Acne Types & Terms
Acne Terms Explained:
Acne conglobata: A very severe type of acne. Acne nodules are inter-connected under the skin by tube like bridges, leading to severe scarring from the inflammatory acne lesions.
Acne mechanica: This form of acne develops in response to skin that is mostly covered, heat, constant pressure, and/or repetitive friction over that skin area.
Acne vulgaris: The medical term for the most common acne. Usually with the characteristic presence of one or more of: whiteheads, blackheads, papules and pustules.
Androgenic: Secondary to the male hormones that stimulate the sebaceous (oil producing) glands to make sebum.
Androgens: Male hormones that stimulate sebaceous glands in addition to other effects on the body. Present in both males and females, androgens are responsible for physical maturation into males and thus occur in much higher levels in males. This is the reason males tend to have more severe acne than females, and is more prevalent during puberty when there is a surge of male hormones.
Antimicrobial: Anti-biotic medication that kills or suppresses bacteria and other microorganisms.
Blackhead: A non-inflammatory acne lesion that is filled with excess oil and dead skin cells. Blackheads are also called "open comedomes" because the surface of the skin remains open and the light refraction from the exposed oil makes it look dark.
Chloracne: A characteristic rash made up of multiple comedones (pimples) that develop from exposure to chlorinated chemicals, herbicides or industrial ingredients.
Closed comedome: A whitehead (see below), which is a non-inflammatory comedone with white center.
Comedo (plural: comedones): A characteristic acne lesion.
Comedogenic: Something that is likely to cause acne comedones.
Dermatology: is a branch of medicine dealing with the skin and its appendages (hair, sweat glands, etc). It is the science that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of medical or cosmetic conditions of the skin, hair, nails, veins, mucous membranes and adjacent tissues by various surgical, reconstructive, cosmetic and non-surgical methods. These may include laser surgery, cryosurgery, chemical surgery, aspirational surgery and excisional surgery. The purpose of dermatologic surgery is to repair and/or improve the function and cosmetic appearance of skin tissue.
Exfoliation: Removal of dead skin cells by mechanical or chemical means. Mechanical means may include microdermabrasion, shaving, lasers or other abrasives. Acid peels are the mainstay of chemical exfoliation. These can be done at professional offices by skin care professionals such as plastic surgeons, dermatologists and aestheticians.
Follicle: The tiny shaft in the skin through which a hair grows. It is also where sebum is excreted from sebaceous glands and reaches to the surface of the skin.
Hormones: Chemical substances produced by the body that help in orchestrating many body processes. Certain hormones cause physical maturation during puberty. These are the ones usually involved in acne.
Hyperpigmentation - Post-inflammatory: Excessive skin darkening in areas where the skin had undergone inflammation.
Hypopigmentation: Loss of pigment in an area of skin. This can be a result of inflammation or a direct damage to the melanocytes or skin pigment producing cells.
Inflammation: Inflammation is the complex biological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. It is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli as well as initiate the healing process for the tissue. Inflammation is not a synonym for infection. Even in cases where inflammation is caused by infection it is incorrect to use the terms as synonyms: infection is caused by an exogenous pathogen, while inflammation is the response of the organism to the pathogen. Inflammatory means that "causing inflammation." In acne, "inflammatory" is usually used to describe lesions that are inflamed by chemical reactions due to bacteria and production of various substances in the tissues around the clogged follicles.
Isotretinoin (Accutane): Potent systemic medication used to treat severe forms of acne. Due to potential birth defects, a woman must not take this medication while pregnant or breast feeding and must not become pregnant while taking isotretinoin.
Keloid: Large, raised scar that spreads beyond the size of the original wound. Sometimes inflamed and painful.
Lipids: Oily or fatty natural substances that include things like fats, oils and waxes. Sebum is made up of lipids. Some specific kinds of lipids such as free fatty acids, are irritating to the skin.
Macule: An area that is a flat spot or patch of skin that is not the same color as the surrounding skin. It may be darker or lighter.
Melanin: a natural body cell derived pigment that gives skin and hair its color.
Microcomedo: The first stage of comedo formation; a comedo so small that it is usually only seen under a microscope.
Nodulocystic acne: A severe form of acne that is characterized by numerous deep, inflamed pimples (nodules) and large, pus-filled comedones, that resemble boils (cysts). These nodules tend to be quite tender when touched and feel firm. The severe inflammatory response causes the acne to become red or even purple. Scarring often results when the acne heals.
Noncomedogenic: Not likely to cause comedones.
Noninflammatory: Comedones that are not associated with redness in the skin.
Open comedone: A blackhead (see above). A noninflammatory comedo with a dark top and solid contents.
Papule: An inflammatory comedo that resembles a small, red bump on the skin.
Papulopustular: A type of acne exhibiting both papules and pustules.
Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes): A normal resident on the skin,
P. acnes will multiply rapidly in clogged hair follicles where sebum is trapped. It is the bacterium mostly responsible for inflammatory acne lesions.
Puberty: The years of life when a child begins the physical maturation towards adulthood. Onset is usually in the early teens and is accompanied by a massive surge in hormone production.
Pustule: An inflammatory comedone that resembles a whitehead with a ring of redness around it. It contains pus which is a mixture of dead bacteria, bodily fluids and waste materials.
Retinoid: A natural or synthetic substance derivative of Vitamin A.
Sebaceous glands: Sebaceous glands are attached to hair follicles and are found mostly on the face, neck, back and chest. These glands in the skin produce an oily substance called sebum--these glands are the sites of acne lesions.
Sebum: An oily substance produced by sebaceous glands.
Steroid acne: Acne that develops due to a long-term use of corticosteroid medications.
Systemic therapy: Treatment that consists of taking medication internally, this may be in pill form, by injection under the skin or in the muscles or IV infusion into the veins.
Topical therapy: Treatment applied directly to the skin in the form of a lotion, cream or ointment. Could also apply to any laser or mechanical treatment applied on the skin surface.
White blood cells: Cellular components of the blood that help fight off infections and help in healing. These cells are also involved in mediating inflammation.
Whitehead: An acne lesion that forms when oil and skin cells block the opening of a hair follicle. For this reason, whiteheads are called "closed comedomes." This is because there is a very thin layer of skin cells covering the lesion and therefore reflects light.