Rash Glossary of Terms

1. Adult Skin Problems Slideshow Pictures
2. Quiz: Can You Identify These Skin Conditions?
3. Gallery of Skin Problems and Images Collection

Acne: Localized skin inflammation as a result of overactivity of the oil glands at the ba...

Acyclovir: (Brand name: Zovirax) One of a group of antiviral drugs that acts against the...

Allergy: A misguided reaction to foreign substances by the immune system, the body system ...

Amyloidosis: A group of diseases that result from the abnormal deposition of a protein, ca...

Antibiotic: A drug used to treat infections caused by bacteria and other microorganisms. ...

Antibody: An immunoglobulin, a specialized immune protein, produced because of the introdu...

Antifungal: A medication that limits or prevents the growth of yeasts and other fungal org...

Antihistamines: Drugs that combat the histamine released during an allergic reaction by bl...

Antinuclear antibody: An unusual antibody that is directed against structures within the n...

Antiviral: An agent that kills a virus or that suppresses its ability to replicate and, he...

Aspergillosis: Infection with the fungus Aspergillus, seen especially in people with compr...

Atopic: A predisposition toward developing certain allergic hypersensitivity reactions. At...

Atopic dermatitis: A skin disease characterized by areas of severe itching, redness, scali...

Atypical: Unusual, or not fitting a single diagnostic
category.

Autoimmune: Pertaining to autoimmunity, a misdirected immune response that occurs when the...

Bacteria: Single-celled microorganisms that can exist either as independent (free-living) ...

Bacterial: Of or pertaining to bacteria, as in a bacterial lung infection.

Biopsy: The removal of a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope to check for ...

Blood count: The calculated number of white or red blood cells (WBCs or RBCs) in a cubic m...

Bumps: The raised area of a bump or bruise results from blood leaking from these injured b...

Cancer: An abnormal growth of cells which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled way and, ...

CBC: A commonly used abbreviation in medicine that stands for complete blood count, a set...

Cellulitis: A spreading bacterial infection underneath the skin surface characterized by r...

Chemotherapy: 1. In the original sense, a chemical that binds to and specifically k...

Chickenpox: A highly infectious viral disease also known medically as varicella -- in many...

Chills: feelings of coldness accompanied by shivering. Chills may develop after exposure t...

Chronic: In medicine, lasting a long time. A chronic condition is one that lasts 3 months ...

Complete blood count: A set values of the cellular (formed elements) of blood. These meas...

Contact dermatitis: A skin condition caused by contact between skin and some substance. In...

Cortisone: A naturally occurring adrenocorticoid hormone that is produced in minute amount...

Coxsackievirus: A family of enteroviruses first found in the town Coxsackie, south of Alba...

Cryptococcosis: Infection with fungus (usually in a yeast form) from the genus Crypto...

Curable: Amenable to a cure, capable of being cured, to being healed and made well. From ...

Dermatitis: Inflammation of the skin, either due to direct contact with an irritating sub...

Dermatologist: A physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of skin problems...

Diagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the identification of an illness. 2 A ...

Doxycycline: Brand name: Vibramycin. A synthetic broad-spectrum antibiotic derived from te...

Dry skin: Abnormally dry skin. Can be caused by a dry climate, winter weather, deficiency...

EBV: Epstein-Barr virus.

Eczema: A particular type of inflammatory reaction of the skin in which there are typicall...

Epstein-Barr virus: A virus in the herpes family that is best known as the cause of infect...

Erythromycin: Erythromycin is a common antibiotic for treating bacterial infection. Sold...

Fasciitis: Inflammation of the fascia.

Fetus: An unborn offspring, from the embryo stage (the end of the eighth week after concep...

Fever: Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 degr...

Folliculitis: An infection or inflammation of the hair follicles of the skin. Inflammation...

Fungal: Pertaining to a fungus. For example, a fungal skin infection.

Fungi: Plural of fungus.

Fungus: A single-celled or multicellular organism. Fungi can be true pathogens (such as hi...

Gram stain: The Danish bacteriologist J.M.C. Gram (1853-1938) devised a method of staining...

Groin: The area where the thigh meets the hip.

Guttate psoriasis: A type of psoriasis characterized by red, scaly plaques of inflamed ski...

Headache: A pain in the head with the pain being above the eyes or the ears, behind the he...

Herpes: A family of viruses. Herpes also refers to infection with one of the human herpesv...

Herpes zoster: Also called shingles, zona, and zoster. The culprit is the varicella-zoster...

Histoplasmosis: A disease caused by the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. Most people with hi...

HIV: Acronym for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, the cause of AIDS (acquired immunodefi...

Hives: A raised, itchy area of skin that may be a sign of an allergic reaction. It can be ...

Hygiene: The science of preventive medicine and the preservation of health. Also commonly ...

Immune: Protected against infection, usually by the presence of antibodies.

Immune system: A complex system that is responsible for distinguishing a person from every...

Impetigo: A skin infection caused by the staphylococcus or, less often, by the streptococc...

Infection: The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, an...

Inflammation: A localized reaction that produces redness, warmth, swelling, and pain as a ...

Injury: Harm or hurt. To harm, hurt, or wound. The word injure may be in physical or emot...

Itching: An uncomfortable sensation in the skin that feels as if something is crawling on ...

Laboratory: A place for doing tests and research procedures, and for preparing chemicals a...

Lesion: An area of abnormal tissue change. Lesions vary in severity from harmless to serio...

Lips: Aside from the lips of the mouth, there are two pairs of lips at the entrance to the...

Liver: The largest solid organ in the body, situated in the upper part of the abdomen on t...

