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 the skin, don’t apply it on acne-prone skin or to deep cuts or fresh burns. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 28 May 2026

For mild-to-moderate inflammatory acne, combination blue/red protocols have the next-best support. —Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026

Unexpected symptoms include inflammation that can cause acne, eczema, or skin irritations, fatigue, brain fog, or strong sugar cravings. —Mélanie Nauche, Vogue, 28 May 2026

And there’s been a growing awareness among consumers about skin aging and acne that are linked to internal factors of hormones, strength, stress and metabolism — making ingestible products more effective. —Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 26 May 2026

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