Skip to main content
← Back to Dermatology

Dermatology Glossary

105 terms total — 24 showing — Last updated 15 Sep 2026

Erythroderma

Advanced Technical IVT

A severe generalised skin condition characterised by redness and scaling affecting more than 90% of the body surface area.

Showing 73–96 of 105

Photodistributed

Intermediate Technical IVT

A style and clinical descriptor denoting a rash or skin change that is located in areas of maximal sun exposure, used to...

Style Convention Full entry →

Photosensitivity

Intermediate Technical IVT

An abnormal skin reaction to ultraviolet or visible light, producing rash, erythema, or blistering at sun-exposed sites.

Technical Term Full entry →

Phototherapy Consent Form

Professional Formal IVT

A standardised legal and clinical document obtained from a patient prior to commencing ultraviolet light treatment, reco...

Document Type Full entry →

Pityriasis Rosea

Intermediate Semi-formal IVT

A self-limiting, papulosquamous skin eruption characterised by a single herald patch followed by a generalised secondary...

Technical Term Full entry →

Poikiloderma

Advanced Technical IVT

A skin condition characterised by the triad of atrophy, mottled hyper- and hypopigmentation, and telangiectasia, seen in...

Technical Term Full entry →

Prurigo Nodularis

Advanced Technical IVT

A chronic, intensely pruritic dermatosis characterised by firm, hyperkeratotic nodules distributed symmetrically on the...

Technical Term Full entry →

Psoriatic Plaque

Basic Technical IVT

The primary lesion of plaque psoriasis: a well-demarcated, erythematous, raised area of skin covered with silvery-white...

Technical Term Full entry →

Purpura

Intermediate Technical IVT

Non-blanching haemorrhagic discolouration of the skin caused by extravasation of red blood cells into the dermis, classi...

Technical Term Full entry →

PUVA

Intermediate Technical IVT

A photochemotherapy regimen combining psoralen (a photosensitising agent) with long-wave ultraviolet A radiation, used t...

Abbreviation Full entry →

Retinoid

Intermediate Technical IVT

A class of vitamin A derivatives used topically or systemically in dermatology for conditions including acne, psoriasis,...

Technical Term Full entry →

SCORTEN

Professional Technical IVT

A validated seven-variable severity-of-illness scoring system used to predict in-hospital mortality in patients with Tox...

Abbreviation Full entry →

Sebaceous Hyperplasia

Intermediate Technical IVT

A benign enlargement of sebaceous glands presenting as yellowish, umbilicated papules typically on the face of middle-ag...

Technical Term Full entry →

Seborrhoeic Dermatitis

Intermediate Technical IVT

A chronic relapsing inflammatory skin condition characterised by greasy scales and erythema in sebum-rich areas such as...

Technical Term Full entry →

Senescent Skin

Intermediate Semi-formal IVT

Skin that displays histological and clinical changes attributable to intrinsic biological ageing, as distinct from photo...

Technical Term Full entry →

Solar Elastosis

Advanced Technical IVT

A histological change in chronically sun-damaged skin characterised by the accumulation of degraded, basophilic elastic...

Technical Term Full entry →

Spongiosis

Advanced Technical IVT

Intercellular oedema within the epidermis, a key histological feature of eczematous (spongiotic) dermatitis.

Technical Term Full entry →

SSS

Advanced Technical IVT

Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome; a severe blistering dermatosis caused by exfoliative toxins produced by Staphyloco...

Abbreviation Full entry →

Striae Distensae

Intermediate Technical IVT

Linear atrophic scars of the dermis caused by rapid stretching or hormonal changes, commonly called stretch marks.

Technical Term Full entry →

Subcorneal Pustule

Professional Technical IVT

A superficial pustule located immediately beneath the stratum corneum, characteristic of certain neutrophilic and pustul...

Technical Term Full entry →

TBSA

Basic Technical IVT

An acronym for Total Body Surface Area, used in dermatology to quantify the extent of skin involvement in conditions suc...

Abbreviation Full entry →

Telangiectasia

Advanced Technical IVT

Permanently dilated small blood vessels (capillaries, venules, or arterioles) visible at the skin surface, presenting as...

Technical Term Full entry →

Teledermatology

Intermediate Semi-formal IVT

The delivery of dermatological consultation, diagnosis, and management advice via remote electronic communication, typic...

Technical Term Full entry →

TEN

Professional Technical IVT

Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis; a life-threatening mucocutaneous reaction characterised by widespread full-thickness epiderm...

Abbreviation Full entry →

Tinea

Basic Technical IVT

A group of superficial fungal (dermatophyte) infections of the skin, hair, or nails, classified by anatomical site using...

Technical Term Full entry →
Showing 73–96 of 105

Editors from these organisations have used our services since 1998

Reuters BBC Oxford University Press Penguin Random House Springer Microsoft Suncor Energy United Nations Fisher Investments IBM The Home Depot KODAK CHEVRON