COSMED Glossary

It comes in different forms and is primarily used for pigmentation disorders and acne treatment. It has exfoliating properties.

This condition occurs when pores become clogged with sebum due to increased sebum (oil) production in the sebaceous glands. Acne is divided into two types: inflammatory (papules, pustules, cysts) and non-inflammatory (blackheads and whiteheads).

It is the immune system reacting to substances that would normally not cause an immune response in an individual, due to its hypersensitivity.

The agent that causes the immune system to mount a response, leading to an allergic reaction,
is called an allergen.

Hair loss, which typically occurs in men due to genetic predisposition, is characterized by the hair follicle becoming sensitive to dihydrotestosterone, shortening the hair's growth phase.

This is the period when hair grows, where melanin pigments that give hair its color and active DNA synthesis are present.

These are substances that protect cells from oxidation caused by free radicals (UV rays, smoking, etc.).

Eczema is a skin condition characterized by itching, inflammation, and redness.

(Immune system) The system that protects the body from the development of diseases.

It is a water-soluble, powerful antioxidant found in many fruits and vegetables. For the skin, it is especially used in collagen production and in the treatment of pigmentation disorders; it is a vitamin whose stabilization is difficult.

Freckles are small, brown spots more commonly found on fair-skinned, red-haired individuals, typically appearing on the face and arms, and becoming more prominent in the summer. Although freckles are common in society, they pose no health risk.

It is the layer located beneath the epidermis, the uppermost layer of the skin, and contains fat and sweat glands, blood and lymphatic vessels, hair follicles, nerve cells, and skin muscles, providing elasticity to the skin.

These are hypoallergenic products developed leveraging pharmaceutical knowledge, with efficacy tests, designed to help treat the specific skin problem.

It is a fat-soluble, powerful antioxidant found in vegetable oil, nuts, and fibrous green vegetables. It protects the skin from the aging effects of UV rays.

It is the outermost layer of the skin, has no blood vessels, and protects the dermis. It is divided into layers, with the uppermost layer consisting of dead cells, while the lowermost layers, close to the dermis, are made up of living cells. It has different thicknesses in different parts of the body.

These are active ingredients that have an exfoliating effect on the top layer of the skin.

Fibrous mucoproteins found in connective tissue, similar to collagen, that give elasticity to the skin.

It is an ester or salt of phthalic acid, and when ingested, it can cause kidney and liver problems.

This refers to skin aging caused by sun exposure or other ultraviolet sources. Photoaging can lead to wrinkles, pigmentation disorders, and an increased susceptibility to cancer.

Glycation is the process by which sugar (glucose) reacts with proteins (collagen and elastin), causing these structures to harden. This process stiffens the collagen and elastin structures that give the skin its elasticity and firm appearance, leading to premature skin aging.

They are the openings through which oil and sweat glands reach the skin surface.

These are substances found in sun protection products that absorb or reflect UV rays. These substances can be organic or inorganic (mineral), and they protect the skin from UVA and UVB rays.

Despite popular belief, these are spots that can appear in women and men not only during pregnancy (also known as the "mask of pregnancy") but also due to the use of medications that cause sensitivity to ultraviolet light, genetic predisposition, birth control pills, and sun exposure. Spots can form from the superficial to the deep layers of the skin and are typically found on the upper lip, cheeks, nose, and forehead.

Hyperpigmentation is the darkening of the skin beyond its natural color due to increased pigment synthesis caused by factors such as heredity, sun exposure, medications, or trauma.

It is the body's response to irritation or injury. The most fundamental findings are redness, heat, swelling, and pain.

The name given to branched wrinkles that start at the outer edges of the eye.

This is the phase when the temporary lower part of the hair follicle separates from the root and is lost, and hair growth stops.

Itchy scalp, characterized by the flaking of white–dry, oily–yellow dead cells, is a non-contagious condition that rarely poses a serious threat. The causes of dandruff can vary; dry skin, seborrheic dermatitis, insufficient hair washing, psoriasis, eczema, contact dermatitis, and malassezia (dandruff caused by a type of fungus) can all lead to dandruff formation.

It is a protein that forms the structure of hair and nails.

Deep lines that form on the skin's surface.

A sebaceous cyst is an inflamed, closed formation filled with oil secreted by a sebaceous gland.

