When researching acne and acne treatments, you may come across a lot of words and terms that you are unfamiliar with. This is perfectly normal, as acne is a medical condition and a lot of the medical terminology used when talking about it can be rather confusing.
However, it is important to understand what these words mean, which is why we’ve put together this list of many of the common terms used when discussing acne.
While this list in not comprehensive, we have tried to include as many terms as possible. If you are wondering what a word mean and it’s not on this page, please use the contact form to let us know and we’ll add it as soon as possible!
A
Aberela – Trade name for tretinoin.
Accutane – Trade name for isotretinoin. Manufactured by Roche, but discontinued in 2008 in favor of the name Roaccutane.
Acne – Typically synonymous with acne vulgaris, but also used as a broad term to refer to any type of acne.
Acne Comedonica – Non-inflammatory acne comprised mostly of blackheads (open comedones).
Acne Conglobata – A very severe form of cystic and nodular acne.
Acne Cosmetica – Acne which is caused by makeup or cosmetics.
Acne Fulminans – Sudden onset acne conglobata.
Acne Mechanica – Acne which is caused by irritation from clothing or sporting equipment.
Acne Medicamentosa – Acne which is primarily caused by drugs or medications.
Acne Rosacea – Skin condition characterized by redness of the face.
Acne Vulgaris – A skin condition characterized by portions of the skin containing redness, comedones, papules, pustules, nodules or cysts. Everyday, garden variety acne.
Adaferin – Trade name for adapalene, used in India.
Adapalene – Topical retinoid used to treat mild-to-moderate acne.
AHA – Alpha hydroxy acid.
Airol – Trade name for tretinoin.
Alpha Hydroxy Acid – A group of chemical compounds, but often used to refer specifically to glycolic acid.
Amnesteem – Trade name for isotretinoin.
Androgen – Male sex hormone, although it’s also found in women to a lesser extent.
Antibiotic – A substance which is antagonistic to the growth of certain organisms. Specifically, antibiotics can kill the P. acnes bacteria.
Atralin – Trade name for tretinoin.
Avage – Trade name for tazarotene.
Avita – Trade name for tretinoin.
B
BenzaClin – Trade name for a combination of 1% clindamycin and 5% benzoyl peroxide.
Benzoyl Peroxide – An organic compound used to treat acne vulgaris. Capable of killing the P. acnes bacteria.
Beta Hydroxy Acid – A group of chemical compounds, often used to specifically refer to salicylic acid.
Blackhead – A type of acne blemish, also referred to as open comedones.
Blemish – A broad, non-medical term used to refer to any type of lesion or mark on the skin.
Boxcar Scar – A type of depressed acne scar with angular, well-defined edges.
C
Claravis – Trade name for isotretinoin.
Clarus – Trade name for isotretinoin.
Clindamycin – Topical antibiotic used to treat acne.
Closed Comedone – Medical name for the small, raised bumps otherwise known as whiteheads.
Comedogenic – Capable of clogging pores.
Comedone – A plugged or clogged hair follicle, which may be open or closed.
Cyst – A large, inflammatory nodule in the skin, typically more than 5mm in diameter.
Cystic Acne – A type of acne characterized by the presence of inflammatory cysts and nodules.
D
Decutan – Trade name for isotretinoin.
Dermatologist – A doctor who specializes in treating skin conditions.
Dermis – The layer of skin between the deeper subcutaneous tissue and the epidermis (outer layer).
Differin – Trade name for adapalene.
Doxycycline – An antibiotic belonging to the tetracycline group, used to treat acne.
Duac – Trade name for a combination of 1% clindamycin and 5% benzoyl peroxide.
E
Epidermis – The outermost layer of skin.
Epiduo – Trade name for an acne medication containing 0.1% adapalene and 2.5% benzoyl peroxide. Marketed by Galderma.
Erythromycin – Antibiotic commonly used to treat acne vulgaris.
Exfoliate – The removal of old, dead skin cells from the outermost layers of skin.
F
Folliculitis – A skin condition characterized by inflamed hair follicles. Often confused with acne vulgaris or cystic acne.
G
Genes – Within the context of acne, the predisposition inherited from parents.
Genetics – The study of genes. In layman’s terms, the traits inherited from your parents.
Glycolic Acid – An alpha hydroxy acid commonly used as a chemical peel to treat acne.
H
Hypertrophic Scar – A type of severe, raised acne scar.
Hypodermis – The deepest layer of skin, also known as subcutaneous tissue.
