What it means
A common skin disease of the face, chest, shoulders and back, most common in teenagers. Hormones drive the oil glands to make more sebum, which clogs the pores with dead skin cells; bacteria and inflammation follow. Lesions range from blackheads and whiteheads to red papulePAP-yoolA small, solid, raised bump on the skin, less than 1 cm across, with no fluid inside.Full entry , pustules and deep cysts that can scar.
For the nurse
Teach gentle washing twice a day, not picking or squeezing lesions, and using oil-free products. Isotretinoin, a drug for severe acne, causes serious birth defects, so a client who could become pregnant must use two forms of birth control and join a monitoring program.
At a glance
| Spanish | acné |
|---|---|
| Also written | acne vulgaris |