Comedogenicity

Comedogenic potency of external or internal substances.

It is known that exogenous substances can cause typical acne or acneiform clinical pictures, e.g. chloracne, acne cosmetica (contact acne), pomade acne, etc. Systemically applied drugs can also induce acneiform clinical pictures, e.g. glucocorticoids.

The term "comedogenicity" refers primarily to external agents. The comedogenicity of a substance can be tested experimentally on the rabbit ear (Adams EM et al. 1941). Although the transfer of such animal experimental substances is problematic, a number of basic substances for dermatological topicals and cosmetics have been proven to be comedogenic: linseed oil, peanut oil, olive oil, oleic acid, butyl stearate, coal tar etc.

1. Adams EM et al (1941) The response of rabit ski to compounds reptorted to have caused acneifrom dermatitis. Ind Med 10: 1-3