It is a fibrous protein found in the dermis that provides strength to the skin and forms bones, cartilage, tendons, and other connective tissues.

This structure forms when sebum overfills the pore due to increased sebum synthesis in the sebaceous glands. When sebum directly reaches the skin surface, closed comedones or whiteheads form; when sebum comes into contact with air and oxidizes, open comedones or blackheads appear.

Dermatitis caused by frequent contact with irritants or allergens. It is common in cosmetics.

This treatment method, which works at different wavelengths and has many variations, is used in various areas such as unwanted hair removal, acne, pigmentation treatment, and scar removal.

These are dark spots on the skin, larger and darker than freckles, which can appear in different areas of the skin and become more prominent in the summer, but can be seen on the skin year-round. There are many types of lentigo; they can be congenital, or they can appear with advancing age or sun exposure.

Pityrosporum (a type of fungus), which naturally exists on the scalp of adults without causing any skin problems, sometimes grows uncontrollably by feeding on the oil in hair follicles. This can lead to scalp irritation and the formation of more scalp cells. These excess scalp cells die and clump together with the scalp's oil, then shed. This condition, similar to seborrheic dermatitis, is malassezia, and it is recommended to use a shampoo with an antimicrobial ingredient effective against Pityrosporum to resolve it.

It is the pigment synthesized by melanocyte cells, which gives natural color to structures such as hair and skin, in addition to its duties such as protecting the skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays and playing an important role in determining racial characteristics.

It appears as a small, hard, pink bump on the skin, is sensitive to touch, and is generally seen as a transition between non-inflammatory and inflammatory.

They are small, red formations like papules, but unlike papules, they are clearly inflamed and contain pus. They are mainly red, with yellowish-white centers.

Indicates the duration of UV-A protection provided by the sunscreen. PA+ indicates 2-4 hours of protection; PA++ indicates 4-8 hours, and PA+++ indicates over 8 hours of protection.

It is an antimicrobial substance added to products to prevent the growth of microorganisms and extend shelf life. Studies have shown that it can act like estrogen, leading to hormonal disorders and cancer, and can also cause infertility in men.

Pyrrolidone Carboxylic Acid is a substance synthesized from glutamic acid that naturally increases the skin's moisture capacity.

It is an antimicrobial substance added to products to prevent the growth of microorganisms and extend shelf life. There are studies showing that it affects the central nervous system.

This is a skin condition caused by the dilation of capillaries and their proximity to the surface of the skin, resulting in a reddened appearance, particularly on the cheeks and nose.

It manifests as a red, oily scalp covered with dead cells that have a greasy, yellowish appearance. Seborrheic dermatitis can affect only the scalp, or it can appear in areas with many sebaceous glands, such as the eyebrows, nose, and behind the ears.

A mixture of oil, keratin, and dead skin tissue secreted by sebaceous glands, forming a barrier on the skin with sweat, lubricating the skin, preventing water loss, and protecting against bacteria and fungi.

Factors that increase the oxidation process in the body include UV radiation, smoking, etc.

Sulfates used to create lather in purifying cosmetic products can cause contact dermatitis and permanent eye damage.

It is the Sun Protection Factor, which indicates how long the sunscreen will protect the skin against UVB rays. For example, if a person using SPF 15 sunscreen gets sunburned after 10 minutes when exposed to the sun without any protection, when they use a cream containing SPF 15 sunscreen, it provides protection against UVB for 15x10=150 minutes.

This is the hair shedding phase, with 15% of hairs in this stage. The durations of the anagen, catagen, and telogen phases of hair located in different parts of the body vary from each other.

Ultraviolet rays are invisible radiation. UVA, UVB, and UVC rays reach the Earth from the sun.

UVA, which has a long wavelength, cannot be absorbed by the ozone layer and constitutes the majority of UV radiation reaching the earth. UVA rays affect the earth's surface with the same intensity throughout the year and at all times of the day, passing through clouds and glass without being affected, penetrating the deeper layers of the skin, causing collagen and elastin damage, leading to "photo-aging" and premature skin aging.

Although most UVB, which has a medium wavelength, is filtered by the ozone layer, UVB rays reaching the surface cause sunburn and skin blemishes.

UVC, which has a short wavelength, is reflected by the ozone layer before reaching the Earth's surface. Its effects on humans are fatal.