Acne can be described using many unfamiliar words. Here's what some of the common acne-related medical terms mean.
| Open comedones |
Blackheads - pores that are visibly blocked. |
| Closed comedones |
White heads - usually small skin coloured bumps indicating a blocked pore underneath. |
| Papules |
Red, soft, non-tender swellings of the skin. |
| Pustules |
Pus filled swellings of the skin. |
| Nodules & cysts |
Hard, often painful lumps sometimes deep into the skin. |
| Macules |
Flat, red or discoloured spot on the skin where acne is healing. May fade over weeks to months. |
| Scars |
Permanent mark in the skin after acne has healed - may be flat or deep. |
| Sebum |
The oil secreted by the sebaceous gland within the hair follicle. |
| Propionibacterium |
The bacteria commonly associated with acne. |
| Dermatologists |
Doctors who are specialists in skin disorders. |
| Topical treatments |
Creams, gels and lotions applied to the affected area of skin. |
| Oral treatments |
Tablets, capsules and medicines taken by mouth. |
| Non-comedo genic/Non acnegenic |
Products specially tested in acne prone individuals and proven not to clog pores and worsen acne. |
