Acne vulgaris
Commonly referred to simply as "acne," this skin condition affects 90% of all adolescents and 50% of adult women. It is caused by the clogging of tiny hair follicles on the face and body, and is characterized by unsightly and often painful lesions on the surface of the skin and below. Contrary to popular belief, acne is not caused by dirt, but by five factors working together: Hormones, extra oil production, uneven skin shedding, bacteria and inflammation.
Allantoin
An active skin protectant used for its healing, softening and moisturising properties. Derived from comfrey, allantoin stimulates healthy tissue growth and acts as an anti-irritant.
Benzoyl peroxide
Available in both over-the-counter solutions and prescription treatments, Benzoyl peroxide works by destroying P. acnes, the bacteria that causes the condition acne. It acts as an antiseptic and oxidizing agent, reducing the number of blocked pores. In 80 years of use, there has been no bacterial resistance to benzoyl peroxide; it is the cornerstone of acne therapy.
Blackhead (or open comedo)
A blocked pore in which the "plug" enlarges and pushes through the surface of the skin. The plug's dark appearance is not due to dirt, but rather due to a buildup of melanin, the skin's dark pigment.
Closed comedo (or whitehead)
If the plug in the follicle stays below the surface of the skin, the lesion is called a closed comedo, or whitehead. These usually appear on the skin as small, whitish bumps.
Combination Therapy®
Combination Therapy is a revolutionary acne management system that uses a combination of products to heal current pimples and help stop new ones from forming. Proactiv® Solution combines the finest ingredients - salicylic acid to unclog pores, benzoyl peroxide to kill bacteria, sulfur to absorb oil and soothe inflammation, natural botanicals to hydrate and heal - all in one easy-to-use system.
Comedo (plural: comedones)
When dead skin cells mix with sebum and get trapped in the opening of a follicle, this is a comedo - the raw material for every kind of acne lesion. It acts like cork in a bottle, trapping dirt, bacteria and sebum inside the follicle, eventually resulting in an acne lesion.
Comedogenic
Substances that are likely to clog your pores.
Cyst
See nodule.
Dandruff (seborrheic dermatitis)
Yes, you can still wear make-up...but always look for products that are non-comedogenic and oil-free. And always remove make-up before working out. Check out the Sheer Cover line of mineral make-up at www.sheercover.in for a flawless finish without harming the skin.
Exfoliate
Pimples are born when dead skin cells mix with excess oil, creating a plug that blocks the pore. Since people with acne-prone skin tend to shed cells unevenly, gentle exfoliation with a mild peel or a finely milled scrub can help by encouraging the skin's natural sloughing process - lifting away dead cells before they can mix with oil and form pimples.
Follicle (or sebaceous follicle)
Also called "pores," these tiny holes house the fine hairs that cover our faces and bodies. Oil glands at the base of each follicle are working to produce sebum, which travels up the hair shaft and out onto the surface of the skin.
Hyperpigmentation
A darkening of the skin at the site of a healing acne lesion. These spots can last up to 18 months - but may disappear more quickly if you stay out of the sun.
Inflammatory
A word that means "causing inflammation." In acne, "inflammatory" is usually used to describe lesions that are inflamed by chemical reactions or bacteria in clogged follicles.
Microcomedo
The first stage of comedo formation; a comedo so small that it can be seen only with a microscope.
Nodule
Large and usually very painful, nodules are inflamed, pus-filled lesions lodged deep within the skin. Nodules develop when the contents of a comedo have spilled into the surrounding skin and the local immune system responds, producing pus. The most severe form of acne lesion, nodules may persist for weeks or months, their contents hardening into a deep cyst. Both nodules and cysts often leave deep scars.
Noncomedogenic
Substance that is not likely to clog the pores.
Noninflammatory
In acne, lesions that are not associated with redness in the skin.
Open comedo
See blackhead
P. acnes
See Propionibacterium acnes.
Papule
The mildest form of inflammatory acne is the papule, which appears on the skin as a small, firm pink bump. These can be tender to the touch, and are often considered an intermediary step between non-inflammatory and clearly inflammatory lesions.
Pore
See Follicle.
Propionibacterium acnes
The bacterium Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes for short) is a regular resident of all skin types; it's part of the skin's natural sebum maintenance system. Once a follicle is plugged, however, P. acnes bacteria multiply rapidly, creating the chemical reaction we know as inflammation in the follicle and surrounding skin.
Pustule
Small, round acne lesions that are clearly inflamed and contain visible pus. They may appear red at the base, with a yellowish or whitish center. Pustules do not contain a great deal of bacteria; the inflammation is caused by chemical irritation from sebum components such as fatty free acids.
Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid is a mild acid that works as a keratolytic agent - it encourages the sloughing of dead skin cells. It stimulates the peeling of the top layer of skin and the opening of plugged follicles, which helps reestablish the normal skin-cell replacement cycle. For milder acne, salicylic acid helps unclog pores to resolve and prevent lesions.
Sebaceous glands
Oil-producing glands at the base of every sebaceous hair follicle - the tiny holes commonly called pores. Found on the face, neck, back and chest, these follicles are the sites of acne lesions.
Sebum
The oily substance produced by sebaceous glands, composed of cholesterol and free fatty acids. Sebum travels up the hair shaft and is expelled onto the skin's surface, keeping it soft and pliable.
Sloughing (SLUFF-ing)
Part of the skin's natural renewal process, sloughing is the act of shedding dead skin cells to make room for new ones. When cells die, they travel up the hair follicle and out onto the surface of the skin, where they are gradually rubbed away or released into the environment. Until we reach our early 30s, the sloughing and renewal process takes about 28 days. As we age the process begins to slow; by the time we reach our 40s, complete skin renewal may take more than 50 days.
White blood cells
White blood cells are your body's "Critical Response Unit." When your body encounters unwanted bacteria, it sends an army of white blood cells to attack the intruders. This process is called chemotaxis or the inflammatory response. In acne, it causes pimples to become red, swollen and painful.
Whitehead
See closed comedo.
