comedo

noun

com·​e·​do ˈkä-mə-ˌdō 

plural comedones ˌkä-mə-ˈdō-(ˌ)nēz 

: a small bump or blemish on the skin (as of the face or back) usually containing a plug of sebum in a skin pore: such as

a

or open comedo : blackhead sense 1

b

or closed comedo : whitehead

Examples of comedo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Open comedones, or whiteheads, are a result of abnormal collection of sebum (oil produced by sebaceous gland) and keratin (protein produced by the pore) in a pore under the skin, adds Dr. Kobets. —Andi Breitowich, Women's Health, 25 Apr. 2023

The friction of the mask can also block and clog pores, leading to the formation of comedones or blackheads, says Dr. Suozzi. —Leah Groth, Health.com, 15 May 2020

There are two different types of comedones: Open (blackheads) and closed (whiteheads). —Renee Jacques, Allure, 25 Apr. 2020

Really, only when your pores have developed comedones—blackheads or whiteheads. —Sarah Jacoby, SELF, 23 July 2019

So why are some people more prone to closed comedones than others? —Sara Coughlin, SELF, 1 Aug. 2019

So, in an attempt to figure out if that was true, scientists developed ways to measure how many comedones a particular ingredient or formulation was likely to cause. —A.a. Newton, SELF, 8 Aug. 2019

The trouble with comedones begin when dead skill cells get trapped inside the opening, and then slowly clogs up the hole. —Sarah Kinonen, Allure, 5 Oct. 2017

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, glutton, from comedere to eat — more at comestible

First Known Use

1730, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

comedo

noun

com·​e·​do ˈkäm-ə-ˌdō 

plural comedones ˌkäm-ə-ˈdō-(ˌ)nēz 

: a small bump or blemish on the skin (as of the face or back) usually containing a plug of sebum in a skin pore: such as

a

or open comedo : blackhead sense 1

b

or closed comedo : whitehead