Dual Credit Med Terms - Chapter 12

Impetigo

A highly contagious bacterial skin infection characterized by isolated pustules that become crusted and rupture.

Actinic keratosis

A precancerous skin lesion that occurs on sun- damaged skin.

Exfoliative dermatitis

Scaly skin causing pruritus, erythroderma, and hair loss.

Scleroderma

An autoimmune disorder in which the connective tissues become thickened and hardened.

Malignant melanoma

A type of skin cancer that occurs in the melanocytes.

Purpura

The appearance of multiple purple discolorations on the skin caused by bleeding underneath the skin.

Lipedema

A chronic abnormal condition, usually in women, that is characterized by the accumulation of fat and fluid in the tissues just under the skin of the hips and legs.

Wheal

A small bump that itches and can appear as a symptom of an allergic reaction; a welt.

Granuloma

A small knot like swelling of granulation tissue in the epidermis.

Lipoma

A benign, slow- growing fatty tumor located between the skin and the muscle layer.

Pediculosis

An infestation with lice.

Exanthem

Refers to a widespread rash, usually in children.

Onychomycosis

A fungal infection of the nail.

Papilloma

A benign, superficial, wartlike growth on the epithelial tissue or elsewhere in the body, such as in the bladder.

Xeroderma

Excessively dry skin; also known as xerosis.

Hirsutism

Excessive bodily and facial hair in women, usually occurring in a male pattern.

Debridement

removal of dirt from a wound.

Papule

A small, raised, red lesion, such as an insect bite, that is less than 0.5 cm in diameter.

Purulent

Producing or containing pus.

Capillary hemangioma

A soft, raised, pink or red vascular birthmark.

Ecchymosis

purple discoloration due to bleeding under skin.

Chloasma

A pigmentation disorder characterized by brownish spots on the face; also known as melasma or the mask of pregnancy.

Paronychia

An acute or chronic infection of the skin fold around a nail.

Scabies

infestation of mite eggs in the skin.

Cellulitis

An acute, rapidly spreading infection within the connective tissues.

Petechiae

Small pinpoint hemorrhages.

Rosacea

A chronic condition of unknown cause characterized by tiny red pimples and broken blood vessels.

Carbuncle

a collection of boils.

Keloid

a scar abnormally larger than the original wound.

Pruritus

Itching associated with most forms of dermatitis.

Erythema

Redness of the skin due to capillary dilation.

Cicatrix

a normal scar.

Seborrhea

Overactivity of the sebaceous glands that results in the production of an excessive amount of sebum.

Vitiligo

A skin condition resulting from the destruction of the melanocytes due to unknown causes and causing irregular patches of white skin.

Squamous cell carcinoma

A malignant tumor of the scaly squamous cells of the epithelium; however, it can quickly spread to other body systems.

Erythroderma- Abnormal redness

Abnormal redness of the entire skin surface.