ACNE IS EASY TO diagnose. It is the only skin disease in which comedones are present. Other skin diseases, such as rosacea and skin rashes caused by allergies or insect bites, may have red lesions that resemble papules, but there is an absence of comedones.

Therefore, the presence of comedones, whether alone or in combination with other skin lesions, indicates the presence of acne.

Treatment to Fit the Type and Severity of Acne

Once acne is diagnosed, the doctor evaluates the type and severity of a patient's lesions in order to determine what treatment is best. Acne treatment is individualized. It depends on the type of acne a person has as well as how severely acne lesions are inflamed. For example, treatment for whiteheads and blackheads focuses on removing dead skin cells that clog the follicles, while treatment for pustules is aimed...