The appearance and care methods of acne at each stage:
📌 1. Micro-acne stage (invisible blockage)
Characteristics: Oil and keratin accumulate in the pores to form tiny bumps, which are not easy to see with the eyes, and the skin feels rough and uneven.
Main points for care: Gentle cleansing + low-concentration salicylic acid to unclog pores and avoid worsening of oil accumulation.
2. Acne stage (non-inflammatory acne)
A. Whitehead acne (closed)
Features: The hair follicle opening is completely closed, forming a white/skin-colored conical papule, without redness or pain, and yellow-white sebum plugs can be squeezed out.
Care: Avoid squeezing, and use products containing retinoic acid to promote keratin metabolism.
B. Blackhead acne (open)
Features: The hair follicle is open, and the sebum plug oxidizes and turns black, forming black dot-like protrusions.
Care: Regular cleaning + mud mask to absorb oil, do not use tearing products to damage pores.
🔴 3. Inflammatory acne stage (active redness and swelling)
A. Papular acne
Characteristics: Acne inflammation forms red raised papules with a diameter of 1-5mm, painful when pressed, and no pus on the top.
Care: Anti-inflammatory essence (including Centella asiatica, tea tree oil) + topical application of antibiotic ointment.
B. Pustular acne
Characteristics: White/yellow pus appears on the top of the papule, with obvious redness and swelling around it, and a sense of fluctuation when touched.
Care: If the pus has not broken, apply an acne patch to absorb the exudate; if it has broken, disinfect it and apply a thin layer of antibacterial ointment.
⚫ 4. Severe acne stage (deep damage)
A. Nodular acne
Characteristics: dark red or purple-red hard nodules, diameter>5mm, deep into the dermis, severe pain when pressed, no pus head.
Risk: easy to leave scars or pigmentation.
Care: Need to see a doctor and take oral isotretinoin, etc., and do not squeeze it by yourself.
B. Cystic acne
Characteristics: subcutaneous cystic masses, elastic to the touch, often multiple fusions, accompanied by severe pain and obvious redness and swelling.
Risk: easy to form depressed scars or sinus tracts after healing.
Care: Puncture drainage + hormone injection under the guidance of a doctor, combined with systemic drug treatment.
🌈 5. Regression and repair period
A. Scabbing and desquamation
Characteristics: After the pustule or cyst ruptures, a yellow-brown scab is formed on the surface, accompanied by desquamation and dryness.
Care: Moist healing environment (hydrocolloid acne patch accelerates repair) + soothing and moisturizing.
B. Pigmentation and scars
Characteristics:
Erythema: Red marks left by post-inflammatory capillary dilation.
Pigmentation: Dark brown spots (inflammation stimulates melanin production).
Scars: Depressed ice pick scars or hypertrophic keloids.
Care:
✔️ Erythema: Choose redness-removing products containing dipotassium glycyrrhizinate and purslane.
✔️Pigmentation: VC derivatives + niacinamide ingredients inhibit melanin.
✔️ Scars: Silicone gel or fractional laser intervention.
Key Warning:
▶️ Do not squeeze immature inflammatory acne (especially in the triangle area) to avoid the spread of infection to the brain.
▶️ Nodular/cystic acne needs to be treated as soon as possible. Delaying treatment will significantly increase the risk of permanent scars.
