Skin Terminology - Medical terms for skin health and diseases

Glossary of medical terms used in skin diseases

Definitions of skin terms

Abrasion – Scraping of the skin.

Absorption – Getting substance from the skin.

Achromia – Leukoderma, white skin.

Acne – Skin problem that occurs at young age.

Acute – Short and severe, but not chronic.

Allergen – Substance that created allergic reaction.

Alopacia – Loss of hair.

Anhidrosis – Inability to sweat.

Anomaly – Abnormal, deviation.

Atrophy – Thin, wrinkled skin where you can see vessels.

Benign – Not life-threatening, not cancer.

Biopsy – Removal of tissue for medical (cancer) examination.

Blister – Vesicle. Elevated lesion containing fluid.

Boil – Skin infection.

Bruise – Contusion. Change of skin color due to accumulation of blood under it.

Bulla – Larger vesicle/blister.

Callus – Skin thickening.

Canker – Sore inside the mouth or skin.

Carbuncle – Infected, hard skin.

Caustic – Chemicals that burn.

Cauterize – Burning of skin to eliminate discomforting substance.

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Cellulitis – Skin infection.

Chilblain – Redness of skin around ear, fingers, and toes.

Collagen – Primary protein of skin.

Cutaneous – Related to skin.

Cyst – Skin cavity containing liquid or semi-solid material.

Eruption – Rash. Large area of skin disease.

Fissure – Skin crack.

Flexural – Relating to body folds.

Follicular – Lesion in hair follicles.

Lesion – Small area of skin altered due to disease.

Leukoderma – White skin.

Macule – Flat, nonpalpable change on skin.

Nodule – Palpable, solid lesion.

Papilloma – Small benign tumor.

Papule – Small area of skin elevated due to disease.

Patch – Large area of color change on skin.

Plaque – Elevated, palpable skin disease covering large area.

Pustule – Blister containing pus.

Rash – Eruption. Large area of skin disease.

Scaling – Large number of dead cells on skin surface.

Ulcer – Loss of skin appearing as a hole.

Vesicle – Blister. Elevated lesion containing fluid.

Weal – Papule or plaque as a result of dermis swelling.

Wheal – Temporary papule or plaque that disappears in few hours.