Comedonal

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Pertaining to skin issues associated with the presence of comedones, which are formed due to blocked hair follicles that lead to specific acne conditions
2. Relating to a dermatological condition characterized by the development of non-inflammatory lesions known as comedones, resulting from clogged pores
3. Connected with the presence of comedones, which are plugs of sebum and dead skin cells clogging hair follicles

Etymology: Latin "comedo" meant "glutton," someone who eats everything up. It was built from "comedere," "to eat up," which combines "com-," meaning thoroughly, with "edere," "to eat." Medical writers later borrowed the Latin noun for the plug that clogs a hair follicle, likely because its dark, grub-like shape looked as if something had burrowed into the skin and was feeding there. English then formed the plural "comedones" from the Latin plural, and the adjective here adds the English suffix "-al," from Latin "-alis," meaning "relating to." The result describes anything connected with those plugs, so it is most often used of skin conditions such as acne.

Synonyms: acne, pore, blemish, pustule, zit