Dermatitis, atopic
Dermatitis, atopic: A skin disease characterized by areas of severe itching, redness, scaling, and evidence of scratching (excoriation). When the eruption (rash) has been present for a prolonged time, chronic changes occur due to the constant scratching and rubbing known as lichenification (thickening of the skin with accentuation of the skin lines to form a crisscross pattern).
This disorder usually affects young children on the face and extensor surfaces of the arms and legs (elbow and knee sides). Older children and adults are usually affected on the sides of the neck and on the palms and soles.
Atopic dermatitis is frequently associated with other atopic (allergic) disorders, especially asthma and allergic rhinitis (hay fever). A defect of the immune system within the skin has been shown, but the reason for this is unknown.
Read Also:
- Dermatitis, stasis
Dermatitis, stasis: A skin irritation on the lower legs, generally related to circulatory problems. Stasis refers to a stoppage or slowdown in the flow of blood (or other body fluid such as lymph). A stasis ulcer is an ulcer (a crater) that develops in an area in which the circulation is sluggish and the venous […]
- Dermatofibroma
Dermatofibroma: A common type of benign skin tumor that is small, slow-growing, typically firm, red-to-brown bump, seen most often on the legs. Also called a fibrous histiocytoma. It can grow up to about 1 cm (less than a half inch) in diameter. A dermatofibroma consists of a proliferation of scar-like tissue within the deeper layers […]
- Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: (DFSP) A type of skin tumor that begins as a hard nodule and grows slowly. DFSP is usually found in the dermis of the limbs or trunk of the body. (The dermis is the inner layer of the two main layers of tissue that make up the skin.) DFSP can grow and invade […]
- Dermatoglyphic
Dermatoglyphic: Pertaining to dermatoglyphics — the study of dermal ridges on the fingers, palms, toes, and soles.
- Dermatoglyphics
Dermatoglyphics: The study of the patterns of ridges on the skin of the fingers, palms, toes, and soles. Dermatoglyphics are of interest in anthropology, criminology, and medicine, including dysmorphology (the study of congenital malformations) and the study of chromosome abnormalities such as trisomy 21 (Down syndrome). The term dermatoglyphics was coined in 1926 by Dr. […]