Mar 11
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Acne Terms Explained
Acne is a skin condition that presents itself in many formats. We’ve provided this resource as a helpful reference point, explaining exactly what is meant by terms such as pustule, blackhead, acne rosacea, cystic acne and a whole lot more.
Acne
An inflammatory disease of the skin in which the sebaceous glands become clogged and infected. This often causes the formation of pimples, especially on the face. Acne is most common during adolescence, but also occurs in infants and adults.
Acne Conglobata
Acne conglobata is a chronic and severe form of acne vulgaris, characterized by deep abscesses, inflammation, severe damage to the skin, scarring and blackheads.
Acne Fulminans
Acne fulminans is a sudden onset of highly destructive inflammation. It appears suddenly in a person with inflammatory acne and is characterized by symptoms of severe and often ulcerating acne, fever, inflammation and aching of joints, especially hips and knees.
Acne Rosacea
A skin disease occuring in adults (particularly women) in which blood vessels of the face enlarge resulting in a flushed appearance.
Acne Vulgaris
The most common form of acne. Acne Vulgaris usually affects people from puberty to young adulthood. The face and upper neck are the most commonly affected, but the chest, back and shoulders may have acne as well. The upper arms can also have acne, but lesions found there are often keratosis pilaris, not acne.
Blackhead
A plug of keratin and sebum within a hair follicle that is blackened at the surface. Also often reffered to as a comedo.
Cystic Acne
A severe form of acne wherein acne develops into small cysts. Also known as nodulocystic acne.
Comedone
A blackhead, medically known as an open comedo, is a yellowish or blackish bump or plug on the skin. A blackhead is a type of acne vulgaris. It is caused by excess oils that have accumulated in the sebaceous gland’s duct.
Gram-Negative Folliculitis
A Gram negative folliculitis is an inflammation of follicles caused by a bacterial infection that can result from long-term antibiotic treatment. Patients who are being treated with antibiotics for severe acne may develop Gram negative folliculitis.
Nodulocystic Acne
Often reffered to as cystic acne, see the cystic acne description.
Pimple, Pimples
A pimple is a result of a blockage of the skin’s pore. See Acne vulgaris.
Pustule
A pustule (or abscess) is a collection of pus that has accumulated in a cavity formed by the tissue on the basis of an infectious process (usually caused by bacteria or parasites). It is a defensive reaction of the tissue to prevent the spread of infectious materials to other parts of the body.
Spot, Spots
Colloquialism for pimple, often referenced as acne (mainly used in the UK)
Whitehead
A small, white or yellowish cyst like mass just below the surface of the skin, caused by retention of the secretion of a sebaceous gland. Also called milium.
Zit, Zits
Colloquialism for pimple
