Which term describes follicles impacted with solidified sebum and dead cell buildup that appear as small bumps just underneath the skin's surface?

• A. Pustules
• B. Cysts
• C. Macules
• D. Open comedones

Answer: (D)

Identifying how clogged follicles present on the skin is what's being tested. When a hair follicle is blocked with a mixture of solidified sebum and dead skin cells but the pore remains connected to the surface, it forms a small bump that sits just under the skin. This describes an open comedone, commonly known as a blackhead, where the plug is near the surface and can be seen or felt as a tiny bump. The key here is that the lesion is noninflammatory and located at or near the surface due to a plugged follicle.

Pustules are inflamed, pus-filled bumps; cysts are larger, deeper, often painful lumps; and macules are flat patches of color on the skin without a raised bump.