Derm Medical Terminology

Abscess

Infection characterized by a localized accumulation of leukocytes with tissue necrosis involving the dermis and subcutaneous tissue

Acanthosis

Thickening of the epidermis resulting in the formation of papules and plaques

Acanthosis Nigricans

An eruption of velvet, hyperpigmented plaques and warty papules in the axillae, groin, neck, and/or anogenital region

Acne Rosacea

Chronic inflammatory disorder that targets the nose and cheeks (middle third of the face) resulting in papules and pustules against a background erythema

Acne Vulgaris

Papules, pustules, comedones, and/or cysts on an inflammatory base

Acral

Affecting body protrusions; finger tips, knuckles, elbows, knees, buttocks, toes, heels, ears

Acrochordon

Benign fleshy growth due to epidermal hyperplasia (skin tag)

Actinic Keratosis

A premalignant neoplasm of the epidermic caused by excessive exposure to sunlight, erythematous, scaling, rough papule or patch

Alopecia

Hair loss

Atopic dermatitis

Chronic eruption of pruritic, erythematous, oozing papules and plaques, usually with secondary lichenification (diffuse epidermal thickening) and excoriation (superficial abrasions of the skin)

Atrophy

Thinning or depression of skin due to reduction of underlying tissue

Basal cell carcinoma

Most common, locally destructive malignancy of the skin; derived from cells in the basal cell layer of the lower epidermis

Bullae

A raised, circumscribed lesion (>0.5 cm) containing serous fluid above the dermis

Burrows

Linear or serpignious (wavy, serpent-like borders) tunnels within the epidermis

Cafe au lait macule

Well-demarcated macule or patch of uniform light to dark brown color and usually oval in shape

Carbuncle

Two or more confluence furuncles with separate heads

Furuncle

Acute, round, firm, tender, circumscribed, perifollicular staphylococcal pyoderma

Cellulitis

Deep subcutaneous infection in the skin typically by bacteria that results in a localized area of erythema and inflammation

Cherry Angioma

Small (<5 mm) red-to-purple dome-shaped papule usually located on the trunk

Clavus

A localized thickening of epidermis secondary to chronic pressure or friction

Clavus name

Corn and heloma

Comedone

Blackhead or whitehead

Contact dermatitis

Inflammation of the skin induced by contact with a specific allergen and resulting clinically in edema and erythema.

Contact dermatitis is further categorized as

allergic or irritant

Dermatofibroma

A slowly-growing, benign skin papule, nodule or tumor that usually has overlying hyperpigmentation

Dermatographism

Localized hives over an area that results from the physical trauma of rubbing

Dimple Sign

A central depression or dimple elicited within a lesion when it is squeezes along its margins

Dimple sign is seen in

dermatofibroma

Drug induced hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation of the skin induced by a medicationE

Ecchymosis

BruiseE

Eczema

A broad term encompassing acute and chronic superficial inflammatory conditions often associated with pruritis or burning

Epidermal inclusion cyst

A flesh colored, dome-shaped nodule ranging from 0.5 to 5.0 cm in size, arising from the infundibulum (upper portion) of a hair follicle and located in the dermis

Erosion

Loss of superficial layers of upper epidermis by wearing away as from friction or pressure

Erythema Multiforma

An acute, symmetric eruption of multiple lesion types (papules, macules and subepidermal vesicles), the most characteristic of which is the “target” lesion, due to hypersensitivity

Excoriations

Skin abrasions, usually superficial, due to scratching of the skin

Fissure

sharply-defined, linear or wedge-shaped tears in the epidermis with abrupt walls

Folliculitis

Inflammation of the hair follicle that appears as a pustule and/or papule

Granuloma annulare

A chronic or recurrent eruption of waxy, erythematous papules that tend to coalesce to form a ring (annular distribution)

Herpes Simplex

An acute, self-limited eruption of clustered vesicles, often with secondary crusting, caused by herpesvirus type 1 or type 2 infection

Herpes zoster

Painful eruption of grouped vesicles in a dermatomal distribution from herpes zoster (varicella-zoster) virus infection

Hyperkeratosis

Increased keratinization (cornification) of the epidermis, which appears clinically as thickening or the skin or mucous membrane

Hyperpigmentation

Darker than normal color from increased melanin

Hypopigmentation

Paler than normal from decreased melanin, but some color still present

Ichthyosis

A hereditary or acquired skin condition characterized by noninflammatory or inflammatory dryness and scaling of the skin

Impetigo

Infectious eruptions of flaccid pustules, which rupture to form a thick honey-colored to brown crust

Keloids

Firm, movable, hypertrophic scar tissueL

Lentigo, Lentigines

A brown, sharply circumscribed macule resembling a freckle

Lichen planus

Inflammatory eruption of flat-topped, shiny pinkish-purple papules on flexor surfaces, genitalia, and buccal mucosa

Lichen simplex chronicus

One or more localized circumscribed lichenified plaques that result from repetitive scratching or rubbing

Lichenification

Diffuse thickening of the epidermis, with resulting accentuation of skin linesL

Lipoma

Benign, subcutaneous nodule, mass, or tumor composed of mature fat cells

Macule

A circumscribed flat area (<1 cm) of discoloration without elevation or depression of surface relative to surrounding skin

Maculopapular

Eruption that has both macular and papular features

Melanoma

A malignant neoplasm arising from melanocytes

Melasma

Patchy light to dark brown hyperpigmentation of the cheeks and occasionally the forehead and upper lip that results from sun exposure and is associated with estrogens

