* * *
An inflammatory follicular, papular, and pustular eruption involving the pilosebaceous apparatus. SEE ALSO: a. vulgaris. [probably a corruption (or copyist's error) of G. akme, point of efflorescence]
- a. artificialis a. produced by external irritants, such as tar (chloracne), or drugs internally administered, such as iodides or bromides. SYN: a. venenata.
- bromide a. follicular eruption on face, trunk, and extremities, due to bromide ingestion. SEE ALSO: bromoderma.
- a. cachecticorum a. occurring in persons who have a debilitating constitutional disease; characterized by large, soft, purulent, ulcerative, cystic, and scarred lesions.
- a. ciliaris follicular papules and pustules on the free edges of the eyelids.
- a. conglobata severe cystic a., characterized by cystic lesions, abscesses, communicating sinuses, and thickened, nodular scars; usually sparing the face.
- a. cosmetica low-grade, non-inflammatory a. lesions from repeated application of comedogenic agents in cosmetics.
- a. fulminans (ak′ne ful′mi-nanz) severe scarring a. associated with fever, polyarthralgia, crusted ulcerative lesions, weight loss, and anemia. [fulmen, fulminis, thunder, lightning]
- iodide a. a follicular eruption on the face, trunk, and extremities, due to injection or ingestion of iodide in a hypersensitive individual. SEE ALSO: iododerma.
- a. necrotica miliaris SYN: a. varioliformis.
- a. neonatorum a condition in newborn male infants, characterized by papules, pustules, and comedones on forehead and cheeks, usually resolving in a few months.
- pomade a. a form of a. caused by repeated application of hair creams containing oils that block release of sebum from hair follicles; most commonly seen on forehead and temples in young African Americans.
- a. punctata a. with black open comedones.
- steroid a. folliculitis or follicular hyperkeratosis resulting from topical or oral administration of steroids.
- tar a. SYN: chloracne.
- tropical a. a severe type of a. of the entire trunk, shoulders, upper arms, buttocks, and thighs; occurs in hot, humid climates.
- a. varioliformis a pyogenic infection involving follicles occurring chiefly on the forehead and temples; involution of the umbilicated and crusting lesions is followed by scar formation. SYN: a. necrotica miliaris.
- a. venenata SYN: a. artificialis.
- a. vulgaris an eruption, predominantly of the face, upper back, and chest, composed of comedones, cysts, papules, and pustules on an inflammatory base; the condition occurs in a majority of people during puberty and adolescence, due to androgenic stimulation of sebum secretion, with plugging of follicles by keratinization, associated with proliferation of Propionibacterium acnes. Follicular suppuration may lead to scarring. Topical treatments include tretinoin, benzoyl peroxide, and antibiotics. Sunlight, systemic antibiotics, and oral 13-cis-retinoic acid (except in pregnancy) are also effective. SEE ALSO: a..
* * *
ac·ne 'ak-nē n a disorder of the skin caused by inflammation of the skin glands and hair follicles specif a form found chiefly in adolescents and marked by pimples esp. on the face
ac·ned -nēd adj
* * *
n.
a common inflammatory disorder of the sebaceous glands. These grease-producing glands are under androgen control, but the cause of acne is unknown. It involves the face, back, and chest and is characterized by the presence of blackheads with papules, pustules, and - in more severe cases - cysts and scars. Acne is readily treatable. Mild cases respond to topical therapy with benzoyl peroxide, while more refractory conditions require treatment with long-term antibiotics or (for treating women only) anti-androgen, such as Dianette (cyproterone and ethinylestradiol); severe or cystic acne can be treated with isotretinoin.
* * *
ac·ne (akґne) [possibly a corruption of Greek akmē a point or of achnē chaff] 1. any of numerous inflammatory diseases of the pilosebaceous unit of the skin. 2. a. vulgaris.Medical dictionary. 2011.