Microcomedone

1
Microcomedone

• Smallest lesion - cannot be seen without a
  microscope
• Clogged pore, follicle wall beginning to be
  stretched by trapped sebum
• If it ruptures then an inflammatory lesion will
  develop
• If it doesnt rupture leads to open or closed
  comedo

2
Open Comedone - Blackhead

• Cells and sebum firmly compacted inside follicle
• Not dirt
• Cant be washed away
• Can be extracted only by a professional using a
  comedo extractor
• Squeezing can lead to inflammation or infection

3
Closed Comedone - Whitehead

• Skin coloured or white
• Look like small bumps on or under the skin
• the opening is closed or very narrow

4
Comedone

5
Macule

• Temporary red mark left by healed acne lesion
• May persist for days to weeks
• Many macules can contribute to the generalised
  inflammed face look of acne sufferers

6
Macule
Note underlying red appearance
7
Papules

• Typical pimples
• Small firm reddish lesions, no pus
• Sometime intermediate step between
  noninflammatory and inflammatory lesions

8
Papules
9
Pustule

• Small like papules
• Inflammation from chemical irritation not
  infection
• Contain visible pus
• If it heals without progressing to cystic form,
  it is unlikely to scar

10
Pustule
Mix of pustules papules and comedones
11
Nodules

• Sometimes referred to as cysts
• The most extreme lesions seen in acne
• Large and inflammatory
• Contain large amounts of pus
• Contents of the comedo have spilled in to the
  skin
• Painful
• Scar

12
Cystic or Nodular Acne
13
Normal distribution of acne