can affect any gender, it is more common in women and can be linked to menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and menopause.

Stress, steroid medications, and lithium can also contribute to hormonal acne.

Sebaceous Glands

Sebaceous glands are microscopic organs in the skin that secrete sebum. Sebum can trap dirt or debris in your pores, setting the stage for bacteria to multiply and cause pus-filled bumps.  

The bacteria trigger an immune response, leading to inflammation and acne breakouts.

Stress

On its own, stress does not cause acne. However, if you already have acne-prone skin, stress can exacerbate it.

This is because stress causes the release of hormones, like cortisol and androgens, that can contribute to breakouts.

Stress acne tends to appear on oily parts of the skin, like your forehead, nose, and chin. It may include whiteheads, blackheads, and dilated pores. The skin around the acne may also be red and have an oily sheen. 

Are There Risk Factors for Getting Pimples?

Some people are more prone to pimples than others. Risk factors for acne include:

  • Adolescence
  • Birth (newborn acne)
  • Genetics
  • Menopause and perimenopause
  • Menstruation
  • Pregnancy 


How Are Pimples Treated?

Different types of pimples respond to different medications. Papules and pustules often respond well to over-the-counter (OTC) treatments, while cysts and nodules may require specialized treatment.

At-Home Acne Treatments

Pimples can often be treated at home with OTC acne remedies. Papules and pustules can be treated with products containing:

Hydrocolloid patches, sometimes called “pimple stickers,” may help get rid of pimples fast. These deliver medication to the spot, prevent sun exposure and irritating bacteria, and discourage picking. These products can be found at your local drugstore or pharmacy.

The occasional nodule pimple may clear up on its own. If your blemish is painful, you can ice the area to help relieve swelling.

There are no home remedies that can successfully treat cystic acne.

Why You Shouldn't Pop a Pimple

When you squeeze a pimple, you can drive the pus, dead skin cells, and excess oil deeper into the pore. This can make the blemish irritated, painful, and more obvious. Popping pimples can also cause an infection from bacteria on the fingers or permanent scars.

Topical Prescriptions

If OTC treatments fail to bring relief, more powerful topical medications may be prescribed. Ingredients in topical prescriptions treatments for acne include:

Topical combination medications are also prescribed for treating acne. These can include any combination of antibiotics, benzoyl peroxide, retinoids, or salicylic acid.

Cortisone Injections

Nodular and cystic acne can be treated with cortisone injections. Cortisone, an anti-inflammatory medication, helps reduce the redness, swelling, and pain of severe inflammatory acne breakouts.

Oral Antibiotics

Oral antibiotics are used to treat recurring acne breakouts. They work by reducing the bacteria responsible for most acne outbreaks.

Oral antibiotics commonly prescribed for acne include:

How Do You Know if Acne Is Bacterial?

Bacterial acne causes whiteheads with a red ring around the bump known as pustules. Most acne is caused by bacteria trapped in the pores. For moderate to severe breakouts, antibiotics may be prescribed.

Birth Control Pills

Acne breakouts related to the menstrual cycle can be controlled with oral contraceptives, also known as birth control pills. These work to reduce oil gland secretions by suppressing hormones known as androgens.

Oral contraceptives approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) specifically for the treatment of acne include Ortho Tri-Cyclen and Beyaz.

Anti-Androgen Medication

Aldactone (spironolactone) is another oral medication used to treat acne caused by menstrual-related hormone fluctuations.

Though not specifically an acne medication or commonly prescribed, Aldactone works to treat acne by suppressing androgens.

Isotretinoin

Isotretinoin is an oral medication commonly used to treat cystic acne. First sold under the brand name Accutane (now discontinued), isotretinoin is a naturally occurring component of vitamin A.

Isotretinoin works to treat acne by shrinking sebaceous glands, reducing dead skin cells’ ability to stick to glands and cause acne, and eliminating acne-causing bacteria in the glands and on the skin.

Isotretinoin is available as a generic and under the following brand names:

  • Absorica
  • Amnesteem
  • Claravis
  • Myorisan
  • Zenatane

Can You Prevent Pimples?

While not all pimples can be prevented, there are things you can do to minimize breakouts. This includes:

  • Be consistent with your skincare routine and use the right products for your skin type.
  • Wash your face twice a day with a gentle cleaner. 
  • Avoid irritating skin care products, astringents, toners, and exfoliants.
  • Look for products labeled alcohol-free, non-comedogenic, or non-acnegenic.
  • Don't overuse OTC acne treatments that contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, which can irritate your skin.
  • If you’re prone to oily hair, shampoo more frequently and keep your hair off your face. Oil from your hair can contribute to acne on your face and neck.
  • Minimize your sun exposure, use sunscreen, and avoid tanning beds.
  • Stay hydrated and eat a varied diet.

When to See a Dermatologist

Acne that doesn't clear up with OTC treatments can be treated by a dermatologist. Contact your healthcare provider if you have the following:

  • Cystic acne
  • Nodular acne
  • Pustule acne that is inflamed or does not clear up after 10 to 12 weeks of OTC treatment
  • Scars from nodular and cystic pimples

Summary

There are four main types of pimples: papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts. Papules and pustules can be treated at home. Try a benzoyl peroxide cleanser or a salicylic spot treatment.

Nodules and acne cysts may require help from a dermatologist. A dermatologist can give you a cortisone injection or prescribe medication that will help clear up your skin. 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is fungal acne?

    Fungal acne is often confused with hormonal acne. Also known as Malassezia or Pityrosporum folliculitis, it is caused by an overgrowth of yeast or fungus. Like hormonal acne, it starts in the hair follicles. Fungal acne causes whiteheads that often become red, inflamed, and irritated. It can also be very itchy.

  • What are blind pimples?

    A blind pimple is a pimple that forms under the skin and doesn’t have an obvious head. Some pimples start out as blind pimples before erupting into a white head. Blind pimples can be sore to the touch and may turn red. Do not try to pop a blind pimple. It will only make it more irritated—and obvious.

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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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By Angela Palmer
Angela Palmer is a licensed esthetician specializing in acne treatment.