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• a-, an-: Absence of, without, not

•  Example: Anhidrosis – The absence of sweating, which can result from damage to sweat glands, certain medications, or neurological disorders, potentially leading to overheating or heatstroke.

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• bi-: Two or both 

• Example: Bilateral – Pertaining to both sides, such as a bilateral rash that appears symmetrically on both sides of the body, often associated with systemic conditions like lupus.

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• dia-: Through, complete 

• Example: Diaphoresis – Excessive sweating, which may be a symptom of fever, physical exertion, or underlying conditions like hyperthyroidism or a heart attack.

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• dys-: Difficult, painful, abnormal, labored

•  Example: Dysplasia – Abnormal development or growth of tissue, often referring to precancerous changes in the skin or mucous membranes, such as cervical dysplasia.

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• epi-: Upon, on, over 

• Example: Epidermis – The outermost layer of the skin, which acts as a protective barrier against environmental damage, pathogens, and water loss.

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• hyper-: Above, excessive

•  Example: Hyperkeratosis – Thickening of the skin’s outer layer due to excessive keratin production, often seen in conditions like psoriasis, calluses, or warts.

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• hypo-: Deficient, below, under, incomplete 

• Example: Hypodermic – Pertaining to beneath the skin, often used to describe injections administered into the subcutaneous tissue for rapid absorption of medications.

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• intra-: Within, in 

• Example: Intradermal – Within the layers of the skin, as in intradermal injections used for allergy testing or tuberculosis screening.

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• meta-: Change, beyond, after

•  Example: Metaplasia – Transformation of tissue from one type to another, such as the conversion of normal skin cells to a tougher type after chronic irritation or injury.

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• neo-: New

•  Example: Neoplasm – A new growth of abnormal tissue, which can be benign (like a mole) or malignant (like melanoma), requiring medical evaluation for treatment.

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• para-: Beside, around, beyond, abnormal 

• Example: Paronychia – Inflammation around a nail, typically caused by bacterial or fungal infection, leading to redness, swelling, and pain in the affected area.

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• per-: Through 

• Example: Percutaneous – Through the skin, often referring to medical procedures such as percutaneous biopsies or drug administration through patches.

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• pro-: Before 

• Example: Prodromal – Referring to the early symptoms that occur before a disease becomes fully evident, such as tingling before a herpes outbreak or fever before a rash in measles.

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• sub-: Under, below

•  Example: Subcutaneous – Located beneath the skin, as in the subcutaneous fat layer that provides insulation and cushioning to the body.

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• trans-: Through, across, beyond 

• Example: Transdermal – Referring to medications applied to the skin that are absorbed into the bloodstream, such as transdermal nicotine patches or hormone replacement therapy.

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• uni-: One 

• Example: Unilateral – Pertaining to one side, as in a unilateral skin lesion or rash that affects only one side of the body, often seen in conditions like shingles.

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• -ad: Toward 

• Example: Cephalad – Toward the head, commonly used to describe directional movement or anatomical orientation.

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• -al: Pertaining to 

• Example: Dermal – Pertaining to the skin, particularly the dermis layer, which contains blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue.

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• -coccus: Berry-shaped 

• Example: Staphylococcus – A type of berry-shaped bacterium that can cause skin infections such as boils, abscesses, or cellulitis.

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• -cyte: Cell 

• Example: Melanocyte – A pigment-producing cell in the skin responsible for producing melanin, which protects against UV radiation.

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• -ectomy: Excision 

• Example: Lipectomy – Surgical removal of fat, often performed for cosmetic reasons or to address localized fat deposits.

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• -gen: Substance that produces/causes, agent that produces/causes 

• Example: Pathogen – An agent, such as a bacterium, virus, or fungus, that causes diseases, including skin infections like impetigo.

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• -genic: Producing, originating, causing 

• Example: Carcinogenic – Producing cancer, often describing substances like UV rays or tobacco that can lead to skin or other cancers.

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• -ia: Condition of, diseased state, abnormal state 

• Example: Alopecia – A condition of hair loss that autoimmune diseases, genetic factors, or treatments like chemotherapy can cause.

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• -itis: Inflammation 

• Example: Dermatitis – Inflammation of the skin, which may result from allergic reactions, irritants, or infections.

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• -logist: Specialist who studies and treats 

• Example: Dermatologist – A medical specialist who diagnoses and treats skin disorders such as acne, eczema, and skin cancer.

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• -logy: Study of

•  Example: Dermatology – The study of the skin, including its structure, function, and diseases.

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• -malacia: Softening

•  Example: Onychomalacia – Softening of the nails, which can occur due to fungal infections or malnutrition.

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• -oid: Resembling 

• Example: Xanthoid – Resembling yellow, often describing yellowish discolorations of the skin or lesions.

