Definitions

Click on the word or icon for the definition or pronunciation of the following words:
"acne"		acne treatments		salicylic acid
acne medicines		adult acne		sulfur
acne products		blackhead		pimple
acne rosacea		benzoyl peroxide		whitehead
acne scars		cystic acne		zit

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ac·me [ákmee ] (plural ac·mes [ákmees ]) noun

1. highest point: the highest point of perfection or achievement.

2. MALAPROPISM acne: the misuse of the word through confusion with the word "acne," which sounds similar, although has an entirely different meaning.

[Late 16th century. From Greek akme , literally "highest point." Ultimately from the same Indo-European ancestor that produced English "acid," "edge," and "oxygen."]

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**derived from "acne" and "medicine"

ac·ne med·i·cine [áknee méddessin ] (plural ac·ne med·i·cines [áknee méddessins ]) noun

1. drug for treating acne: a drug or remedy used to treat the disease of the skin known as acne vulgaris.

2. treatment with medicine: treatment of acne using drugs.

3. treatment of acne: the diagnosis and treatment of acne and its complications.

4. prescription medicine: a drug prescribed by a doctor or nurse, generally in the form of a topical substance or a tablet, used to cure and prevent acne.

• common acne medications include: Retin-A®™ Benzamycin™ Acnesil™ Salicylic acid acne "pads," and Benzoyl Peroxide lotions.

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**derived from "acne" and "product"

ac·ne prod·uct [áknee pró dùkt ] (plural ac·ne prod·ucts [áknee pró dùkts ]) noun

1. something made or created to treat acne: something that is made or created by a person, machine, or natural process, especially something that is offered for sale, designed to treat, cure, or prevent the disease of the oil-secreting glands of the skin known as acne.

2. company's goods or services: the goods or services produced by a company designed to treat acne, generally offered in the form of a liquid, cream, soap, or a pill.

3. CHEMISTRY chemical substance: a substance produced in a chemical reaction, generally the active ingredient of a medication designed to clear acne pimples.

• common acne products include: salicylic acid, retinol, benzoyl peroxide, triclosan, and green tea extract.
  

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**derived from "acne," and "rosacea"

ac·ne ro·sa·ce·a [áknee ro záyshe ] noun

1. MEDICINE skin disease of the face: a recurring, inflammatory form of acne which occurs on the skin of the nose, cheeks, and forehead and is characterized by swelling, dilation of capillaries, pimples, and a reddened appearance.

2. severe acne: a most severe form of acne, more common among adolescents, resulting in a highly unattractive appearance and numerous scars.

[Late 19th century. Via modern Latin (acne) rosacea "rose-colored (acne)" from Latin rosacea, feminine of rosaceus .]

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**derived from "acne," and "scar"

ac·ne scar [áknee skaar ] (plural ac·ne scars [áknee skaars ]) noun

1. mark on skin after wound heals: a mark left on the skin after an acne pimple or blackhead has healed over.

2. mark on surface: a mark on the surface of the skin, most often the face, caused by the damage rendered by a serious case of acne vulgaris.

3. result of severe acne: a deep, pitted scar formed by severe acne, often caused or enhanced by irritation and squeezing.

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**derived from "acne," and "treatment"

ac·ne treat·ment [áknee tréetment ] (plural ac·ne treat·ments [áknee tréetment ]) noun

1. MEDICINE provision of medical care: the application of medical care to cure acne or ease its symptoms.

2. MEDICINE medical care: a particular remedy, procedure, or technique for curing or alleviating acne vulgaris.

3. pharmaceutical or cosmetic product: a pharmaceutical or cosmetic product, typically a liquid, lotion, or soap, used to treat and prevent acne.

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**derived from "adult," and "acne"

a·dult ac·ne [e dúlt áknee, á dùlt áknee ] noun

1. skin condition: a less-common form of acne which persists even in the adult years of life.

2. skin disease: a disease of the oil-secreting glands of the skin producing blackheads and pimples on the face, neck, and shoulders that can leave pitted scars.

