Acne Terms You Should Know

Acne
Acne is a localized skin inflammation as a result of over activity of the oil glands at the base of hair follicles.

Acne Scars
Acne scars are caused by healing of inflamed acne lesions. Skin repairs itself after any injury by generating new collagen underneath. This deposit of new connective tissue causes the acne scar.

Bacteria
Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms which can exist either as independent (free-living) organisms or as parasites (dependent upon another organism for life).

Blackheads
Blackheads, also known as open comedones, are follicles that have a wider than normal opening. They are filled with plugs of sebum and sloughed-off cells and have undergone a chemical reaction resulting in the oxidation of melanin. This gives the material in the follicle the typical black color.

Clindamycin
Clindamycin is a common antibiotic for treating bacterial infection.

Closed Comedone
Closed comedone or the white head occurs when the comedonal plug blocks the small hair orifice from below and pushes it out as a skin colored small papule.

Comedone
A comedone or comedo is a collection of sebum and keratin inside the hair follicle. This is the primary lesion of acne.

Cyst
A cyst is a deep seated nodule that contains semisolid material or fluid. Cysts are seen in severe acne.

Dermatologist
A dermatologist is a skin care physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions that affect the skin, hair, nails, and mucous membranes.

Dermis
The dermis is the the middle layer of skin (between the epidermis and subcutaneous fat) which is made up of blood vessels, nerve endings, lymph vessels, hair follicles, sebaceous glands, sweat glands, and connective tissue.

Emollient
A topical application prepared of fat or oil that holds the moisture inside and softens and soothes the skin.

Epidermis
The epidermis is the superficial layer of the skin.

Erythromycin
Erythromycin is a common antibiotic for treating bacterial infection.

Inflammation
Inflammation is the basic way in which the body reacts to infection , irritation or other injury, the key feature being redness, warmth, swelling and pain .

Keratinization
The process through which the epidermal cells mature by deposition of the keratin. Keratin is a family of proteins that form the primary chemical components of the skin, hair, and nails.

Microcomedone
A microcomedone is the formation of the small keratinous plug at the hair follicle pore to block the release of the sebum to the surface.

Open Comedone
Open comedones are follicles that have a wider than normal opening. They are filled with plugs of sebum and sloughed-off cells and have undergone a chemical reaction resulting in the oxidation of melanin. This gives the material in the follicle the typical black color.

Over-the-counter (OTC)
Medication that can be purchased without the doctor’s prescription.

Papule
A papule is a small solid rounded bump rising from the skin that is usually less than 1 centimeter in diameter (less than 3/8 inch across).

Pilo-sebaceous Unit
This is the unit which consists of the hair follicle and the associated sebaceous glands, the main players in causing acne.

Pimple
A small papule or pustule . Pimples are sebaceous glands (oil glands) that are infected with bacteria, become inflamed, and fill with pus. Pimples are due to over activity of the sebaceous glands located at the base of the hair follicles, especially on the face, back, chest, and shoulders.

Prescription
A physician’s order for the preparation and administration of a drug or device for a patient. A prescription has several parts. They include the superscription or heading with the symbol “R” or “Rx”, which stands for the word recipe (meaning, in Latin, to take); the inscription, which contains the names and quantities of the ingredients; the subscription or directions for compounding the drug; and the signature which is often preceded by the sign “s” standing for signa (Latin for mark), giving the directions to be marked on the container.

Propionibacterium Acnes
P-acne bacteria are normal residents of hair follicle.

Pustule
A pustule is a small collection of pus in the top layer of skin (epidermis) or beneath it in the dermis. Pustules frequently form in sweat glands or hair follicles. Retinoids Vitamin A derivatives often used in topical or oral psoriasis and acne therapy.

Retinol
Retinol is vitamin A. Carotene compounds (found, for example, in egg yolk, butter and cream) are gradually converted by the body to vitamin A (retinol).

Salicylic acid
A keratolytic drug (a drug that removes the outer layer of skin) that is used to treat various skin conditions. Sebaceous glands Glands in the skin that secrete oil (sebum) to the surface of the skin.

Sebum
Sebum is the oily liquid produced by the sebaceous glands associated with the hair follicle. Normal function of sebum is to keep the moisture of the skin and make skin soft and supple.

Skin
The skin is the body’s outer covering. It protects us against heat and light, injury, and infection. It regulates body temperature and stores water, fat, and vitamin D.

Stress
Stress occurs when the demands upon an individual cannot be met with the resources available. Stress has far reaching effects on the body and mind. Stress has also been known to be a trigger for acne.

Sweat
A colorless transparent acidic fluid with a distinctive odor secreted by the small tubular sudoriferous (sweat) glands situated within the skin and under it in the subcutaneous tissue . The sweat glands discharge their fluid through tiny openings in the surface of the skin.

Tetracycline
A family of broad-spectrum antibiotics effective against a remarkably wide variety of organisms.

Topical Agent
A treatment such as a cream, salve, or ointment that is applied to the surface of the skin.

Vitamin A
Vitamin A is retinol. Carotene compounds (found, for example, in egg yolk, butter and cream) are gradually converted by the body to vitamin A (retinol).

White Blood Cells
Cells that help the body fight infection and disease.

Whitehead
Whiteheads occur when the comedonal plug blocks the small hair orifice from below and pushes it out as a skin colored small papule. If the inflammation is right near the surface, a pustule is formed; if it is deeper, a papule (pimple); deeper still and it becomes a cyst. If the oil breaks though to the surface, the result is a whitehead.