2. The study of skin, and the diseases and infections that can occur in and around it There are three layers to the skin: Epidermis – outer most layer; most superficial Dermis – middle layer Subcutaneous – deepest layer Dermatology
3. One who specializes in skin; derma meaning skin, and –logist meaning specialist Can treat dermatosis, an abnormal skin condition (derma meaning skin, and –osis meaning condition) or dermatopathy, a skin disease (derma meaning skin, and –pathy meaning disease) Can perform a surgical procedure of skin repair called a dermatoplasty; derma meaning skin, and –plasty meaning surgery/surgical procedure Dermatologist
4. Dermatography Most skin diseases can be cured if caught in time. Skin can develop different pigmentation that can be rashes, burns, or a more serious infection like cancer. Terms for color/pigmentation and texture of the skin: If skin becomes red = erythroderma If skin has no color/white = leukoderma If skin becomes scaly = ichthyoderma If skin is hard = scleroderma If skin is dry = xeroderma If skin has pus = pyoderma Different Types of Skin Diseases
5. Serious Skin Infections One of most infectious and fatal diseases is malignant melanoma. This is a serious form of skin cancer involving an uncontrollable growth of blackened cells called malignocytes. Squamous cell carcinoma is another cancer in the epidermis layer of the skin that may spread to deeper tissue under the skin and metastasize.
6. Dermatoplasty Here are some surgical procedures used to repair skin To remove wrinkles/dry skin Replace skin from another donor (i.e. skin grafting, autograft) Freezing skin to destroy tissue (i.e. Cryosurgery)
