Your GP will be able to diagnosis acne by looking at your skin. This will involve examining your face, chest and back for the different types of spot, such as blackheads or sore, red nodules.
How many spots you have and how painful and inflamed they are will help determine how severe your acne is. This is important in planning your treatment.
Four grades can be used to measure the severity of acne:
- Grade 1 (mild) – acne is mostly confined to whiteheads and blackheads with just a few papules and pustules.
- Grade 2 (moderate) – there are multiple papules and pustules which are mostly confined to the face.
- Grade 3 (moderately severe) – there is a large number of papules and pustules as well as the occasional inflamed nodule. The back and the chest are also affected by acne.
- Grade 4 (severe) – there is a large number of large painful pustules and nodules.
