ACUTE | Acute means having a sudden onset, sharp rise, and short course of illness.

ALLERGY | Allergy refers to abnormal, over-reaction of the immune system to certain substances the body has become sensitized to. There are several kinds of allergies.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY | Anti-inflammatory refers to a process or a medicine that counteracts inflammation.

ATOPIC | An atopic reaction is the result of a genetic predisposition to developing asthma, hay fever or atopic dermatitis.

BASAL | Basal refers to anything at or forming a base. Basal cells occur at the base of the epidermis.

CANCER | A cancer is a malignant tumor, in which there is unlimited cell proliferation and destruction of local tissue.  

CHRONIC | A chronic condition is one that persists for a long time.

COMEDOGENIC | Comedogenic means tending to cause blackheads by blocking the pores of the skin..

DERMATITIS | Dermatitis has several meanings, including inflammation of the skin. It is often used in the context of a kind of eczema.

ECZEMA | Eczema is an inflammatory condition of the skin characterized by redness, itching, and oozing vesicular acute lesions and dry, thickened chronic lesions.

ERYTHEMA | Erythema is the name given to red skin due to increased blood supply and may be applied to any red colored dermatosis.

HYPERKERATOSIS | Hyperkeratosis is thickening of the stratum corneum, the outermost layer of the skin (scaling).

NEUROTRANSMITTER | A neurotransmitter is a chemical released at a nerve ending when a nerve impulse arrives. The chemical transfers the impulse across a gap to another nerve or muscle fiber.

PHOTOPROTECTION | Photoprotection is using a physical or chemical protection against ultraviolet radiation (primarily sunlight).

PHOTOSENSITIVITY | Photosensitivity is an increase in the reactivity of the skin to sunlight.

RETINOID | A retinoid is a compound derived from vitamin A, used in topical creams and capsules for the treatment of skin conditions.

SEBACEOUS | Sebaceous pertains to the sebaceous glands, which produce sebum and are are most concentrated on scalp and face.

SQUAMOUS CELLS | Squamous cells are flat epithelial cells found on the skin surface. The structure of skin is described as a stratified squamous epithelium, referring to the way the cells are built up in layers.

TRANSDERMAL | Drug delivery system that allows the application of a medicine or drug through the skin, typically by using an adhesive patch, so that it is absorbed slowly into the body.

UV | is an abbreviation for ultraviolet. UV radiation is responsible for sunburn, tanning, photoaging, skin cancer and various inflammatory skin disorders.