Barnacles (disease)

If you were looking for the article about the comic strip, then see Barnacles (comic).

If you were looking for the article about the song, then see Barnacles! (song).

Template:Disease Barnacles are a skin disease that primarily affect the teenagers of Bikini Bottom. They are the main focus of the episode "Barnacle Face," in which Template:Data:Links gets one and tries many ways to eliminate it. They are the underwater equivalent to acne, a real-world skin condition in humans that commonly occurs during the phase of puberty. Additionally, they also make an appearance in the episode "Accidents Will Happen," in which Squidward blackmails Mr. Krabs to pop his back barnacles.

Signs and symptoms

Barnacles are mini, dark purple arthropods that primarily affect the face. They are formed when dead skin cells and oil from the skin clog hair follicles. If manually attempted to remove them, lime-green pus will spurt out in reaction.

Causes

Barnacles emerge once a fish or other sea creature enters puberty and their body hormones proliferate, seeing as how they only affect teenagers. As with acne, they seem to be caused by clogged hair follicles.

Pearl's were caused by unknowingly using Krabby Patty meat as soap to wash her face.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis is made when the patient is going through rapid physical body changes due to puberty and may be affected by the presence of face barnacles.

Treatment

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Barnacles seem to be very difficult to remove, as attempts to do so will only result in their duplication. However, many attempts are made to remove Pearl's, such as using a concealer and jackhammering them, to no avail. At best, they can be hidden by face accessories.

The only treatment is to wait until they disappear which will take time.

Role in episode

Pearl gets a barnacle on her face in front of Bikini Bottom High School and all her friends start making fun of her, leading her to cry to Template:Data:Links and Template:Data:Links. The latter agrees to try to remove it for her and pulls off many failed attempts, such as using a concealer and jackhammering them, which only leads to the barnacles increasing and prevailing. Eventually, it is revealed by the next moment that Pearl has unknowingly been using Krabby Patty meat as face soap because her father is too cheap.

SpongeBob settles on using some of Mr. Krabs' fancy diamonds to hide the barnacles on Pearl's face. Satisfied, Pearl thanks him as she goes off to the dance and her friends are impressed with her new look, although Mr. Krabs is not happy that she stole his diamonds.

They are also used as one of the many examples used by Squidward to blackmail Mr. Krabs in "Accidents Will Happen."

Trivia

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• Barnacles are also sentient beings within the SpongeBob SquarePants universe, as a talking male barnacle briefly appears on Template:Data:Links in "Unreal Estate."

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• Pearl also gets barnacles on her feet later in "Married to Money."
• This word "Barnacles!" is also used as an interjection in-series, often used as an in-universe slur or swear by the characters. There is even a song dedicated to the phrase on The Best Day Ever.