Words used to describe skin conditions
Your child's healthcare provider may use some of the words below to describe your child's skin condition.
|
Term |
What it means |
|
Abscess |
A closed, painful pocket of pus that may look like a pimple or blister |
|
Atrophic |
Thin, wrinkled |
|
Blister |
Fluid-filled bump under or within the top layer of skin |
|
Crust or scab |
Formation of dried blood, pus, or other skin fluid over a break in the skin |
|
Cyst |
Thin-walled lesion that contains fluid or other material, is under the skin, and may be deep in tissue |
|
Excoriation |
A scratch |
|
Hives, wheals, welts, urticaria |
Pink or white swelling of the skin |
|
Lesion |
Any abnormal mark or change on the skin |
|
Lichenification |
Skin that has thickened usually due to scratching |
|
Macule |
Small, flat, discolored spot |
|
Nodule/papule |
Small, solid, raised bump |
|
Patch |
Large, flat, discolored area |
|
Pustule (pimple) |
Inflamed lesion that appears to contain pus |
|
Plaque |
Large, raised area of skin |
|
Scales |
Dead skin cells that form flakes |
|
Scar |
Fibrous tissue that has formed after a skin injury |
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