As anyone who has to use face wash for pimples on a regular basis may well know, there are a lot of terms that are used when talking about acne. If you don’t know what all those terms mean, it can stop you from properly understanding how to best tackle your own acne issues.
Don’t fear, however, as we’ve got your back. In this article, we take a look at a short glossary of terms that you can expect to see when doing your own research. By reading to the end, you might discover a term or two that you hadn’t yet come across.
So, if you’re ready and have your notepad and pen ready, let’s dive into those acne terms so you’re not confused the next time you read an acne article.
Common Terms Used In Relation to Face Wash For Pimples
You’ll find a lot of the following being used when people write about topics relating to face wash for pimples. They should help you get a bit more clarity on the subject.
Acne Mechanica – a type of acne that’s caused when you wear synthetic clothing or other sports gear that traps in both sweat and heat. Clothes that rub against the skin can lead to breakouts.
Androgens – this is a term that describes the sex hormones that men have, like testosterone. Women have it too, but much less. Androgens are known to trigger the oil glands and cause excess oil – a major contributor to breakouts.
Azelaic Acid – this is a naturally occurring acid that brings down inflammation and is often used in topical products that are used to treat mild acne.
Bacne – a colloquial term that’s created by the words ‘back’ and ‘acne’ and describes body acne that can appear on the back (obviously), shoulders and neck.
Benzoyl Peroxide – a chemical that’s used in perhaps the most widely-used acne-fighting products that exist on the market. Unclogging pores and breaking the acne cycle are its main benefits.
Closed Comedones – also referred to more commonly as whiteheads, this is a type of spot that closes up hair follicles and plugs them up with debris, oil and dead skin. Blackheads are also comedones that have oxidized, turning them black.
Cystic Acne – these are larger types of spots that start deep in the skin and have more of a boil-like appearance. It can also result in a scar, such is the severity of this type of zit.
Exfoliation – this is the action of rubbing the skin with some kind of mildly abrasive product that eliminates dead skin cells so they don’t block the pores.
Macule – a kind of flat zit that is only really noticeable as it’s not the same tone as the skin that surrounds it.
Milia Milia – a type of small, hard cyst on the skin that is created when the protein keratin is trapped beneath the skin. They have the appearance of whiteheads but are not actually acne.
Open Comedones – another word for a blackhead.
Papules – a small but slightly raised bump that’s not quite a zit but is rough to the touch. They often appear with many in the same location, giving an uneven feel to the skin.
Pimples – a well-used term for inflamed lesions or skin bumps.
Know the Terms & Your Face Wash For Pimples May Work Better
This is just a small cross-section of the many terms that are used when people discuss acne and the products that are used to treat the condition. While knowledge won’t change the skin on its own, it can help you understand the problem better and lead to you using more appropriate products and treatments. That has to be worth the effort of learning them.