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black·head [blák hèd ] (plural black·heads [blák hèds ]) noun

1. dark blocked pore: a small plug of dark fatty matter blocking a follicle on the skin, especially on the face.

2. skin condition: a clogged follicle, often associated with acne, resulting in the unattractive appearance of small, dark spots on the skin.

3. VETERINARY MEDICINE fowl disease: an infectious disease of turkeys and related fowl resulting in darkened head skin. It is caused by a protozoan.

4. BIRDS bird with black head: a bird with a dark-colored head, especially a duck or gull.

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**derived from "benzoyl" and "peroxide"

ben·zo·yl per·ox·ide noun

1. substance used in treating skin disorders: a toxic white crystalline solid with antibacterial properties used in the form of a lotion, cream, or dusting powder to treat skin disorders such as ulcers and acne.

2. chemical compound: a compound formed of benzoyl (C6H5CO-) and peroxide (-O2-).

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**derived from "cystic," and "acne"


cys·tic ac·ne [sístik áknee ] noun

1. relating to cyst: large, inflamed lesions filled with pus that occur when the contents of a clogged pore seeps into the skin, thus producing a significant local immune response.

2. variety of acne: a type of acne forming in the lower layer of skin, made up of a fluid or semisolid filled sac, that can be especially painful and leave deep scars.

3. medical condition: a serious form of acne best and most safely treated by prescription antibiotics.

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sal·i·cyl·ic ac·id [sàlli sìllik ássid ] noun

1. acne treatment: a compound found in a large number of acne products, used as a tissue destroyer to dry out and clear up acne blemishes.

2. substance used to make aspirin: a white crystalline acid used in making aspirin and dyes and to preserve foods.

3. chemical compound: the chemical compound C7H6O3.

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sul·fur [súlfer ] or sul·phur [súlfer ] noun

1. yellow nonmetallic element: a nonmetallic yellow chemical element that occurs alone in nature or combined in sulfide and sulfate minerals and is used to make sulfuric acid, matches, fungicides, and gunpowder (atomic symbol symbol "S").

2. drying agent: an element used in acne treatments to dry out and reduce the size of large acne blemishes.

3. yellowish-green color: a yellowish-green color.

• sul·fur adjective
  
• sul·fur·y adjective

[14th century. Via Anglo-Norman sulf(e)re, from, ultimately, Latin sulfur, sulphur.]

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pim·ple [pímp'l ] (plural pimples [pímp'ls ]) noun

1. inflamed skin blemish: a small inflamed or pus-filled spot on the skin.

2. skin condition: an infected spot of skin caused by a disease of the oil-secreting glands of the skin that often affects adolescents, producing such inflamed spots on the face, neck, and shoulders that can leave pitted scars

[14th century. From an alteration of the base that produced Old English piplian "to break out in spots."]

• pim·pled adjective
  
• pim·ply adjective
  

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white·head [wit hèd , hwit hèd ] (plural white·heads [wit hèds , hwit hèds ]) noun

1. pimple: a small pimple with a whitish top formed when a sebaceous gland becomes blocked. Technical name milium

2. skin infection: an infected area of skin which becomes so full of puss, that the white color of the puss is visible through the skin.

3. treatable acne: one form of acne which is generally easy to treat through use of common compounds such as salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide.

[Mid-20th century. Modeled on blackhead.]

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**derived from "vitamin" and "see"

zit [zit ] (plural zits [zits ]) noun

1. SLANG skin blemish: a pimple on the skin.

2. skin condition: an infection caused by a disease of the oil-secreting glands of the skin that often affects adolescents, producing blackheads and pimples on the face, neck, and shoulders that can leave pitted scars. Technical name acne vulgaris

3. blemish on face: an unattractive infection on a spot of skin of the face which is swollen and red.

• zit·ty adjective

[Mid-20th century. Origin unknown.]

Disclaimer:

Acne Treatment Information Organization is not prescribing medications or diagnosing diseases or skin conditions.  Always consult with your health care provider before applying any product, adding any substances to your diet, or making any lifestyle changes.  The web site and its product reviews are our opinions only,  and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.