Derm terms

Question 1

Abscess

Answer 1

A collection of pus, often associated with signs and symptoms of inflammation (includes boils and carbuncles)

Question 2

Angioedema

Answer 2

Deep swelling (oedema) of the dermis and subcutis

Question 3

Annular

Answer 3

Ring-like

Question 4

Arcuate

Answer 4

Curved

Question 5

Atrophy

Answer 5

Thinning of one or more layers of the skin

Question 6

Blister

Answer 6

A liquid-filled lesion (vesicles and bullae)

Question 7

Bulla

Answer 7

A large blister (>0.5cm)

Question 8

Burrow

Answer 8

A track left by a burrowing scabies mite

Question 9

Callus (callosity)

Answer 9

A thickened area of skin that is a response to repeated friction or pressure

Question 10

Circinate

Answer 10

Circular

Question 11

Comedo

Answer 11

A blackhead

Question 12

Crust (scab)

Answer 12

A hard, adherent surface change caused by leakage and drying of blood, serum or pus

Question 13

Cyst

Answer 13

A fluid-filled papular lesion that fluctuates and transilluminates

Question 14

Discoid

Answer 14

Disc-like

Question 15

Ecchymosis (bruise)

Answer 15

A deep bleed in the skin

Question 16

Erosion

Answer 16

A superficial loss of skin, involving the epidermis; scarring is not normally a result

Question 17

Erythema

Answer 17

Redness of the skin that blanches on pressure

Question 18

Erythroderma

Answer 18

Any inflammatory skin disease that affects >80% of the body surface

Question 19

Exanthem

Answer 19

A rash

Question 20

Excoriation

Answer 20

A scratch mark

Question 21

Fissure

Answer 21

A split, usually extending from the skin surface through the epidermis to the dermis

Question 22

Freckle

Answer 22

An area of hyperpigmentation that increases in the summer months and decreases during winter

Question 23

Furuncle

Answer 23

A boil

Question 24

Gyrate

Answer 24

Wave-like

Question 25

Haematoma

Answer 25

A swelling caused by a collection of blood

Question 26

Horn

Answer 26

A hyperkeratotic projection from the skin surface

Question 27

Hyperkeratosis

Answer 27

Thickening of the stratum corneum

Question 28

Ichthyosis

Answer 28

Very dry skin

Question 29

Keratosis

Answer 29

A lesion characterised by hyperkeratosis

Question 30

Lentigo

Answer 30

An area of fixed hyperpigmentation

Question 31

Lichenification

Answer 31

Thickening of the epidermis, resulting in accentuation of skin markings; usually indicative of a chronic eczematous process

Question 32

Macule

Answer 32

A flat (impalpable) colour change

Question 33

Milium

Answer 33

A keratin cyst

Question 34

Naevus

Answer 34

A localised developmental defect (vascular, melanocytic, epidermal or connective tissue)

Question 35

Nodule

Answer 35

A large papule (>0.5 cm)

Question 36

Nummular

Answer 36

Coin-shaped

Question 37

Onycholysis

Answer 37

Separation of the nail plate from the nail bed

Question 38

Papilloma

Answer 38

A benign growth projecting from the skin surface

Question 39

Papule

Answer 39

An elevated (palpable) lesion, arbitrarily <0.5 cm in diameter

Question 40

Patch

Answer 40

A large macule

Question 41

Pedunculated

Answer 41

Having a stalk

Question 42

Petechiae

Answer 42

Pinhead-sized macular purpura

Question 43

Pigmentation

Answer 43

A change in skin colour

Question 44

Plaque

Answer 44

A papule or nodule that in cross-sectional profile is plateau-shaped

Question 45

Poikiloderma

Answer 45

A combination of atrophy, hyperpigmentation and telangiectasia

Question 46

Purpura

Answer 46

Non-blanchable redness (also called petechiae)

Question 47

Pustule

Answer 47

A papular lesion containing turbid purulent material (pus)

Question 48

Reticulate

Answer 48

Net-like

Question 49

Scale

Answer 49

A flake on the skin surface, composed of stratum corneum cells (corneocytes), shed together rather than individually

Question 50

Scar

Answer 50

The fibrous tissue resulting from the healing of a wound, ulcer or certain inflammatory conditions

Question 51

Serpiginous

Answer 51

Snake-like

Question 52

Stria(e)

Answer 52

A stretch mark

Question 53

Targetoid

Answer 53

Target-like

Question 54

Telangiectasia

Answer 54

Dilated blood vessels

Question 55

Ulcer

Answer 55

A deep loss of skin, extending into the dermis or deeper; usually results in scarring

Question 56

Umbilication

Answer 56

A depression at the centre of a lesion

Question 57

Verrucous

Answer 57

Wart-like

Question 58

Vesicle

Answer 58

A small blister (<0.5 cm)

Question 59

Wheal

Answer 59

A transient (<24 hours), itchy, elevated area of skin resulting from dermal oedema that characterises urticaria

Question 60

Xerosis

Answer 60

Mild/moderate dryness of the skin