Lupus: A chronic inflammatory disease that is caused by autoimmunity. Patients with lupus ...

Macular: Pertaining to the macula. A macula is a small spot. A macula on the skin is a s...

Microscope: An optical instrument that augments the power of the eye to see small objects....

Microscopic: So small it cannot be seen without the aid of microscope. As opposed to macro...

Microscopy: The examination of minute objects by means of a microscope, an instrument whic...

Mite: A tiny eight-legged creature belonging to the Order Acarina related to spiders and t...

Mononucleosis: Infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV, human herpesvirus 4, HHV-4) in...

Mouth: 1. The upper opening of the digestive tract, beginning with the lips and con...

MRSA infection: Frequently used abbreviation for: Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aur...

Nail: In medicine, there are two types of nails. One is just a plain old metal nail used t...

Nasal: Having to do with the nose.

Neck: The part of the body joining the head to the shoulders. Also, any narrow or constric...

Necrotizing fasciitis: Severe bacterial infection of the fascia, the tissues that line and...

Nickel: A silver-white metallic element. Long-term exposure to nickel, such as from jewelr...

Nose: The external midline projection from the face. The purpose of the nose is to warm, c...

Ointment: An oil-based preparation that is applied to the skin. Whereas an ointment has an...

Onset: In medicine, the first appearance of the signs or symptoms of an illness as, for ex...

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

Papular: Referring to papules.

Parasitic: Having to do with a parasite, as in a parasitic infection; or acting like a par...

Penicillin: The most famous of all antibiotics, named for the fungal mold Penicillium n...

Poison: Any substance that can cause severe organ damage or death if ingested, breathed in...

Poison ivy: Skin inflammation that results from contact with the poison ivy vine. Chemical...

Poison oak: Skin inflammation that results from contact with the poison oak plant. Chemica...

Potassium: The major positive ion (cation) found inside cells. The chemical notation for p...

Pregnancy: The state of carrying a developing embryo or fetus within the female body. Thi...

Psoriasis: A reddish, scaly rash often located over the surfaces of the elbows, knees, sca...

Pus: A thick, whitish-yellow fluid that results from the accumulation of white blood cells...

Rash: Breaking out (eruption) of the skin. A rash can be caused by an underlying medical c...

Recurrent: Appearing or occurring again. For example, a recurrent fever is a fever that ha...

Refractory: Not yielding, or not yielding readily, to treatment.

Respiratory: Having to do with respiration.

Rosacea: A chronic skin disease that causes persistent redness over the areas of the face ...

Rule out: Term used in medicine, meaning to eliminate or exclude something from considera...

Saliva: a watery secretion in the mouth produced by the salivary glands that aids in the d...

Sarcoidosis: A disease of unknown origin that causes small lumps (granulomas) due to chron...

Scabies: Infestation of the skin by the human itch mite, Sarcaptes scabies. The initial ...

Scalded skin syndrome: A potentially serious side effect of infection with the Staph (Stap...

Scaling: Abnormal shedding or accumulation of an upper layer of skin (the stratum corneum)...

Scarlet fever: A skin condition that is due to a streptococcal sore throat or any other st...

Scleroderma: A disease of connective tissue that causes scar tissue (fibrosis) to form in ...

Seborrhea: A chronic inflammatory disease of the skin characterized by the accumulation of...

Seborrheic dermatitis: A medical name for what is popularly called seborrhea.

Sensitivity: 1. In psychology, the quality of being sensitive. As, for example, sen...

Shingles: An acute infection caused by the herpes zoster virus, the same virus as causes ...

Skin biopsy: Removal of a piece of skin for the purpose of diagnostic examination. Skin bi...

Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome: An infection of the skin with group II Staphylococc...

Staphylococcus: A group of bacteria that cause a multitude of diseases. Under a microscope...

Steroid: One of a large group of chemical substances classified by a specific carbon struc...

Strep: Very commonly used shortened form of Streptococcus, a very common and import...

Strep throat: Strep throat is an infection caused by a type of bacteria called streptococc...

Streptococcus: A group of bacteria that causes a multitude of diseases. Under a microscope...

Superficial: In anatomy, on the surface or shallow. As opposed to deep. The skin is superf...

Syndrome: A combination of symptoms and signs that together represent a disease process.

Systemic: Affecting the entire body. A systemic disease such as diabetes can affect the wh...

Systemic lupus erythematosus: A chronic inflammatory condition caused by an autoimmune di...

Therapy: The treatment of disease. Therapy is synonymous with treatment.

Throat: The throat is the anterior (front) portion of the neck beginning at the back of th...

Thyroid: 1. The thyroid gland. Also, pertaining to the thyroid gland. 2. A p...

Thyroiditis: Inflammation of the thyroid gland which is located in front of the neck:

Topical: Pertaining to a particular surface area. For example, a topical agent is applied ...

Tzanck smear: See Tzanck test.

Urticaria: Another name for the hives. Raised, itchy areas of skin that are usually a sign...

Vaccination: Injection of a killed microbe in order to stimulate the immune system against...

Vesicular: Referring to the presence of one or more vesicles. For example, a vesicular ras...

Viral: Of or pertaining to a virus. For example, if a person has a viral rash, the rash wa...

Viral infection: Infection caused by the presence of a virus in the body. Depending on...

Virus: A microorganism that is smaller than a bacterium that cannot grow or reproduce apar...

Viruses: Small living particles that can infect cells and change how the cells function. I...

Xerosis: Abnormal dryness of the skin, mucous membranes, or conjunctiva (xerophthalmia). T...

Yeast infection: Overgrowth of yeast can affect the skin (yeast rash), mouth (thrush), di...