What Kind of Infection is Acne?

The answer to this question is not a simplistic one.  The truth is that there can be many causes of acne and there are various types of acne.  All acne is related to some sort of skin infection.  Clogged pores can become infected by various types of bacteria. 

The types of bacteria that normally cause acne breakouts include Propionibacterium acne, Corynebacterium acne, Staphylococcus albus and Pityrosporon ovale.  These bacteria can get trapped in the sebaceous glands and the hair root folillcles which can then lead to an infection.

Staph infections can cause eruptions on the surface of the skin.  These eruptions are pus-filled and can remain small pimples or they can develop into boils on the skin.  It all depends on how bad the infection gets.  One pimple here or there is not necessarily a staph infection though.  If you have a lot of pimples all over the face and shoulders it may be a staph infection.

Staph infections need to be diagnosed and treated by a doctor.  Antibiotics are prescribed to treat infections of all kinds.  Infections from dental sepsis and sinusitis can also cause acne.  These types of infections need to be treated by a medical doctor too.