Acne May Be a Copying Error for a Greek Word
Acne is a skin condition of blocked pores. Its name may come from a medieval scribe misreading a Greek text.
Acne is a skin condition in which blocked hair follicles produce spots and inflammation. The name may be an ancient typo: Greek *akme* meant a point or highest point, and the medical use for a facial eruption appears in one sixth-century text as *akne*, apparently a scribal error for *akme* that was then copied onward. If so, the disease is named after a misspelling. *Acme*, meaning the highest point, is the same Greek word correctly transmitted.
- A skin condition. *Teenage acne.*
- Acme — the same Greek word. *Acme.*
- Sebum — the blocking oil. *Sebum.*
- Follicle — the blocked pore. *A hair follicle.*
- Greek — *akme*, a point. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | acne | Acne. |
| Adjective | acneiform | Acneiform. |
| Related | acme | The acme. |
| Greek | akme | A point. |
| Medical | acne vulgaris | Acne vulgaris. |
- The cream treats mild acne.Medicine.
- Acme means the highest point.Related.
- The name may be a scribal error.History.
What causes acne
- Excess sebum produced by the skin's oil glands
- Dead skin cells blocking the follicle opening
- Cutibacterium acnes bacteria multiplying inside
- Inflammation producing the visible spot
- Chocolate and greasy food are not established causes
Modern Latin *acne*, from Greek *akne*, apparently a scribal error for *akme*, a point, in a sixth-century medical text.
Is acne named after a mistake?
Possibly. The Greek word was akme, a point, and akne appears to be a scribal error in a sixth-century text that was then copied onward.
Does chocolate cause acne?
There is no established causal link. The main factors are sebum production, blocked follicles and bacteria.