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sebum
This term is primarily used in medical, dermatological, and biological contexts to describe the natural oil produced by the body. It carries a neutral, scientific connotation, though in casual skincare discussions, it is often associated with negative outcomes like acne or an oily complexion.
As a mass noun, sebum is treated as uncountable. It refers to the substance itself rather than individual units of secretion, meaning it does not have a plural form and requires partitive phrases such as a layer of sebum or an excess of sebum when quantifying it.
Meanings
Examples
The skin makes sebum.
Sebum keeps skin soft.
Too much sebum is oily.
Wash your face to remove sebum.
Sebum protects the skin from drying.
He has a lot of sebum.
Excess sebum can clog pores and cause acne.
The dermatologist explained how sebum prevents water loss.
My skin feels greasy because of the sebum.
Sebum composition varies based on hormonal fluctuations.
The analysis revealed an abnormal concentration of sebum.
Sebum serves as a critical barrier against pathogens.