Glossary of Acne Terms

Acne: A skin disease of the sebaceous glands and hair noticeable by the flare-up of pimples or pustules, mainly on the face.

Acne Rosacea: Rosacea is slightly different from acne. Rosacea is often treated as a type of acne. Rosacea causes persistent redness over the face, nose, forehead and chin areas with a tendency to blush easily.

Acne Vulgaris: A common type of acne affecting people primarily during puberty and adolescence.

Allergen: A substance that acts as a trigger to cause an allergic reaction in the body.

Alpha Hydroxy Acid: AHA can be any of various fruit acids capable of capturing moisture within the skin and initiating the formation of a fibrous protein called collagen.

Androgen: A male hormone necessary for the normal sexual development of males produced naturally in the body.

Antigen: A substance capable of provoking an immune response when introduced into the body.

Artefacta: A skin condition marked by lesions that are solely produced or inflicted by the patient's own actions.

Atopic: It refers to diseases that are hereditary; tend to run within the families. A hereditary disorder with the tendency to develop immediate allergic reactions to substances such as pollen, food, dander, and insect venoms and manifested by hay fever, asthma, or similar allergic substances.

Atopic dermatitis: Atopic dermatitis is a chronic skin disorder characterized by intense itching, occurring in individuals predisposed to developing certain hypersensitivity reactions.

Azelaic Acid (Azelex Acid): Azelaic acid is an antibacterial that reduces the growth of bacteria in the follicle and is used to treat mild to moderate acne.

Bacteria: A group of living microorganism without the nucleus that causes infections.

Blackheads: Blackheads are the primary lesions in acne. A small black spot caused by the plug clogging of the skin pores.

Chronic: A chronic condition is one that is persistent and lasting condition.

Comedogenic: Anything that tends to produce or aggravate acne.

Comedones: Are small black spots caused by the plug clogging of the skin pores, known as blackheads.

Contact dermatitis: A type of allergic reaction of the skin caused by direct contact with a substance or a specific allergen.

Contagious: Capability of carrying a disease from one person to another.

Cysts: A cyst is a sac-like lesion containing liquid or semi-liquid material consisting of white blood cells, dead cells, and bacteria. A cyst is a sac-like lesion containing liquid or semi-liquid material consisting of white blood cells, dead cells, and bacteria.

Dermatitis: It is a chronic skin disorder. Itching and redness are the basic symptoms of dermatitis, which has a variety of causes, including allergies and exposure of the skin to irritants, such as chemicals or sunlight.

Dermis: A sensitive connective tissue layer of the skin located below the epidermis and above subcutaneous tissue. It contains the blood vessels, nerves, sweat glands, and hair follicles.

Eczema: Eczema is different from acne. It is a skin irritation characterized by red, flaky skin, sometimes with cracks or tiny blisters.

Epidermis: The outermost layer of skin.

Immune system: Body's natural defense system against foreign (or allergic) substances and organisms that could lead to illness.

Infection: the invasion of the body by microorganisms which reproduce and multiply, causing disease.

Inflamed papule: Papule is slightly different from acne. A red bump without an overlying pustule occurs when the inflammation is deeper and not able to point to the surface of the skin.

Keratinization: Process within the human body by which keratin is deposited in cells causing the cells to become horny, like nails and hair.

Laser surgery: A type of surgery that uses special light beams instead of instruments for surgical procedures.

Lesions: Lesion is an infected part of the skin. A wound or injury to the skin.

Macule: is a dermatological lesion and is noted by a change in color of the skin. It may be brown, blue, red or exhibit a lesser pigment or an absence of pigment. A temporary red spot left by a healed acne lesion and can persist for days to weeks before disappearing.

Mila: A non-inflammatory whitehead caused by retention of keratin in an oil gland blocked by a thin layer of epithelium.

Nodules: Nodule is a solid, dome shaped or irregularly shaped lesion extending to the deeper layers of the skin and inflammation is present. Nodules can be painful and may cause tissue destruction leading to permanent scarring.

Nodulo-cystic: A condition in which cysts and nodules occur together in a severe form of acne.

Papule: A papule is defined as a small solid raised bump, firm and reddish colored lesion that appears on the surface of the skin, which may also contain pus in some cases.

Photoderm: A new treatment for rosacea involves an intense light source that is fired at the facial skin to reduce redness.

Pimple: Pimple is an inflammatory skin condition in which the sebaceous gland of the skin is infected with bacteria hence becomes inflamed. The overactivity of the sebaceous glands can also cause pimples to come up. Pimples are usually seen on the face, back, chest, and shoulders.

Pus: Pus consists of a mixture of white blood cells, dead skin cells, and bacteria.

Pustule: Pustules are common in acne and are the yellowish topped small, pus-filled lesions. Pustules are common in acne and are the yellowish topped small, pus-filled lesions.

Pilosebaceous Unit: This unit is comprised of several different components, including the hair follicle and a sebaceous gland.

Rosacea: A chronic inflammation of the cheeks, nose, chin, forehead, or eyelids; which may cause redness, swelling or skin eruptions similar to acne. Also called acne erythematosa, acne rosacea.

Sebaceous cysts: is a closed sac or cyst below the surface of the skin filled with a fatty white, semi-solid material called sebum.

Sebaceous gland: A gland that secretes sebum for lubricating hair and skin.

Seborrheic dermatitis: A skin condition affecting the scalp, face and trunk causing scaly, flaky, itchy, red skin.

Sebum: An oily secretion of the sebaceous glands that moistens the skin.

Topical: A treatment that is designed for application on the surface of the skin only.

Telangiectasis: Damaged or dilated facial blood vessels, often visible on the surface of the skin.

Whitehead: Whiteheads are small white spots that are caused by collections of oil and skin in pores.