Once acne is diagnosed, the doctor evaluates the type and severity of a patient’s lesions in order to determine what treatment is best. Acne treatment is individualized. It depends on the type of acne a person has as well as how severely acne lesions are inflamed. For example, treatment for whiteheads and blackheads focuses on removing dead skin cells that clog the follicles, while treatment for pustules is aimed at destroying infection and reducing inflammation. In an effort to achieve these different goals, different medications are needed.