Understanding Words for a Child's Skin Condition 
  
    Words used to describe skin conditions 
    Your child's healthcare provider may use some of the words below to describe your child's skin condition. 
    
      
        | 
           Term 
         | 
        
           What it means 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           Abscess 
         | 
        
           A closed, painful pocket of pus that may look like a pimple or blister  
         | 
      
      
        | 
           Atrophic 
         | 
        
           Thin, wrinkled 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           Blister 
         | 
        
           Fluid-filled bump under or within the top layer of skin  
         | 
      
      
        | 
           Crust or scab 
         | 
        
           Formation of dried blood, pus, or other skin fluid over a break in the skin  
         | 
      
      
        | 
           Cyst 
         | 
        
           Thin-walled lesion that contains fluid or other material, is under the skin, and may be deep in tissue  
         | 
      
      
        | 
           Excoriation 
         | 
        
           A scratch 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           Hives, wheals, welts, urticaria 
         | 
        
           Pink or white swelling of the skin  
         | 
      
      
        | 
           Lesion 
         | 
        
           Any abnormal mark or change on the skin  
         | 
      
      
        | 
           Lichenification 
         | 
        
           Skin that has thickened usually due to scratching  
         | 
      
      
        | 
           Macule 
         | 
        
           Small, flat, discolored spot  
         | 
      
      
        | 
           Nodule/papule 
         | 
        
           Small, solid, raised bump  
         | 
      
      
        | 
           Patch 
         | 
        
           Large, flat, discolored area  
         | 
      
      
        | 
           Pustule (pimple) 
         | 
        
           Inflamed lesion that appears to contain pus  
         | 
      
      
        | 
           Plaque 
         | 
        
           Large, raised area of skin 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           Scales 
         | 
        
           Dead skin cells that form flakes  
         | 
      
      
        | 
           Scar 
         | 
        
           Fibrous tissue that has formed after a skin injury  
         | 
      
    
   
 
				
			 
			
				
				
				
				
				
						Online Medical Reviewer:
						Michael Lehrer MD
						
					
						
Online Medical Reviewer:
						Stacey Wojcik MBA BSN RN
						
					
						
Online Medical Reviewer:
						Tennille Dozier RN BSN RDMS
						
					
				
			
					Date Last Reviewed:
					9/1/2023
					
				
		
				
				
			
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