Acne

What it means

A skin condition in which there is an increase in sebum secretion by the pilosebaceous apparatus associated with open comedones (blackheads), closed comedones (whiteheads), and pustular nodules (papules, pustules, and cysts).

Acne can be a consequence of increased sebum production as a result of increased testosterone production (in males and females) during puberty. Blockage of hair follicles canresult from accumulating keratin and sebum, resulting in plug formation called microcomedone, which can enlarge just beneath the surface of the skin in the pore itself. It may become visible as a closed comedone (whitehead), a firm white papule. Further enlargement leads to an open comedone (blackhead). The comedones are not themselves inflammatory. Proprionibacterium acnes can induce inflammation, leding to an inflammed, red papule.

In everyday care

Most people with this sign do not have a rare disease — it appears in common conditions far more often. These general reference pages cover the same topic:

Rare diseases that can present with this32

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category

Also called: Breaking out