Acne Symptoms

Medically reviewed by:

Dr Tom Micklewright - Medical Officer

Updated: Aug 18, 2021

Next review: Aug 18, 2022

Acne affects millions of people throughout the UK and causes spots, usually on your face, chest, shoulders or back.

It often starts during puberty, due to increased levels of testosterone in your body, and, in most people, it clears up by your mid-twenties.

However, you can experience it later in life, with adult acne being more common in women than men, due to fluctuating hormone levels.

You can find out more about the symptoms of acne below.

The symptoms of acne can vary from person to person. You may find that your acne makes your skin oily. The symptoms of acne can be mild or severe, and you may experience flare ups at certain times.

There are different types of spots caused by acne, which we have explained below:

Blackheads (open comedones) - small bumps that are black or yellow in colour
Whiteheads (closed comedones) – similar to blackheads, but with a harder feel and a white or yellow tip
Nodules - large, inflamed, painful lumps that are hard to touch
Papules - small red or pink inflamed bumps that feel sore
Pustules - inflamed bumps that feel sore, with a white or yellow head, caused by pus
Cysts - large pus-filled lumps

You may find that you only experience one type of spot, or you could have a mixture of different ones. They types of spots you have will help the doctor diagnose how severe your acne is.

Dr Tom Micklewright - Medical Officer

Acne symptoms

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