Milia

Small white to yellow cysts (1-2 mm) with no visual central puncta

Nevus, Nevi

Group of benign, circumscribed overgrowth of cells composed of tissue elements normally present in the skin

Nevus is also known as

Mole

Nodule

A palpable, solid lesion, greater than 1 cm in diameter usually found in dermal or subcutaneous tissue, and the lesion may be above, level with, or below the skin surface

A __ extends deeper than a papule

nodule

Onycholysis

Separation of the nail plate from the nail bed. This often begins at free borders of the nail plate, including the distal or lateral edges and usually consists of incomplete separation from the nail bed

Onychomycosis

Chronic fungal infection of the nails causing chronically thickened, splitting, rough, discolored nails

Papule

A well-circumscribed, elevated, solid lesion, less than 1 cm. Usually dome shaped

Paronychia

Supperative, or pus-forming, inflammation of the nail fold, or the soft tissues at the proximal and lateral margins of the nail

Perioral Dermatitis

An acne-like eruption of small erythematous papules and pustules that cluster around the mouth

Petechiae

Small, nonblanching, erythematous macules, less than 0.5 cm, due to rupture of small blood vessels leading to hemorrhage

Pilar cyst

A benign cyst commonly found in the scalpy, appearing as a flesh colored, firm but mobile nodules or tumor

Pityriasis Rosea

A self-limited, generalized eruption of erythematous oval macules and papules. These lesions occur along skin cleavage lines of the trunk and extremities and the distribution is often likened to branches of a Christmas tree

Plaque

A well-circumscribed, elevated, superficial, solid lesion, greater than 1 cm in diameter

Post inflammatory pigmentation changes

Pigmentary changes in the skin following inflammation of the skin. Can result in hypopigmentated or hyperpigmentated lesionsP

Pruritis

ItchingP

Psoriasis

A chronic condition characterized by an eruption of sharply demarcated, erythematous papules and plaques with overlying silvery scale. Although lesions can occur anywhere on the skin, the classic distribution is on the scalp, elbows, and knees

Purpura

Nonblanching violaceous (purple) discoloration of the skin due to blood that has extravasated outside of vessel walls. May be palpable or non-palpable

Pustule

A small (<1 cm in diameter) circumscribed superficial elevation of the skin that is filled with purulent material

Pyogenic granuloma

An acquired, erythematous round papule or nodule that projects from the skin or mucosa. These lesions are made of friable granulation tissue and bleed easily

Scabies

An infestation of the epidermis with the human mite

Typical skin findings of scabies

Pruritic, excoriated papules on hands, elbows, axillae, abdomen, genitalia, and feet. Diagnostic finding is the burrow

Sebaceous Hyperplasia

Proliferation of sebaceous glands around a hair follicle. Lesions appear small (1-3 mm), superficial, yellowish papules with a central pore. Common on the forehead

Seborrheic Dermatitis

A chronic inflammatory process commonly affecting the face, eyebrows, scalp (dandruff), chest, and perineum.

Typical skin findings of seborrheic dermatitis

Ranges from fine white scale to erythematous patches and plaques with greasy, yellowish scale

Seborrheic Keratosis

A superficial benign neoplasm of epidermal cells that presents as a papule or plaque with a characteristic “stuck-on” appearance, usually acquired later in life and tend to grow slowly

Squamous cell carcinoma

A malignant neoplasm of keratinocytes derived from stratified squamous epithelium. Indurated, scaling, erythematous papules, nodules, or plaques that occasionally ulcerate or bleed

Stasis dermatitis

Erythematous, pruritic, scaling patches on the lower extremities due to impaired venous circulation. Chronic changes in the lower extremities include edema, skin hyperpigmentation, and ulcer formation

Telagectasias

Small, superficial blood vessels that become visible because they are dilated

Telogen Effluvium

A pattern of transient diffuse hair loss due to a stressful event. There is an early and excessive entry of hairs into the telogen (resting) phase and a resultant loss of hair 2-3 months later. Also known as stress-induced alopecia

Tinea corporis

Fungal infection of the skin that presents as well-defined, erythematous, scaling papules or plaques. The lesions are often arranged in an annular configuration and often have an elevated, serpiginous border

Tinea Pedis

Fungal infection of the feet that presents as scaling on the sole of the foot and scaling maceration, small vesicles, fissures, and erosions between the toes. Also known as athelete’s foot

Tinea versicolor

Fungal infection of the skin at the stratum corneum that causes pigmentary changes and scaling in the epidermis. The lesions appear as patches with fine scale and can be pink, tan, or most commonly, white

Urticaria

An eruption of transient pruritic, elevated papules and plaques, often with erythematous, sharply-defined borders and pale centers (wheals). Each lesion resolves within 24 hours. Often seen as a hypersensitivity reaction to drugs, physical triggers, and foods.

Urticaria are also known as

Hives

Verruca Vulgaris

A flesh-colored, firm papule or nodule due to infection of epidermal cells with human papillomaviruses.

Verruca vulgaris are also known as

WartsV

Vesicle

A small, superficial, circumscribed elevation of the skin, less than 1 cm, which contains serous fluid

Violaceous

Violet or purple hue

Vitiligo

An acquired condition where melanocytes are absent from affected skin. The typical lesion is a sharply demarcated, depigmented, round or oval macule or patch

Wheal

Transient, circumscribed, elevated papules or plaques, often with erythematous borders and pale centers

Xerosis

Dryness of the skin