What type of acne is primarily marked by the presence of pustules?

The correct answer highlights that inflammatory acne is characterized by the presence of pustules. Inflammatory acne occurs when the hair follicles become clogged with sebum and dead skin cells, leading to the presence of bacteria that cause inflammation. This inflammation can result in the formation of pustules, which are small, raised lesions filled with pus.

Pustules typically appear as red bumps with a white or yellow center and are indicative of an active inflammatory response in the skin. They are more severe than non-inflammatory acne, which primarily consists of closed comedones (whiteheads) and open comedones (blackheads) that do not cause significant inflammation or pus formation.

Hormonal acne can contribute to inflammatory lesions as well, but it does not solely identify the type of acne based on pustule presence. Cystic acne is a more severe form of inflammatory acne characterized by larger, painful cysts rather than just pustules. Thus, the defining feature of pustules is best captured by the classification of inflammatory acne.