By Stacie Reid, Licensed Esthetician and Certified Laser Technician | Velicutis, Scottsdale, AZ | Last updated: September 28, 2026
There are six main types of acne. Blackheads and whiteheads are non-inflammatory clogged pores. Papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts are inflammatory breakouts that sit deeper and can scar. Knowing which types of pimples you have helps you choose the right care and avoid habits that make breakouts worse.
Key Takeaways
- Acne falls into two groups: non-inflammatory (blackheads and whiteheads) and inflammatory (papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts).
- The deeper a breakout sits in the skin, the higher its risk of leaving a dark mark or scar.
- A papule has no visible pus. A pustule has a white or yellow center.
- Fungal acne, milia, and rosacea bumps can look like acne but need different care.
- Nodules and cysts should never be squeezed at home and may need a medical provider.
The Two Main Categories of Acne
Every type of acne starts in the same place: a hair follicle clogged with oil and dead skin cells. What happens next decides the type. If the clog stays calm, you get a blackhead or whitehead. If the follicle wall gets irritated and your body reacts, you get red, swollen, inflamed acne.
We walked through how that clog forms in What Is Acne? Understanding How Acne Really Forms. This post picks up where that one left off.
Acne is common. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, acne affects up to 50 million Americans each year. About 85% of people between ages 12 and 24 have at least minor acne. Most people also have more than one type at the same time.
Non-Inflammatory Acne: Blackheads and Whiteheads
Non-inflammatory acne means clogged pores without redness, swelling, or pain. These clogs are called comedones. They are the mildest form of acne, but they still matter. Every inflamed pimple starts as a clog.
Blackheads (Open Comedones)
A blackhead is a clogged pore that stays open at the surface. The dark tip isn't dirt. It's oil and skin cells that darken when they meet air, the same way a cut apple turns brown.
That's why scrubbing harder doesn't help. You can't wash away oxidation. Blackheads show up most on the nose, chin, and forehead, where oil glands are larger.
A quick note on the nose: many "blackheads" there are actually sebaceous filaments. These grayish dots are a normal part of your oil glands. They refill within weeks after extraction, and they aren't acne.
Whiteheads (Closed Comedones)
A whitehead is a clogged pore sealed under a thin layer of skin. Because air can't reach it, the plug stays white or skin-colored. Whiteheads look like small, firm bumps, often on the forehead, nose, and chin.
Some whiteheads feel hard and won't budge. People call these "embedded" whiteheads. Digging at them with fingers or tools usually pushes debris deeper and tears the skin.
Inflammatory Acne: Papules, Pustules, Nodules, and Cysts
Inflammatory acne happens when a clogged follicle gets irritated and the skin's immune response kicks in. The result is redness, swelling, tenderness, or pus. These breakouts sit deeper than comedones, so they carry a higher risk of dark marks and scars.
The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases groups these four as the inflamed forms of acne. Here's how each one looks and feels.
Papules
A papule is a small, red, tender bump with no visible pus. It forms when the wall around a clogged follicle breaks down and the area gets inflamed. Papules often feel sore to the touch. Many turn into pustules after a few days.
Pustules
A pustule is an inflamed bump with a white or yellow center and a red ring around it. The center is pus, made of white blood cells that gathered to fight the irritation. This is the classic "pimple" most people picture.
Pustules on the face often cluster along the chin, jaw, and cheeks.
Nodules
A nodule is a large, hard, painful lump deep under the skin. It has no head and can last for weeks. Because the inflammation sits so deep, nodules can damage nearby tissue and leave scars.
Cysts
A cyst is a deep, soft, fluid-filled lump. Cysts are often the most painful type of acne and have the highest risk of scarring. When nodules and cysts show up together, people call it nodulocystic or cystic acne.
We want to be clear about scope here. Velicutis is a Scottsdale corrective skincare practice led by a licensed esthetician. We don't drain cysts or provide prescription care. If you get frequent deep, painful breakouts, a medical provider should be part of your care team. We're glad to work alongside them on skin health, texture, and scarring.
