Pimples and acne are known to pop up when you definitely don’t want them.

Mostly, these pimples go away on their own. However, not all acne is the same.

Some varieties of acne, such as nodular acne, blackheads, pustules, etc., can be a little difficult to deal with and painful.

One such painful form is nodular acne.

Let us read about what it is, its causes, treatment and more.

What is Nodular Acne?

A nodule pimple or acne is a very severe form of acne.

There is a development of tough nodules, which are lumps or knots that appear deep under the skin.

These nodules have origins below the surface of the skin and manifest as red pimples on the surface.

In most cases, there is neither a whitehead nor a blackhead at the core of these lumps.

The nodules have the potential to persist for several weeks or even months.

According to studies, these nodules cause infection and inflammation.

They act as a repository for a bacteria known as Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes), which becomes trapped under your skin.

How to Identify Nodular Acne?

Acne nodules have the appearance of a tiny lump underneath the skin.

It may have the colour of the skin, but it also has the potential to turn red if the area around it becomes more inflamed.

People with nodular acne feel pain when it is touched. Some points of identification of nodular acne are:

• Lesions on the skin’s surface are red and irritated.
• There is no head.
• Bumps on your face, neck, or back that are excruciatingly painful.
• Generally of a large size.

Nodular Acne Causes

Anyone can be infected with nodular acne. Going by the studies, some possible nodular acne causes can be:

1. Genetics

It would appear that there is a hereditary component in developing nodular acne.

If one of your parents or siblings has nodular acne, you have an increased risk of developing the condition.

However, even if there is no history of acne in your family, it is still possible to get this type of acne.

2. Age and Lifestyle

Nodular acne is more prevalent in adults between 12 and 30. A nodular acne is a form of acne that affects the face and body and can also appear on the jawline, chin, and neck. In most cases, this grows significantly worse immediately before a period.

3. Some Other Causes

• Clogging of sebaceous glands. The sebaceous glands secrete oils (sebum) to keep the skin moist, and when the glands get clogged, it can lead to pimples and cysts.
• An overproduction of anaerobic bacterium Propionibacterium acnes. These are microorganisms that cause acne. P. acnes releases lipase that produces fatty acids by digesting sebum, causing inflammation of the skin.
• Presence of excessive androgen. An increase in androgen hormones might result in a greater quantity of skin oil that is also thicker and become the cause of acne. Androgens stimulate the sebaceous glands to generate more sebum or skin oil. This extra sebum plugs pores and provides food for bacteria that cause acne. Your skin then hosts the ideal environment for acne to flourish.