comedones


comedo

 [kom´ĕ-do] (pl. comedo´nes) (L.) a plug of keratin and sebum within the dilated orifice of a hair follicle frequently containing the bacteria Corynebacterium acnes, Staphylococcus albus, and Pityrosporum ovale; see also acne vulgaris.closed comedo whitehead (def. 1).open comedo blackhead.
COMEDONESCOMEDONES

comedo

(kŏm′ă-dō) plural.comedonesplural.comedos [L. comedere, to eat up] The typical small skin lesion of acne vulgaris and seborrheic dermatitis. The closed form is called a whitehead. It consists of a papule from which the contents are not easily expressed. When inflamed these lesions form pustules and nodules. The open form of comedo, called a blackhead, is rarely inflamed. It has a dilated opening from which the oily debris is easily expressed. Both forms are usually located on the face, but the chest and back may be involved. See: illustrationillustration