acne

noun

ac·ne ˈak-nē

: a disorder of the skin caused by inflammation of the skin glands and hair follicles

specifically : a form found chiefly in adolescents and marked by pimples especially on the face

acned

ˈak-nēd

adjective

Example Sentences

a teenager with bad acne

Recent Examples on the Web The serum is made with mucin, a bodily secretion of snails (its retrieval isn't harmful to snails, according to the brand) and may help treat cystic acne, boost elasticity, and replenish dry skin over time. —

Nicol Natale, Peoplemag, 25 Nov. 2022 Exfoliating, acne-fighting ingredients will nip it in the bud. —

Sarah Madaus, SELF, 11 Oct. 2022 Its fine mist is infused with acne-fighting niacinamide and sodium hyaluronate. —

Jacqueline Saguin, Good Housekeeping, 26 July 2022 Like many other products, Alba Botanica uses salicylic acid as its primary acne-fighting ingredient. —

Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 9 June 2022 Ahead, our 11 favorite micellar water cleansers, including picks for oily, combination, acne-prone and sensitive skin. —

Catharine Malzahn, Good Housekeeping, 12 Jan. 2023 The fatty acids, ceramides, and glycerin restore my moisture balance nearly immediately, and, despite how rich and fluffy the cream is, doesn't irritate or exacerbate my acne-prone skin. —

Tiffany Dodson, Harper's BAZAAR, 30 Dec. 2022 The Glam Glow face mask is especially good for acne-prone, oily skin. —

Kasandra Brabaw, Fortune, 28 Dec. 2022 It's made with all-natural ingredients and it can be used on all sorts of skin types, including dry, oily, acne-prone, and sensitive skin. —

Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 8 Dec. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'acne.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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

Time Traveler

The first known use of acne was in 1743

See more words from the same year