NEW LOWER PRICES - ACT FAST
Medicine (MD/DO)
/
Courses
/
Pathology
/
Skin Cancer
/
Acne Vulgaris Presentation and Pathophysiology

Master Acne Vulgaris Presentation and Pathophysiology with Picmonic for Medicine

With Picmonic, facts become pictures. We've taken what the science shows - image mnemonics work - but we've boosted the effectiveness by building and associating memorable characters, interesting audio stories, and built-in quizzing.

DOWNLOAD PDF
Acne Vulgaris Presentation and Pathophysiology

Recommended Picmonics

picmonic thumbnail
Actinic Keratosis
picmonic thumbnail
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Skin
picmonic thumbnail
Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Skin
picmonic thumbnail
Melanoma Mechanism and Characteristics
picmonic thumbnail
ABCDEs of Melanoma

Acne Vulgaris Presentation and Pathophysiology

Kid with acne
tantheman
Acne is a common disorder of the skin characterized by recurrent or chronic papules/comedones, pustules, or nodules most commonly localized to the face but also appearing on the trunk, neck, and shoulders. Acne occurs as a result of inflammation of the pilosebaceous unit, which consists of the hair follicle and sebaceous gland. Multiple underlying factors are thought to contribute to this inflammation, such as increased androgen production (hence acne being especially common among adolescents), increased sebum production, abnormal keratinocyte desquamation, and colonization by Cutibacterium acnes. Treatment of acne depends on severity and can be conceptualized in a step-wise fashion, and will be discussed in a separate Picmonic.
7 KEY FACTS
PRESENTATION
Papules/Comedones in Mild Cases
Papule plaque people saying "come-on" at bottom of mountain

Acne is characterized by the presence of papules, pustules, or nodules localized to the face, neck, and/or trunk. Recall that papules are solid raised lesions under 5mm in diameter, and in the context of acne are aso sometimes referred to as comedones, which can be further described as closed comedones (whiteheads) or open comedones (blackheads). Papules in isolation are typically seen in mild cases of acne.

Blackheads Open, Whiteheads Closed
Black man with open-book, white man with closed-book

Comedones are frequently further described as being "open" or "closed" comedones. Open comedones are characterized as papules with a central, dilated follicular orifice containing gray, brown or black keratotic material and are referred to in layman's terms as "blackheads". Closed comedones are dome-shaped, skin colored and white to gray colored and referred to as "whiteheads".

Pustules in Mild-Moderate Cases
Erupting pus-pustule midway up mountain

Pustules are characteristic of slightly more severe cases of acne. Recall that pustules are defined as a raised exudative or purulent lesion localized to the epidermis.

Nodules/Cysts in Severe Cases
Sisters with doorknobs

Severe cases of acne are characterized by the presence of nodules or cysts. Recall that nodules are defined as solid-raised lesions greater than 5mm in diameter, and a cyst is a fluid-containing pocket that is typically greater than 5mm. Technically, cysts are rarely found even in severe cases of acne, however severe acne with the presence of nodules is often incorrectly referred to as "cystic acne".

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Inflammation at Hair Follicle/Sebaceous Gland
Follicles on saber-tooth-fish by fire

Acne is caused by inflammation at the pilosebaceous complex, areas in the skin containing sebaceous glands and hair follicles. Recall that sebaceous glands produce sebum, which is thought to act as a growth medium for C acnes, the bacterium thought to be responsible for some of the inflammation leading to the clinical manifestations of acne.

Increased Androgens
Up-arrow Android-genie Thinks-of-Loot

Increased androgens are thought to contribute to the development of acne. It is thought to contribute by increasing the growth and activity of sebaceous glands. Given there is increased androgen production during adolescence, this explains why acne is especially prevalent among teenagers.

Colonization by Cutibacterium Acnes
Cutie-bacteria with acne

Cutibacterium acnes (previously known as Propionibacterium acnes) is thought to colonize pilosebaceous follicles which thereby leads to inflammation and the subsequent skin manifestations seen in acne. C. acnes thrives in this environment specifically due to the production of sebum, which is thought to serve as an ideal growth medium.

DOWNLOAD PDF

Take the Acne Vulgaris Presentation and Pathophysiology Quiz

Picmonic's rapid review multiple-choice quiz allows you to assess your knowledge.

It's worth every penny

Our Story Mnemonics Increase Mastery and Retention

Memorize facts with phonetic mnemonics

Unforgettable characters with concise but impactful videos (2-4 min each)

Memorize facts with phonetic mnemonics

Ace Your Medicine (MD/DO) Classes & Exams with Picmonic:

Over 1,870,000 students use Picmonic’s picture mnemonics to improve knowledge, retention, and exam performance.

Choose the #1 Medicine (MD/DO) student study app.

Picmonic for Medicine (MD/DO) covers information that is relevant to your entire Medicine (MD/DO) education. Whether you’re studying for your classes or getting ready to conquer the USMLE Step 1, USMLE Step 2 CK, COMLEX Level 1, or COMLEX Level 2, we’re here to help.

Works better than traditional Medicine (MD/DO) flashcards.

Research shows that students who use Picmonic see a 331% improvement in memory retention and a 50% improvement in test scores.