comedones
Definition
Noun (plural of comedo):
- A small, dark-tipped plug of keratin and sebum within a hair follicle, commonly known as a blackhead or whitehead. In dermatology, "comedones" refers to the primary lesions of acne vulgaris. They form when a pore becomes clogged with dead skin cells and oil.
Usage Examples
- (The doctor looked for blocked pores, such as blackheads or whiteheads.)
- (These clogged pores appear frequently in the T-zone area of the face.)
Advanced Usage
- Open comedones: Blackheads, where the plug is exposed to air and oxidizes, turning dark.
- Open comedones can be extracted with proper skincare tools. (Blackheads are visible and can be removed with care.)
- Closed comedones: Whiteheads, where the follicle is completely blocked and covered by a thin layer of skin.
- Closed comedones appear as small, flesh-colored bumps. (Whiteheads are not exposed to air and remain pale.)
Variants and Related Words
- Comedo (singular noun): a single blocked pore.
- The patient had one large comedo on her chin. (A single blackhead or whitehead.)
- Comedogenic (adjective): tending to cause clogged pores.
- This moisturizer is non-comedogenic, so it won't cause comedones. (It does not promote blackheads or whiteheads.)
Synonyms
- Blackhead (for open comedones): a clogged pore with a dark surface.
- She used a pore strip to remove blackheads. (Open comedones on the nose.)
- Whitehead (for closed comedones): a clogged pore covered by skin.
- Whiteheads are often mistaken for milia. (Closed comedones appear as small, white bumps.)
Related Idioms (None directly applicable; medical term only)
Phrasal Verbs (None; "comedones" is a noun, not used with verbs in phrasal form)