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• -oma: Tumor, swelling 

• Example: Lipoma – A benign tumor composed of fatty tissue, often found under the skin.

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• -opsy: View of, process of viewing, viewing 

• Example: Biopsy – The process of removing tissue samples for microscopic examination to diagnose skin cancer or other diseases.

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• -osis: Abnormal condition, increased numbers pertaining to blood 

• Example: Erythrodermosis – A condition characterized by widespread redness and peeling of the skin, often linked to disorders such as eczema or psoriasis.

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• -ous: Pertaining to 

• Example: Sebaceous – Pertaining to sebum or oil, such as the sebaceous glands that produce skin oil.

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• -pathy: Disease 

• Example: Dermatopathy – A disease of the skin, including conditions like psoriasis or eczema.

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• -plasia: Development, growth, condition of formation 

• Example: Hyperplasia – Excessive growth of cells or tissues, which may lead to benign skin growths.

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• -plasty: Surgical repair 

• Example: Blepharoplasty – A surgical procedure to repair or reshape the eyelids, often performed to remove excess skin or correct drooping eyelids for functional or cosmetic purposes.

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• -rrhea: Flow 

• Example: Seborrhea – Excessive secretion of sebum, leading to oily skin and dandruff.

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• -rrhage, -rrhagia: Excessive discharge

•  Example: Hemorrhage – Excessive bleeding, which may occur externally or internally.

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• -stasis: Stop, controlling, standing 

• Example: Hemostasis – The stopping of blood flow, critical in wound healing.

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• -tome: Instrument used to cut 

• Example: Dermatome – An instrument used to cut thin slices of skin for grafting or diagnostic purposes.

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• aden/o: Gland

•  Example: Adenoma – A benign tumor of a gland, often found in areas such as the adrenal glands, sebaceous glands, thyroid, or pituitary gland. These tumors are typically noncancerous but may affect gland function.

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• adip/o: Fat 

• Example: Adipocyte – A fat cell that stores energy in the form of lipids, found primarily in subcutaneous tissue and around internal organs.

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• albin/o: White

•  Example: Albinism – A genetic condition characterized by the absence of melanin pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes, leading to increased sensitivity to sunlight and vision issues.

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• aut/o: Self

•  Example: Autograft – A graft of tissue taken from the patient’s own body, often used in burn treatments or reconstructive surgery to minimize rejection.

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• bi/o: Life 

• Example: Biotherapy – The use of living organisms or biologically derived treatments to aid in the treatment of skin conditions, such as using probiotics for acne or biologic drugs for psoriasis.

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• cry/o: Cold 

• Example: Cryotherapy – A treatment using extreme cold, such as liquid nitrogen, to remove abnormal tissues like warts or precancerous skin lesions.

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• crypt/o: Hidden 

• Example: Cryptogenic – A condition or disease of unknown origin, often referring to conditions like cryptogenic cirrhosis or cryptogenic stroke.

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• cutane/o, derm/o, dermat/o: Skin 

• Example: Dermatitis – Inflammation of the skin caused by irritants, allergens, or infections, resulting in redness, itching, and swelling.

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• cyan/o: Blue 

• Example: Cyanosis – A bluish discoloration of the skin or mucous membranes due to insufficient oxygen in the blood, commonly seen in respiratory or cardiac conditions.

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• erythr/o, erythemat/o: Red, redness 

• Example: Erythema – Redness of the skin caused by increased blood flow to superficial capillaries, often due to irritation, sunburn, or infections.

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• hidr/o: Sweat 

• Example: Hidrosis – The production and excretion of sweat, which can be excessive (hyperhidrosis) or reduced (anhidrosis), depending on the condition.

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• kerat/o: Hard, horny tissue, keratin 

• Example: Keratolysis - A condition characterized by the breakdown or shedding of the outer keratin layer of the skin, commonly seen in conditions like pitted keratolysis, which affects the feet and causes odor and pitting.

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• lip/o, lipid/o: Fat

•  Example: Lipoatrophy – The localized loss of fat tissue beneath the skin, which can occur due to repeated injections, medication use, or underlying medical conditions.

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• melan/o: Black 
• Example: Melanoma – A serious type of skin cancer that develops from melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells responsible for skin color, and is often linked to excessive UV exposure

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• myc/o: Fungus 

• Example: Mycosis – A fungal infection, such as athlete’s foot or ringworm, which can affect the skin, nails, or other body parts.

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• onych/o, ungu/o: Nail 

• Example: Subungual – Referring to something located beneath the nail, such as a subungual hematoma, which occurs when blood collects under the nail due to injury or trauma, often causing discoloration and pressure.

