Glossary
Adrenaline
A hormone and inflammatory factor. Also referred to as epinephrine.
Angiogenesis
The formation and development of new blood vessels.
Anti-coagulant
Blood thinner.
AOVN™ Technology
Advanced Oscillating Vertical Needling Technology created by DermapenWorld.
Apoptosis
Programmed cell death that occurs as a normal part of an organism's growth or development.
Arrhythmia
An irregular heartbeat.
Atrophic
Skin that is indented, sunken, thinning or wrinkled.
Bradykinin
Peptide involved in blood vessel dilation.
Cathelicidins
Anti-microbial peptides found naturally in the skin.
Chloasma
Another name for melasma – dark skin discolouration or the 'mask of pregnancy'.
Cicatricial healing
The 'upside down' formation of connective tissue.
Coagulation
The clotting of blood. Also referred to as thrombogenesis.
Collagen
Proteins that contribute to the formation of the dermis and connective tissue.
Collagen Deposition
The deposition (depositing) of new collagen fibres.
Collagenases
Enzymes that break the peptide bonds in collagen.
Comedones
Skin-coloured, small bumps frequently found on the forehead and chin of those with acne. Blackheads are known as open comedones, while closed comedones are whiteheads.
Contracture
The tightening of the skin after a second- or third-degree burn.
Crosslink
A chemical bond between different chains of atoms in a polymer or other complex molecule.
Cytotoxic
Toxic to living cells.
Dermatomyositis
An autoimmune disorder characterised by muscle and skin inflammation.
Demodex mites
Parasitic mites that live in the hair follicle.
Desquamation
Commonly called skin peeling, this is the shedding of the outermost layer of the skin.
Desmosomes
A structure by which two adjacent cells are attached, formed from protein plaques in the cell membranes linked by filaments.
Dihydrotestosterone/5 testosterone
An androgen hormone.
Dyschromia
Discolouration or patches of uneven colour on the skin.
Elastin
A highly elastic protein in connective tissue that helps skin to return to its original position when it is poked or pinched.
Electrons
Negatively charged subatomic particles that orbit the nucleus of an atom.
Emollience
Having the power to soothe, soften and relax skin.
Endogenous
Having an internal cause or origin.
Enzymes
Biological molecules (typically proteins) that significantly speed up the rate of virtually all chemical reactions that take place within cells.
Ephelides
Freckles.
Epidermis/epidermal
The protective outer layer of the skin. Relating to the thin tissues that cover all the exposed surfaces of the body.
Epithelial
Relating to the thin tissues that cover all the exposed surfaces of the body.
Epithelium
Protective and transporting cells involved in re-epithelialisation.
Erythema
Redness of the skin, which occurs with any skin injury, infection, or inflammation.
Exogenous
Originating from outside an organism.
Extracellular Matrix (ECM)
A complex network of proteins and proteoglycans that are essential for cell growth and wound healing.
Fibrin
A protein involved in blood clotting.
Fibroblast
A cell responsible for collagen, elastin, glycosaminoglycans and extracellular matrix synthesis.
Fibronectin
Cellular binding glycoprotein.
Fibroplasia
The formation of fibrous tissue.
Free Radicals
Unstable atoms that can damage cells, causing illness and ageing. They are produced naturally in the body but lifestyle factors such as smoking, drinking alcohol and pollution can accelerate their production.
Glycated
As sugar molecules enter the body's system, they migrate and attach to fat and protein cells—called glycation. This affects collagen and elastin resulting in wrinkles, saggy skin, and a loss of radiance.
Glycation
The process where sugar molecules bind to and attack protein fibres.
Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)
A protein released by blood platelets to provide blood clotting and extracellular matrix formation.
Granulation tissue
New connective tissue that forms from a wound.
Granuloma
A small area of inflammation that forms when the immune system attempts to ward off substances it perceives as foreign but is unable to eliminate.
Growth Factors
Proteins or hormones that stimulate cellular growth, proliferation and differentiation.
Haematoxylin
A compound extracted from the logwood tree and used as a dye in research studies.
Haemorrhage
Bleeding.
Haemophilia
A disorder where blood does not clot.
Haemostasis
Blood stagnation.
Histamine
An amine involved in blood vessel dilation.
Homeostasis
The skin epidermis undergoes ongoing renewal by a process called homeostasis. Cells in the epidermis have a crucial role in maintaining tissue homeostasis.