Dermatology Medical Terminology

Abscess

Collection of pus within a tissue, caused by an inflammatory process

Dermis

Layer of skin beneath the epidermis and above the subcutaneous tissues

Ulcer

Degradation of the epidermis

Petechiae

Pinpoint-sized red spots on the skin caused by a small amount of bleeding under the skin; does not blanch under pressure

Wheal

A round, localized area of edema (elevated papule or plaque) on the body surface often associated with severe itching that vanishes quickly, often with an erythematous border and pale center

Lesion

A localized change to a body organ or tissue

Papule

Small (<1 cm), raised, solid, circumscribed area of skin color change

Induration

Hardening of a soft tissue/organ, typically skin

Eccymosis

Non-elevated bruise, a purple discoloration of the skin due to blood escaping from a ruptured blood vessel into the subcutaneous tissues

Cyanosis/cyanotic

Bluish or slatelike color of the skin, nail beds, and/or mucous membranes due to an insufficient amount of oxygen in the blood or lack of blood supply

Erythema

Redness of the skin

Hematoma

A localized swelling filled with blood in an organ or tissue due to a ruptured blood vessel

Diaphoresis

Excessive sweating

Edema

Swelling/fluid accumulation in connective tissues or a serous cavity

Macule

Small (<1 cm) flat (not depressed or raised), defined area of change in color on the skin

Atrophic

Very thin skin

Maculopapular rash

Commonly used to describe a type of rash; often seen in allergic response to medication referred to as a drug rash

Vesicular rash

Commonly used to describe a type of rash, often seen in herpes infection, whereby serous fluid-filled blisters appear

Hyperpigmented

Darker than the surrounding skin

Hypopigmented

Lighter than the surrounding skin

Laceration

A cut in the skin

Lichenified

Thick skin with very deep lines

Cellulitis

Inflammation/infection of the skin

Exudate

Fluid, such as pus, that leaks out of an infected wound

Urticaria

Raised, itchy, red welts on the surface of the skin that are accompanied by itching

Pruritic

Itchy

Eczema

Acute or chronic inflammation of the skin involving a scaly and itchy rash, which may include papules, vesicles, oozing, crusting, and scaling

Keloid

Scar formation consisting of dense tissue that is raised or hypertrophic

Pallor

A pale appearance of the skin

Paronychia

Inflammation/infection of the tissue surrounding the nail

Tinea

Skin infection caused by a fungus (e.g. jock itch" AKA "tinea cruris", or "athlete's foot" AKA "tinea pedis")

Vitiligo

A skin disease devoid of any pigment

Pitting edema

Skin that is so saturated with fluid that it retains the imprint left by touching it; usually rated on a scale of 0-4

Alopecia

Baldness/hair loss

Incision and Drainage (I&D)

The surgical technique used in treating an abscess

TAC

Triamcinolone

CBE

Complete Body Exam

CSE

Complete Skin Exam

ACD

Allergic Contact Dermatitis

BP

Benzoyl Peroxide

MIS

Melanoma in situ

CMN

Congenital Melanocytic Nevus

MTX

Methotrexate

LN2

Liquid N2 (Nitrogen)

C&D

Curettage & Desiccation

5FU or 5-FU

fluorouracil (Carac)

NB-UVB

Narrow Band Ultraviolet B

LSC

Lichen Simplex Chronicus

WLE

Wide Local Excision

JMN

Junctional Melanocytic Nevi

Hypertrichosis

Excessive hair growth on any area of the body

DF

Dermatofibroma

LAD

Lymphadenopathy

Blu-U PDT

Blu-U (brand) Blue Light Photodynamic Therapy

SIBO

Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth

IPL

Intense Pulse Light

PDT

Photodynamic Therapy

NMSC

Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer/Carcinoma

BCC

Basal Cell Cancer/Carcinoma

SCC

Squamous Cell Cancer/Carcinoma

HC

Hydrocortisone

HQ

Hydroquinone

Hirsutism

Male pattern hair growth

SK

Seborrheic Keratosis

AK

Actinic Keratosis

VV

Verruca Vulgaris (wart)

MWC

Magic Wart Cream

BLK

Benign Lichenoid Keratosis

DSAP

Disseminated Superficial Actinic Keratosis

Veruca vulgaris

Wart

Grover's disease

Transient acantholytic dermatosis; a rash that is sudden onset red, itchy spots on the trunk, usually found in older men; cause is unknown

Plaque

Lesion that is well-circumscribed, solid, raised, flat-topped, and >1 cm in diameter

Annular

Ring-like shaped lesion forming all or part of a circle

Nummular

Coin-shaped

Verrucous

Resembling a wart

Pustule

Circumscribed area of the skin that is superficial, elevated, filled with purulent material, and is <1 cm in diameter; Vesicle filled with pus

Nodule

A palpable (raised, depressed, or neither), solid lesion >1 cm in diameter

Punctum

A point or small spot

Collarette

A circular lesion with a rim/edge of thickened epidermis, scale, or flaking/peeling

Telangiectasia or Angioectasia

Small, dilated superficial blood vessels on the skin; Spider veins

Violaceous

Violet in color

Wickham's striae

Well-defined area of purple-coloured, itchy, flat-topped papules with interspersed lacy white lines associated with lichen planus

Spongiotic dermatitis

Eczema

TS

Tuberous sclerosis

Tuberous sclerosis

A systemic genetic condition. Benign. Dermatologic manifestations include multiple raised fibrous tumors in the skin or whitish spots on the skin

Saucerization

Shave biopsy

Milium

Plural milia: benign pinpoint, keratin-filled, white cysts that form in the epidermis

Lentigo

Plural lentigines: sun spots. Small, benign, dark macule with clearly defined edges.

Plasma cell vulvitis

Rare inflammatory disease that causes chronic vulvar itching

Prurigo nodularis

Condition that causes itchy, crusty, hard lumps. Can be painful.

Granular parakeratosis

A skin disease causing hyperpigmented and hyperkeratotic papules/plaques, sometimes pruritic

Amelanotic melanoma

Skin cancer in which cells do not contain melanin - may be pink, red, purple, or of normal skin color,