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• pil/o, trich/o: Hair 

• Example: Trichotillomania – A psychological condition characterized by an irresistible urge to pull out one’s own hair, often resulting in noticeable hair loss.

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• xanth/o: Yellow

•  Example: Xanthoma – A yellowish, fatty deposit under the skin, often associated with high cholesterol or lipid disorders.

   

AT = Alopecia Totalis

• A rare autoimmune condition characterized by the complete loss of hair on the scalp. The immune system attacks the hair follicles, leading to hair loss. Alopecia totalis is more severe than alopecia areata, which involves patchy hair loss.

BCC = Basal Cell Carcinoma

• The most common type of skin cancer that arises from basal cells in the epidermis. BCC grows slowly and rarely spreads (metastasizes) to other parts of the body. It often appears as a pearly or waxy bump, a flat lesion, or a sore that does not heal, typically on sun-exposed areas of the skin.

CD = Contact Dermatitis

• An inflammatory skin condition caused by direct contact with an irritant or allergen. Symptoms include redness, itching, swelling, and sometimes blisters. There are two types:

• Irritant Contact Dermatitis: Caused by substances like soaps or chemicals.

• Allergic Contact Dermatitis: Caused by allergens like poison ivy or nickel.

I&D = Incision and Drainage; Irrigation and Debridement

• Incision and Drainage: A minor surgical procedure used to treat abscesses or infected cysts. It involves making an incision to allow pus or fluid to drain.

• Irrigation and Debridement: A procedure to clean a wound or infected area by washing (irrigation) and removing damaged tissue or debris (debridement) to promote healing.

MM = Malignant Melanoma

• A serious type of skin cancer that develops in the melanocytes, the cells that produce pigment (melanin). It can appear as a new mole or change in an existing mole. MM is aggressive and can metastasize quickly if not treated early. The "ABCDE" rule helps in recognizing melanoma: Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter greater than 6mm, and Evolving size, shape, or color.

MRSA = Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

• A drug-resistant bacterial infection commonly associated with healthcare settings but also found in the community. It often causes skin and soft tissue infections, which may appear as red, swollen, painful bumps or abscesses. Severe cases can lead to bloodstream infections, pneumonia, or surgical site infections. Prompt treatment with appropriate antibiotics and infection control measures is crucial to prevent complications.

NF = Necrotizing Fasciitis

• A rare but severe bacterial infection, often referred to as "flesh-eating disease." It destroys skin, fat, and muscle tissues. Symptoms include severe pain, swelling, fever, and skin discoloration. Rapid treatment with antibiotics and surgical removal of infected tissue is critical to prevent life-threatening complications.

PDT = Photodynamic Therapy

• A treatment that uses light-sensitive medication (photosensitizer) and a specific type of light to destroy abnormal or cancerous cells. PDT is commonly used for skin conditions like actinic keratosis, basal cell carcinoma, and acne. It minimizes damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

Ps = Psoriasis

• A chronic autoimmune skin condition that causes rapid buildup of skin cells, resulting in scaly patches, redness, and inflammation. Psoriasis often occurs on the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back. It has several types, including plaque psoriasis (most common), guttate psoriasis, and pustular psoriasis.

SCD = Scleroderma

• A chronic autoimmune disease characterized by hardening and tightening of the skin and connective tissues. SCD can be localized (affecting only the skin) or systemic (affecting internal organs like the lungs, heart, and kidneys). Symptoms may include skin thickening, Raynaud's phenomenon, and joint pain.

SCC = Squamous Cell Carcinoma

• A common type of skin cancer that originates in the squamous cells of the epidermis. SCC often develops on sun-exposed areas of the skin, such as the face, ears, and hands. It may appear as a scaly red patch, open sore, or thickened growth. Unlike BCC, SCC is more likely to spread if untreated.

SLE = Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

• A chronic autoimmune disease that can affect the skin, joints, kidneys, brain, and other organs. In the integumentary system, SLE often causes a butterfly-shaped rash across the cheeks and nose, sensitivity to sunlight, and hair loss. Other symptoms include fatigue, joint pain, and inflammation throughout the body.

TEN = Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis

• A life-threatening skin condition involving widespread peeling and epidermal detachment, often triggered by severe drug reactions.

Kaposi's Sarcoma

• Named After: Moritz Kaposi, a Hungarian dermatologist.

A rare form of cancer affecting blood vessels, presenting as purple, red, or brown lesions on the skin and mucous membranes. Commonly associated with HIV/AIDS. Identifying Kaposi’s sarcoma can help in diagnosing underlying immune deficiencies.

Langer's Lines

• Named After: Karl Langer, an Austrian anatomist.

Natural tension lines in the skin that indicate the direction of underlying collagen fibers. These lines are crucial for surgeons to minimize scarring and optimize healing when making incisions.