I
Ice-Pick Scar – A type of acne scar characterized by deep, narrow pits in the skin.
Inflammation – A biological response to stimuli characterized by redness, swelling, and possibly pain.
Isotane – Trade name for isotretinoin.
ISOTRET – Trade name for isotretinoin.
Isotrex – Trade name for topical isotretinoin.
Isotrexin – Trade name for topical isotretinoin.
Isotretinoin – A oral retinoid used to treat severe acne. Best known under the common trade name Accutane.
Izotek – Trade name for isotretinoin.
J
K
Keloid Scar – Another name for hypertrophic scarring.
L
Lesion – Any abnormal tissue found on an organism. Used as a broad term to refer to acne blemishes.
M
Milia – Plural of milium.
Milium – A small, keratin-filled cyst just below the epidermis.
Minocycline – An antibiotic belonging to the tetracycline group, used to treat acne vulgaris.
N
Nodule – A papule of more than 5mm in diameter.
Non-comedogenic – Not capable of clogging pores.
O
Open comedone – Medical term for blackheads.
Oral – Refers to medications taken by mouth, rather than applied to the skin (topical).
Oratane – Trade name for isotretinoin.
P
P. acnes – Abbreviation of propionibacterium acnes.
Panmycin – Trade name for tetracycline.
Papule – A solid elevation of skin of less than 5mm in diameter with no visible fluid.
Pimple – Broad term which is usually used to refer to papules and pustules.
Pore – A structure of the skin used to excrete sweat.
Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation – The red or brown marks left on the skin from acne blemishes.
Propionibacterium acnes – A bacteria found naturally on the skin which is known to be a cause of acne.
Pus – A white/yellow secretion produced during inflammatory bacterial infections.
Pustule – A solid elevation of skin of less than 5mm in diameter with visible fluid or pus.
Q
R
Refissa – Trade name for tretinoin.
Renova – Trade name for tretinoin.
Retin-A – Trade name for tretinoin.
Retin-A Micro – Trade name for tretinoin.
Retinoid – Derived from vitamin A.
Roaccutane – Trade name for isotretinoin.
Rolling Scar – A type of acne scar characterized by a rolling or wave-like appearance of the skin.
Rosacea – Common shortened name for acne rosacea.
S
Salicylic Acid – A beta hydroxy acid used to treat acne vulgaris.
Scar – Area of fibrous tissue which replace normal skin tissue after injury.
Sebaceous Gland – Microscopic glands in the skin that secrete sebum.
Sebum – Oily, waxy substance secreted by the sebaceous glands. Comprised mostly of lipids (fats), wax, and dead cell debris.
Sotret – Trade name for isotretinoin.
Steroid – A type of organic compound which helps control or regulate a certain function within the body.
Stieva-A – Trade name for tretinoin.
Stratum Corneum – The outermost layer of the epidermis, consisting of dead skin cells.
Subcutaneous Tissue – The deepest layer of skin; hypodermis.
Sumycin – Trade name for tetracycline.
T
Tazarotene – A topical retinoid used to treat acne vulgaris.
Tazorac – Trade name for tazarotene.
TCA Peel – Trichloroacetic acid peel.
Terramycin – Trade name for tetracycline.
Testosterone – A type of androgen; male sex hormone.
Tetracycline – An antibiotic used to treat acne. Also refers to a broad group of antibiotics used to treat acne.
Tetracyn – Trade name for tetracycline.
Topical – Applied to the skin, as opposed to taken by mouth (oral).
Tretinoin – The acid form of vitamin A, used as a topical acne vulgaris treatment.
Trichloroacetic acid – A type of strong chemical peel used to exfoliate and regenerate outer layers of skin
U
V
Vitamin A – Retinol, a vitamin from which many acne medications are derived (retinoids).
Vitamin B5 – A vitamin often taken in mega doses to treat acne.
Vitamin C – L-ascorbic acid, a vitamin used to treat acne and reduce the appearance of scars.
Vitamin E – A vitamin essential to the health of the skin, sometimes used to treat acne.
Vibramycin – Trade name for doxycycline.
W
Whitehead – Term which refers to closed comedones.
X
Y
Z
ZENMED – A line of skin care products intended to treat acne and acne scars.
Zinc – A mineral essential to the health of the skin, sometimes taken to treat acne.
Zit – Non-medical term used to refer to comedones, papules, and pustules.
Zorac – Trade name for tazarotene.
