For many people, acne begins as a few small pimples that disappear after several days. But sometimes, what starts as an ordinary breakout develops into something much more uncomfortable.

Imagine waking up every morning with painful, swollen bumps beneath your skin.

You try different face washes, creams, and home remedies, hoping the problem will finally disappear.

But instead of improving, the breakouts become larger, deeper, and increasingly painful.

Even touching your face can feel uncomfortable.

This may be a sign of severe inflammatory acne, including nodular or cystic acne.

Unlike ordinary pimples, these deeper lesions can remain beneath the skin for weeks and may leave lasting scars.

And here’s something many people don’t realize.

Severe acne isn’t necessarily caused by poor hygiene, and washing your face more frequently won’t always solve the problem.

There are several reasons these painful breakouts can develop.

Continue reading in Part 2 below to discover what causes severe acne and which treatments may help.