The Beauty Society

A

 

 

• Acne - a chronic disorder of the hair follicles and sebaceous glands. Acne is characterized by pimple outbreaks, cysts, infected abscesses, and sometimes scarring.
• Albinism - a rare, inherited disorder characterized by a total lack of melanin (skin pigment) in the skin.
• Angioma - a benign tumor in the skin, made up of blood or lymph vessels.
• Atrophic skin - skin that is thin and wrinkled.

B

• Basal cells - these cells are found in the outer layer of skin. Basal cells are responsible for producing the squamous cells in the skin.
• Basal cell carcinoma - the most common form of skin cancer, characterized by small, shiny, raised bumps on the skin that may bleed.
• Birth marks - areas of discolored and/or raised skin that are present at birth or shortly afterward.
• Biopsy - the procedure of removing tissue for examination under a microscope.
• Blister - a fluid-filled bump.
• Boil - tender, swollen areas that form around hair follicles.

C

• Candidiasis (Also called yeast infection.) - a skin infection caused by yeast that can occur in the skin folds, the navel, vagina, penis, mouth, and nail beds.
• Carbuncles - clusters of boils on the skin.
• Cavernous hemangioma - a raised, red or purple mark in the skin, made up of enlarged blood vessels.
• Cellulitis - a bacterial infection of the skin that is characterized by swelling and tenderness.
• Cold sore - small blisters around and in the mouth caused by the herpes simplex virus.
• Collagen - a protein produced by skin cells that provide strength and resilience to the skin.
• Crust (Also called scab.) - a formation of dried blood, pus, or other skin fluid over a break in the skin.
• Cryosurgery - a surgery technique that uses liquid nitrogen to freeze the skin.
• Cyst - a deep cavity below the skin that is filled with fluid.

D

• Dermatitis - a number of skin conditions that inflame the skin.
• Dermatofibroma - small, red or brown bumps in the skin.
• Dermis - the middle layer of skin, which is made up of blood vessels, lymph vessels, hair follicles, and sweat glands.
• Dermoid cyst - a benign tumor made up of hairs, sweat glands, and sebaceous glands.

E

• Epidermis - the outer layer of skin, which is made up of the horny layer, squamous cells and basal cells.
• Erysipelas - a skin infection that usually affects the arms, legs, or face, characterized by shiny, red areas, small blisters, and swollen lymph nodes.
• Erythema multiforme - a skin condition characterized by symmetrically positioned, red, raised skin areas all over the body.
• Erythema nodosum - a skin condition, characterized by red bumps that usually appear on the shins.
• Excoriation - a hollowed-out or linear area of the skin covered by a crust.

F

• Folliculitis - an inflammation of the hair follicles due to an infection.
• Freckles - darkened, flat spots that typically appear only on sun-exposed areas of skin.

G

• Granuloma annulare - a chronic skin condition characterized by small, raised bumps that form a ring with a normal or sunken center.

H

• Herpes zoster (Also called shingles.) - a common viral infection of the nerves, characterized by a painful skin rash of small blisters anywhere on the body.
• Hives (Also called wheals.) - a pink swelling of the skin.

 I

• Impetigo - a skin infection characterized by pus-filled blisters.

K

• Keloids - smooth, pink, raised, fibrous growths on the skin that form over healed wounds.
• Keratinocytes (Also called squamous cells.) - these are the primary cell types found in the epidermis -- the outer layer of skin.
• Keratoacanthomas - round, flesh-colored growths with craters that contain a pasty material.
• Keratosis pilaris - a common skin condition characterized by small, pointed pimples.

L

• Lice - tiny insects that can infest the skin; characterized by intense itching.
• Lichenification - skin that has thickened or hardened due to constant scratching or rubbing.
• Lipomas - round or oval lumps under the skin caused by fatty deposits.
• Lymphangioma - a raised, yellow-tan or red mark in the skin, made up of enlarged lymphatic vessels.

M

• Macular stains (Also called angel's kisses or stork bites.) - faint, red marks that appear in the skin at birth. Angel's kisses are marks on the forehead and eyelids. Stork bites are marks on the back of the neck.
• Macule - the smaller version of a patch - a flat discolored spot.
• Malignant melanoma - a rare, but deadly skin cancer that can begin as a mole that turns cancerous.
• Melanocytes - cells present in the epidermis that produce melanin (skin pigment).
• Melasma - dark, brown symmetrical patches of pigment on the face.
• Moles - small skin marks caused by pigment-producing cells in the skin.

N

• Nodule (Also called papule.) - a solid, raised bump.

P

• Paranychia - a skin infection around a finger or toenail.
• Patch - a flat, discolored spot.
• Pityriasis rosea - a common skin condition characterized by scaly, pink, and inflamed skin.
• Port-wine stains (Also called nevi flammeus.) - permanent flat, pink, red, or purple marks on the skin.
• Prickly heat - a rash caused by trapped sweat under the skin.
• Psoriasis - a chronic skin condition characterized by inflamed, red, raised areas that develop silvery scales.
• Pustule (Also called pimple.) - inflamed lesions that look like pink bumps.
• Pyogenic granuloma - red, brown, or bluish-black raised marks caused by excessive growth of capillaries.

R

• Raised bumps - bumps that stick out above the skin surface.
• Ringworm - a fungal skin infection characterized by ring-shaped, red, scaly, or blistery patches.
• Rosacea - a common skin condition characterized by redness, pimples, and broken blood vessels.

S

• Salicylic acid - a keratolytic drug (a drug that removes the outer layer of skin) used to treat various skin conditions.
• Sarcoidosis - an inflammation of the lymph nodes and other organs.
• Scabies - an infestation of mites in the skin characterized by small pimples that itch.
• Scales - dead skin cells that look like flakes or dry skin.
• Scar - fibrous tissue that has formed after a skin injury.
• Sebaceous glands - glands in the skin that secrete oil to the surface of the skin.
• Seborrheic keratosis - flesh-colored, brown, or black wart-like spots.
• Skin tags - soft, small, flesh-colored skin flaps on the neck, armpits, or groin.
• Spider angioma - a bright red mark with a distinct dark spot in the skin.
• Squamous cell carcinoma - a form of skin cancer that affects about 20 percent of patients with skin cancer. This highly treatable cancer is characterized by red, scaly skin that becomes an open sore.
• Strawberry mark (Also called capillary hemangioma.) - a raised, strawberry red mark in the skin.
• Subcutaneous layer - the deepest layer of skin; consists of collagen and fat cells.

T

• Tinea versicolor - a common fungal skin infection characterized by white or light brown patches on the skin.
• Toxic epidermal necrolysis - a life-threatening skin disorder characterized by blistering and peeling of the top layer of skin.
• Tretinoin - a drug which is chemically related to vitamin A; used to treat acne and other scaly skin disorders.

U

• Urushiol - resin in poison ivy plants that causes a skin reaction.

V

• Vitiligo - smooth, white patches in the skin caused by the loss of pigment-producing cells.

W

• Wart - a non-cancerous skin growth caused by a virus.