The 6 Types of Acne at a Glance
| Type | What It Looks Like | Depth | Inflamed? | Scarring Risk | Safe to Squeeze at Home? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackhead | Small dark dot, flat or slightly raised | Surface | No | Low | No, but a professional can extract it |
| Whitehead | Small white or skin-colored bump | Just under the surface | No | Low | No, but a professional can extract it |
| Papule | Red, tender bump with no pus | Shallow to mid | Yes | Moderate | No |
| Pustule | Red bump with a white or yellow center | Shallow to mid | Yes | Moderate | No |
| Nodule | Large, hard, painful lump with no head | Deep | Yes | High | Never |
| Cyst | Large, soft, painful, fluid-filled lump | Deep | Yes | Highest | Never |
What's the Difference Between Papules and Pustules?
The difference is pus. A papule is a red, tender bump with no visible center. A pustule is a papule that has filled with pus, which gives it a white or yellow head.
Papules often come first. As white blood cells collect in the follicle, a papule can turn into a pustule over a day or two. Both are inflamed, and both can leave dark marks if you squeeze them.
| Feature | Papule | Pustule |
|---|---|---|
| Color | Pink to red | Red base with a white or yellow center |
| Visible pus? | No | Yes |
| Feel | Firm and tender | Softer at the head, tender around it |
| Typical stage | Earlier | Later |
Is a Pustule the Same as a Whitehead?
No. A whitehead is a clogged pore with no inflammation, so the skin around it looks normal. A pustule is inflamed, with a red, swollen ring around a white or yellow head.
The fastest way to tell them apart is to look at the skin around the bump. No redness points to a whitehead. A red, sore ring points to a pustule. This matters because a professional can safely extract a whitehead, while a pustule needs time to calm down first.
What Are the Different Types of Pimples on Your Face?
The types of pimples on your face are the same six covered above. Where they show up can offer clues about what's feeding them. Think of these as patterns, not rules.
- Forehead: Whiteheads and small bumps often come from sweat, hair products, and hats. That's common during Scottsdale summers.
- Nose: Blackheads and sebaceous filaments, thanks to larger oil glands.
- Cheeks: Papules and pustules can flare from phones, pillowcases, and touching your face.
- Chin and jawline: Deeper, tender papules and nodules often line up with hormonal shifts.
Breakouts on your back, chest, or shoulders follow the same six types. Body skin has its own triggers, though, and our acne treatment programs cover body acne too.
Breakouts That Look Like Acne but Aren't
Not every red bump is acne. In consultations, we regularly see three look-alikes that need different care.
Fungal acne. Despite the name, this isn't true acne. Cleveland Clinic describes it as a buildup of yeast in the hair follicles rather than typical acne. It shows up as clusters of small, same-sized, itchy bumps, often on the chest, back, and hairline. Heat and sweat make it worse, so it's a real concern in the Valley. Standard acne products often don't help.
Milia. These are tiny, hard, white bumps, usually around the eyes and upper cheeks. They're trapped keratin under the skin, not clogged oil. They won't pop, and squeezing them only irritates the skin.
Rosacea bumps. Rosacea can cause red bumps and even pustules. The difference is flushing and ongoing redness across the center of the face, with no blackheads or whiteheads. Treating rosacea like acne often makes it angrier.
If your breakouts don't fit the acne pattern, talk it through before you buy another product. Some look-alikes are best handled by a medical provider.
How Do You Know Which Type of Acne You Have?
You can often tell by checking four things: color, head, depth, and how long the bump lasts. Try this quick self-check in good light:
- Look at the color. A dark dot means blackhead. A white or skin-colored bump with no redness means whitehead. Red means inflamed.
- Check for a head. A white or yellow center on a red bump means pustule. No center means papule.
- Press gently around it. A deep, hard, painful lump with no head points to a nodule. A soft, painful, deep lump points to a cyst.
