- acne
- pustules or nodules on the face, neck, and sometimes upper back and arms
- angioma
- small collection of either blood vessels or lymphatic tissue
- atopic dermatitis
- chronic skin condition in which a person has a dysfunctional skin barrier that allows substances outside to penetrate the skin easily, causing dry and red areas of skin
- basal cell carcinoma
- most common form of skin cancer; arises from the basal layer of the epidermis
- burn
- injury to the skin from heat or chemicals
- chemical burn
- burn that occurs from chemicals, like acids or strong detergents
- comedone
- small bump on the skin that may be flesh-colored, white, or dark
- contact dermatitis
- inflammation of the skin caused by direct contact with an irritant or allergens
- cyst
- (also: nodule) bump that forms below the epidermal layer of the skin that is filled with keratin and is usually lined with squamous epithelium
- debridement
- removal of damaged tissue around a wound to allow for new tissue to grow more easily
- dermatitis
- inflammation or irritation of the skin
- dermatofibroma
- (also: benign fibrous histiocytoma) small, benign papule made of fibroblastic tissue; can range in color from red to brown
- dermis
- middle layer of the skin, just below the epidermis, made up of connective tissue that supports the epidermis
- electrical burn
- burn that occurs from exposure to electricity or electrical currents
- epidermal hyperplasia
- thickening of the epidermis
- epidermis
- outermost layer of skin, made of epithelial cells
- erythematous
- abnormal redness of the skin, often caused by a rash or skin irritation
- eschar
- piece of dead tissue that is cast off from the surface of the skin, particularly after a burn injury
- excoriation
- areas of skin that are broken from scratching and that may bleed or ooze in severe cases
- exocrine gland
- gland that secretes substances through ducts onto the skin’s epithelial surface instead of the bloodstream
- first-degree burn
- superficial burn, only affecting the epidermis; appears pink to red and dry
- folliculitis
- infection and inflammation of a hair follicle
- generalized exfoliative dermatitis
- (also: erythroderma) inflammation of the skin causing erythema and scaling covering 90% of the body’s surface area; when severe enough, is life-threatening
- herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)
- virus that causes vesicular rashes on the skin and face, near the mouth and lips, but it can also occur on the genitalia
- herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2)
- virus that is the most common cause of genital herpes
- herpes zoster
- (also: shingles) virus that is caused by reactivation of the chicken pox virus (varicella zoster)
- hypodermis
- (also: subcutaneous tissue) bottom layer of skin that is made of adipose and areolar tissue that cushions the underlying organs
- impetigo
- bacterial skin infection commonly caused by gram-positive bacteria
- integumentary system
- largest organ of the body, comprising skin, hair, and nails
- keloid
- firm and rubbery area of skin that can appear flesh-colored or hyperpigmented
- keratin
- skin protein that makes up hair and nails
- lichenification
- skin thickening over time in an area that is frequently scratched
- melanocytic nevus
- (also: pigmented nevus or mole) macule or papule on the skin
- melanoma
- form of skin cancer that arises from melanocytes; can appear flat or raised and vary in color, including red, brown, black, or blue
- nodule
- (also: cyst) bump that forms below the epidermal layer of the skin that is filled with keratin and is usually lined with squamous epithelium
- onycholysis
- nail separation from the nail bed
- papule
- small, raised bump that is well defined
- parakeratosis
- when the skin’s keratinocytes do not completely mature
- pediculosis
- parasitic skin infection of lice
- phototherapy
- ultraviolet light exposure to the skin
- pigmented nevus
- (also: melanocytic nevus or mole) macule or papule on the skin
- plaque
- raised lesion on the skin
- pruritus
- itching
- psoriasis
- chronic dermatological disorder, characterized by the proliferation of skin cells and chronic inflammation.
- pustule
- larger acne lesion that contains pus
- radiation burn
- burn that occurs from exposure to radiation sources, such as sunlight or machines that emit radiation during some cancer treatments
- scabies
- parasitic skin infection caused by a mite; usually affects the spaces between the fingers, wrists, axillae, and abdomen along the belt line
- seborrheic dermatitis
- skin condition that usually affects the scalp or areas with sebaceous glands, such as the face or areas with skin folds
- sebum
- oil produced by the sebaceous glands to keep the skin moisturized
- second-degree burn
- partial-thickness burn affecting the epidermis and part of the dermis; appears as red and blistering and can be very painful
- skin flap
- healthy tissue moved to a nearby wound to help with healing
- skin graft
- surgical procedure in which healthy skin tissue is taken from one part of the body and moved to another that has a wound
- squamous cell carcinoma
- skin cancer that originates from the squamous layer of skin
- Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS)
- abrupt, rare skin reaction usually caused by medications; involves loss of skin and sometimes mucosal membranes
- thermal burn
- burn caused by an external heat source, like flames, steam, or hot liquids
- third-degree burn
- full-thickness burn affecting the entire epidermis and dermis and extending into subcutaneous tissue; appears white or black, dry, and leathery
- toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN)
- abrupt, rare skin reaction usually caused by medications; involves loss of skin and sometimes mucosal membranes
- verruca
- (also: wart) lesion caused by the human papillomavirus that is generally flesh-colored, raised, with an irregular surface and can occur anywhere on the skin, including the soles of the feet and palms of the hands
- zone of coagulation
- central area of a burn where tissue has been irreversibly damaged and coagulated
- zone of hyperemia
- outermost area of a burn where tissue is inflamed and has increased blood flow, typically recovering without intervention.
- zone of stasis
- area surrounding a burn where the tissue has decreased perfusion but the skin is still potentially viable