Flashcards: Dermatologic terminology

A comedo is a clogged hair follicle (pore) in the skin.

Telangiectasias /tɛlˌæn.

A bruise, or contusion, is a type of hematoma of tissue in which capillaries and sometimes venules are damaged by trauma, allowing blood to seep, hemorrhage, or extravasate into the surrounding interstitial tissues.

Purpura is a condition of red or purple discolored spots on the skin that do not blanch on applying pressure.

Erythema (from the Greek erythros, meaning red) is redness of the skin or mucous membranes, caused by hyperemia (increased blood flow) in superficial capillaries.

Nevus, also known as a mole, is the medical term for sharply circumscribed and chronic lesions of the skin or mucosa.

A rash is a change of the skin which affects its color, appearance, or texture.

Pyoderma means any skin disease that is pyogenic (has pus).

An ecchymosis is a subcutaneous spot of bleeding (from extravasation of blood) with diameter larger than 1-centimetre (0.39 in).

An intertrigo is an inflammation (rash) of the body folds (adjacent areas of skin).

A pimple, zit or spot is a kind of comedo and one of the many results of excess oil getting trapped in the pores.

Xerostomia (also termed dry mouth as a symptom or dry mouth syndrome as a syndrome) is dryness in the mouth (xero- + stom- + -ia), which may be associated with a change in the composition of saliva, or reduced salivary flow (hyposalivation), or have no identifiable cause.

Acanthosis is diffuse epidermal hyperplasia (thickening of the skin).

Atrophoderma refers to conditions involving skin atrophy.

Keratosis (from keratinocyte, the prominent cell type in the epidermis, and -osis, abnormal) is a growth of keratin on the skin or on mucous membranes.

Hypopigmentation is the loss of skin color.

Acantholysis is the loss of intercellular connections, such as desmosomes, resulting in loss of cohesion between keratinocytes, seen in diseases such as pemphigus vulgaris.

Acropustulosis refers to Acrodermatitis with pustular involvement.

A lichenoid eruption is a skin disease characterized by damage and infiltration between the epidermis and dermis.

A dermatomycosis is a skin disease caused by a fungus.

Xeroderma or xerodermia (also known as xerosis cutis), derived from the Greek words for "dry skin", is a condition involving the integumentary system, which in most cases can safely be treated with emollients or moisturizers.

A papulosquamous disorder is a condition which presents with both papules and scales, or both scaly papules and plaques.

Hyperkeratosis is thickening of the stratum corneum (the outermost layer of the epidermis), often associated with the presence of an abnormal quantity of keratin, and also usually accompanied by an increase in the granular layer.

Orthokeratosis is Hyperkeratosis without parakeratosis.

An exanthem or exanthema (from Greek ἐξάνθημα exánthēma, "a breaking out") is a widespread rash usually occurring in children.

Poliosis, also called poliosis circumscripta, is the decrease or absence of melanin (or color) in head hair, eyebrows, eyelashes or any other hairy area.

Pityriasis commonly refers to flaking (or scaling) of the skin.