- Track how long it lasts. Papules and pustules often clear within a week or two. Nodules and cysts can linger for weeks.
Online quizzes can point you in the right direction, but they can't see your skin. Most people have a mix of types, and look-alikes are easy to miss. A professional skin assessment takes out the guesswork, so you stop spending money on products that don't match your breakouts.
Why Your Acne Type Changes the Treatment Plan
Your acne type decides what will help and what will backfire. Clogs and inflammation need different things.
Blackheads and whiteheads respond best to steady exfoliation and professional extractions. At Velicutis, that often means chemical peels to loosen buildup and keep pores clear, paired with facials that include careful extractions. Peels fall under the Renew phase of the REID System, Stacie Reid's four-part method for clearing away buildup and keeping skin receptive to care.
Inflamed acne needs calming before anything aggressive. Harsh scrubs and heavy extraction can spread irritation and deepen marks. We start by settling the skin and supporting its barrier, then build from there.
Our acne treatment plans are built around your specific breakout types, not a one-size-fits-all product kit. Not sure where your skin fits? A consultation is an easy first step.
Why You Shouldn't Pop Inflamed Breakouts
Squeezing a papule, pustule, nodule, or cyst can push bacteria and debris deeper, tear the follicle wall, and spread the inflammation. That's how a pimple that would have healed in a week becomes a mark that lasts for months.
Those marks come in two main forms. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) shows up as brown spots. Post-inflammatory erythema (PIE) shows up as red or pink marks. Deep breakouts can also leave true scars, such as pitted or rolling scars.
We get the urge. Most people pick because a breakout feels urgent. A better move is to leave inflamed spots alone and let a professional handle extractions only when the skin is ready. If you already have texture or scarring from past breakouts, microneedling is one of the tools we use to improve it over a series of sessions.
Acne Care in Scottsdale With a Licensed Esthetician
Stacie Reid has been a licensed esthetician focused on corrective skincare since 2005. She started at a luxury resort in North Scottsdale and later served as lead esthetician at a Paradise Valley medical spa. As a certified laser technician, she went on to work with board-certified plastic surgeons. Today she runs Velicutis, a corrective skincare practice in Scottsdale.
Acne is our known specialty, and education is part of every visit. We explain what's happening in your skin, match care to your breakout types, and adjust as your skin changes. Clients come to us from Scottsdale, Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Carefree, Fountain Hills, and Rio Verde.
Arizona estheticians are licensed through the Arizona State Board of Cosmetology. Want more background first? Our Acne 101 page covers the basics in plain language.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Types of Acne
Have a question we didn't cover here? Our Acne FAQ page has more answers.
What are the 6 types of acne?
The six main types of acne are blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts. Blackheads and whiteheads are non-inflammatory clogged pores. Papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts are inflammatory, which means the skin is red, swollen, or sore. Some sources list seven types by adding fungal acne or hormonal acne. Fungal acne is a yeast problem in the follicle, not true acne. Hormonal acne describes a cause, not a lesion type, and usually shows up as papules, pustules, or nodules along the jaw and chin.
How do I get rid of papules?
Papules usually calm down on their own within a week or two if you leave them alone. Don't squeeze them. There's no pus to release, so pressure only spreads the inflammation. Keep your routine gentle, with a mild cleanser, a light moisturizer, and daily sunscreen to keep marks from darkening. Over-the-counter salicylic acid can help keep pores clear. If papules keep coming back, that points to an ongoing pattern, not a single spot. A professional acne plan looks at why they keep forming and builds a routine to reduce new ones.
How do you remove whiteheads permanently?
You can't keep a pore clear forever, but you can make whiteheads far less frequent. The goal is to stop dead skin cells from building up inside the follicle. Regular exfoliation, such as a leave-on salicylic acid (BHA) product or professional chemical peels, keeps skin shedding evenly. Non-comedogenic moisturizers and makeup help too. Stubborn whiteheads are best removed by a professional during a facial, with proper skin prep and clean technique. Picking at them yourself often leaves a mark that lasts longer than the whitehead would have.
