Table 1.

Types of acne

ACNE TYPE	DESCRIPTION OF CONDITION
No acne	Total absence of acne and blemishes
Subclinical acne	Small number of blackheads and whiteheads; barely visible; first sign of blemish
Comedonal acne	Blackheads and whiteheads (slightly inflamed—may be red); blemishes are visible
Mild acne	Several inflamed pimples—red in color    Less than 20 whiteheads/blackheads or less than 15 inflammatory (red) lesions (pimples) or less than 30 total lesions (pimples) not all inflamed (red in appearance)
Moderate acne	Many inflamed pimples (red in color) and pustules (visible accumulation of pus in skin)    20 to 100 whiteheads/blackheads or 15 to 50 inflammatory (red) lesions (pimples) or 30 to 125 total lesions (pimples) not all inflamed (red in appearance)
Severe nodular acne	Inflamed pimples and pustules (visible accumulation of pus in skin) with a few deep nodular lesions (solid mass can be felt under skin—can sometimes be raised)    Greater than 5 cysts (solid mass of skin like a knot, can be raised or felt under the skin) or total white-heads/blackheads count greater than 100 or total inflammatory count greater than 50 or greater than 125 total lesions
Severe cystic acne	Many nodular cystic lesions (with signs of scarring)