Examine Common Acne Terms more





Acne is a kind of catch-all term that basically refers to eruptions on the skin that are caused by the effects of hormones on sebaceous glands. Specifically, in the human body, there are pilosebaceous units (made up of a hair follicle, sebaceous gland, and a hair) everywhere except in the palms of the hands, the soles, the top of the feet, the lower lip; and anywhere there are pilosebaceous units, a pimple or a blackhead can develop.

There are more pilosebaceous units on the face, neck, chest, and back, so that's where more pimples and blackheads develop.

The dictionary defines acne as: "an inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands, characterized by comedones and pimples, esp. on the face, back, and chest, and, in severe cases, by cysts and nodules resulting in scarring."

So let's talk about the most common terms that you will hear when acne is being discussed and what those terms mean.

1. Sebaceous glands: They produce an oily substance called sebum. These glands are where acne lesions appear on the skin. Sebaceous glands are attached to hair follicles.

2. Sebum: Sebum is a substance produced by the sebaceous glands.

3. Blackhead: A blackhead is an acne lesion that is not inflamed. It is filled only with excess oil and dead skin cells. Blackheads are also sometimes referred to as "open comedomes" because the surface of the skin is opened rather than closed.

4. Hair Follicle: A hair follicle is a tiny shaft in the skin that a hair grows through. Sebum is excreted from sebaceous glands to the surface of the skin through a hair follicle.

5. Whitehead: A whitehead is an acne lesion that forms when oil and skin cells block the opening of a hair follicle. Sometimes whiteheads are called "closed comedomes."

Lots of other terms are used when acne and its causes and cures are being discussed. These are only the very simple, basic terms.

Pimple On Lip

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Common Acne Terms