How do you get rid of nodules?
Nodules sit deep in the skin, so at-home products rarely reach them. Never try to squeeze or lance a nodule. That can cause lasting damage and scarring. A warm compress may ease discomfort, but it won't clear the lump. If you get nodules often, see a medical provider, who can talk through options outside of esthetic care. At Velicutis, we work on the surface side. That means supporting the skin barrier, reducing the clogged pores that feed new breakouts, and treating scarring once active breakouts are under control.
How do you get rid of whiteheads overnight?
You can't safely clear a whitehead overnight. What you can do is avoid making it worse. Leave it alone, apply a spot product with salicylic acid if your skin tolerates it, and cover it with a hydrocolloid patch to keep your hands off. If the spot has already opened, the patch can also absorb some fluid. For a whitehead that won't budge before an event, a professional extraction is safer than a session at the bathroom mirror. It clears the clog without tearing the skin around it.
What causes pustules on the face?
Pustules form when a clogged pore becomes inflamed and white blood cells collect inside it, creating a white or yellow head. The clog itself comes from oil and dead skin cells that don't shed properly. Common triggers include hormonal shifts, sweat and heat, heavy skincare or makeup, friction from masks or phones, and touching your face. Scottsdale's heat can add to the problem when sweat sits on the skin. If pustules show up as tight clusters of same-sized, itchy bumps, that pattern can point to fungal acne instead.
What is the hardest type of acne to get rid of?
Cystic and nodular acne are the hardest types to clear. They form deep in the skin, last for weeks, and carry the highest scarring risk. Surface products can't reach them, and squeezing makes them worse. Most people with frequent cysts or nodules benefit from seeing a medical provider. Once active breakouts are under control, corrective skincare can help with what's left behind, such as uneven texture and dark marks. Blackheads can also feel stubborn, but that's usually because they refill without steady exfoliation.
Are blackheads a type of acne?
Yes. Blackheads are the mildest type of acne, also called open comedones. They form when a pore clogs with oil and dead skin cells and stays open at the surface. The dark color comes from oxidation, not dirt. Blackheads aren't inflamed, so they rarely scar. They're still worth addressing, because clogged pores are where inflamed breakouts begin. Some dark dots on the nose are sebaceous filaments, not blackheads. Those are a normal part of the skin and will always refill.
Can an esthetician treat cystic acne?
A licensed esthetician can support people with cystic acne but can't provide medical treatment for it. Estheticians don't prescribe medication, drain cysts, or inject breakouts. What we can do is care for the skin alongside a medical plan. That includes calming facials, managing surface clogs, guiding a routine that won't irritate, and treating acne scars once cysts are under control. If you have active cystic acne, see a medical provider and let us know who's on your care team so we can work in step with them.
How do I know if my acne needs professional treatment?
It's time for professional help if your acne has lasted more than a few months, keeps coming back in the same spots, or leaves dark marks or scars. Other signs include breakouts that hurt, products that have stopped working, or bumps you can't identify. A professional skin assessment sorts out which types of acne you have and what's feeding them. For deep, painful cysts or nodules, start with a medical provider. For clogged pores, recurring papules and pustules, and post-acne marks, a licensed esthetician can build a plan around your skin.
Your Next Step: Find Out What Your Breakouts Are Telling You
Every breakout type tells you something. Blackheads and whiteheads point to clogs. Papules and pustules point to inflammation. Nodules and cysts point to deeper activity that may need medical care. Once you know which types you have, you can stop guessing and start caring for your skin the right way.
At Velicutis, we help clients across Scottsdale and the greater Phoenix area understand their skin before we treat it. Your visit starts with a skin assessment and a clear explanation of what we see, with no pressure.
Ready to find out what your skin needs? Book a consultation with Velicutis or call us at (602) 737-1339.