Medical Careers & Professional Terminology

aesthetician: a medical specialist who performs only clinical skincare

dermatologist: physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders of the skin

dermatology: the study of the skin and diseases affecting the skin

dermatopathology: the study of skin diseases

esthetician: a professional who performs manicures, pedicures, waxing, and other body/skin treatments

Imaging Techniques/Treatments for the Organ System

antibiotics: medicines that kill bacteria

antifungals: medicines that kill fungi

anti-inflammatories: medicines that reduce swelling/edema

antipruritics: medicines that reduce itching

antipyretics: medicines that reduce fever

antiseptic: agents/chemicals that inhibit (prevent) bacterial growth

keratogenic: agent causing growth of horny tissue

scabicides: medicine that kills mites

Surgical Techniques/Procedures Used for the Organ System

biopsy: view of life (process of removing tissue for study)

cryosurgery: cold surgery, used to freeze tissue for removal

cryotherapy: treatment of diseases using extreme cold

debridement: removal of dead tissue from a wound

dermatoautoplasty: surgical repair using one’s own skin

dermatoheteroplasty: surgical repair using skin from others

dermoplasty: surgical repair of the skin

onychectomy: surgical removal of a fingernail or toenail

onychotomy: incision into a fingernail or toenail

rhytidectomy: excision (surgical removal) of wrinkles

rhytidoplasty: surgical repair of wrinkles

Abbreviations Commonly Used with the Organ System

BCC: basal cell carcinoma

bx: biopsy

derm: dermatology

ID: intradermal

MRSA: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

SCC: squamous cell carcinoma

SLE: systemic lupus erythematosus

staph: staphylococcus

strep: streptococcus

subcut: subcutaneous

TD: transdermal

Medical Terms Practice

For each card, click the speaker icon to hear the correct pronunciation of the listed term. Practice saying the term to yourself, then attempt to define the term from memory. Click “Turn” to flip the card and see the definition. Use the right and left arrows to toggle through the cards in each set.