What does acne mean?
Acne is a common inflammatory skin condition that occurs when hair follicles become clogged with oil and dead skin cells, producing pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, and in more severe cases painful cysts. It most often appears on the face, chest, back, and shoulders, and while it is strongly associated with adolescence — affecting the vast majority of teenagers at some point — it can persist into adulthood, particularly in women. The word functions as an uncountable noun and carries a neutral, clinical tone, making it equally at home in a dermatologist's diagnosis and in everyday conversation about skincare. Its origins lie in Greek, via medical Latin, connecting it to words such as 'acme.' Because acne is so widespread and so visible, it has significant cultural weight as well as medical importance, shaping conversations about self-image, cosmetics, and health. Treatments range from over-the-counter cleansers to prescription medications, reflecting how seriously both medicine and society take this seemingly minor condition.
nounA common skin condition in which the sebaceous glands become inflamed and blocked, producing pimples, blackheads, and cysts, typically on the face, back, and shoulders.
- A chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, and sometimes cysts, caused by clogged and inflamed sebaceous glands.
"She started using a gentle cleanser after her dermatologist diagnosed her with moderate acne."
"Teenage acne is usually triggered by hormonal changes during puberty."
"He finally cleared up his adult acne after switching to a prescription retinoid."
Acne has no plural form; it is treated as a mass noun referring to the condition as a whole rather than individual blemishes.
"Her acne improved noticeably after three months of treatment."
The word 'acne' traces back to a Greek term meaning 'point' or 'high point' — ironic, given that it's one of the lowest points of adolescence for roughly 85% of teenagers.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of acne
The word 'acne' entered English in the early modern period through New Latin, borrowed from a misreading of Greek 'akmē,' meaning 'point' or 'highest point' — a reference to the pointed pustules of the condition. The same Greek root gives us 'acme' and, more distantly, 'acute' and 'acuity.' The spelling was influenced by the mistaken assumption of a connection to Greek 'aknē,' a term for facial eruptions mentioned by ancient physicians.
Related word forms
How acne is actually used
Acne is an uncountable noun in standard usage — it is not normally preceded by 'an' or made plural. It is a neutral, clinical term used in both medical and everyday contexts; informal synonyms like 'zits' carry a more casual or jokey register.