acne

noun

ac·​ne ˈak-nē 

: a disorder of the skin that is marked by blemishes (such as whiteheads, blackheads, or pustules) especially on the face, chest, and shoulders and is caused by inflammation of sebaceous glands and hair follicles

especially : a form found chiefly in adolescents

acned

ˈak-nēd 

adjective

an acned teenager

acned skin

Examples of acne in a Sentence

a teenager with bad acne

Recent Examples on the Web

For both acne and acne scarring, apply the gel directly from the stalk once or twice a week on its own or mixed with lemon juice, cinnamon, coconut oil, or tea tree oil. —Atenea Morales De La Cruz, Vogue, 13 Feb. 2025

Additionally, the risk of skin cancer goes up and wrinkles and skin blotchiness spread, along with acne. —Matt Fuchs, TIME, 6 Feb. 2025

This, in addition to my lack of periods and cystic acne, led my doctor to formally diagnose me with PCOS. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 1 Feb. 2025

Soy supplementation or topical application has also been shown to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and help with certain skin conditions, including acne and eczema. —Emily Brown, Mph, Verywell Health, 31 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin acnē, acna, borrowed from Late Greek aknḗ "eruption on the face," manuscript variant of akmḗ, literally, "point" — more at acme

First Known Use

1743, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing acne

• acne rosacea
• anti-acne
• mask acne

Kids Definition

acne

noun

ac·​ne ˈak-nē 

: a disorder of the skin caused by inflammation of skin glands and hair follicles and marked by pimples especially on the face

Medical Definition

acne

noun

ac·​ne ˈak-nē 

: a disorder of the skin that is marked by blemishes (such as whiteheads, blackheads, or pustules) especially on the face, chest, and shoulders and is caused by inflammation of sebaceous glands and hair follicles

especially : a form found chiefly in adolescents : acne vulgaris

acned

-nēd 

adjective