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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