Yes, face acne can hurt, particularly if it's inflammatory.
The level of pain associated with face acne largely depends on the type of acne you're experiencing:
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Inflammatory Acne: This type of acne, which includes pimples deep within the skin filled with pus, is often sore or painful. Cystic acne is a prime example of inflammatory acne. The inflammation (swelling) contributes significantly to the pain.
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Noninflammatory Acne: Blackheads and whiteheads (comedones) fall under this category. Because these blemishes are closer to the skin's surface and typically aren't swollen, they are usually not painful.
Therefore, while some facial acne is indeed painful, particularly inflammatory types, not all acne will cause discomfort.
