Acne    
 

Grade  I:   Grade  II:   Grade  III:   Grade  IV:  

This  mildest  grade  of   Moderate acne. Considered severe The most serious and
acne  consists  primarily   Blackheads and and is often Grade II is Grade III left
of  blackheads  and   whitehead can break left untreated and untreated. The
whiteheads  that suffer out in greater made to worsen by condition is medically
numbers. They can squeezing the referred to as
no inflammation or
come in larger pimples and nodulocystic or cystic
reddening and are
papules with some maintaining the oily acne where the skin
most often seen in
appearing as large dirty face that displays numerous
adolescents in the
pustules with slight attracted those pustules, papules,
nose and forehead.  
inflammation getting bacteria at the onset.   pustules, with large
obvious.  The The main difference cysts. There is
outbreaks now now is the level of severe inflammation
appear on the inflammation with and pain as cystic
cheeks, chin and jaw the skin suffering acne is very painful.  
in addition to the Grade III acne Often the infection
nose and foreheads.   exhibiting more spreads beyond the
profuse reddening face and into the
and a greater neck, shoulders and
number of inflamed upper arms. The
papules and deep infection makes
pustules. This is the scarring inevitable
grade when infection and may even
spreads and require cosmetic
becomes deeper and surgery after to
the risk of scarring restore a decent
gets highest.   looking skin.  
 

Causes  of  Acne  

   

Genetics  /Adolescent   Cosmetic/Self-­‐ Hormonal/  Stress/  Birth-­‐Control/  

Induced/Picking/Sports   Climate  Changes  
 

Grade  I-­‐IV   Grade  I-­‐III   Grade  II-­‐IV  

 

This  type  of  Acne  at  any  grade  is   This  type  of  acne  is  curable  and   This  type  of  Acne  at  any  grade  is  
not  curable,  ONLY  controllable  if   controllable,  if  and  only  the   not  curable,  ONLY  controllable  if  
and  only  the  patient  follows  the   patient  discontinues  use  of  what   and  only  the  patient  follows  the  
recommended  treatments  and   is  causing  the  acne  or  stops   recommended  treatments  and  
routine  regime  at  home  or  when   physically  manipulating  the  skin.     routine  regime  at  home.    With  
patients  adolescent  “changes”   the  correct  hormonal  changes  
stop.     Acne  can  also  be  controllable.    
 

   

 
  
Larger  number  of          
  Blackheads  &  
Whiteheads  
  Severe  inflammation  
and  pain.  Numerous  
pustules  papules,  
pustules,  with  large    
Nodulocystic  or  Cystic      
         
Larger  number  of  
Blackheads  &  
Whiteheads  More  
profuse  reddening  and  
a  greater  number  of  
inflamed  Papules  and  
Pustules  
 
         
Larger  number  of  
Blackheads  &  
With  every  grade  of  
Whiteheads   acne  the  possibility  
Papules  &  Pustules  with   of  scarring  becomes  
slight  inflammation   greater.    

         
 
 
Blackheads  &  
Whiteheads  

  Grade  I   Grade  II   Grade  III   Grade  IV  

       
   
Acne  Severity  
Progression