Therapy is directed by the type and severity of the lesions. In comedonal acne, the predominant lesions are open and closed comedones. A few small inflammatory papules and pustules may be present. When papules and pustules are the predominant lesions, however, larger numbers of P. acnes organisms in the skin lesions and evidence of follicular wall degeneration and rupture are present. Papulopustular acne leads to scarring and requires prompt and aggressive intervention.
Nodulocystic acne comprises a broad spectrum of clinical presentations.
The disease name acne is subjected to more modifiers than are nearly all of the other disease names in medicine.