Glossary "E"

ECCRINE SWEAT GLAND (EK krin):
Sweat gland located in the dermis. Helps regulate body temperature by manufacturing and excreting sweat onto the skin surface.

ECZEMA (EK zih muh) Dermatitis:
Also used as an umbrella term to describe specific skin diseases, including atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, hand dermatitis, and asteatotic eczema.

ECZEMA, Acute:
An intensely itching, red, scaling, blistering, weeping, oozing skin rash.

ECZEMA, Chronic:
A moderately to intensely itching, hyperpigmented, dry scaling, lichenified, excoriated, skin rash.

ECZEMA, Subacute:
A moderately itching red, scaling, blistering, weeping, oozing skin rash.

ECZEMA CRAQUELE (EK zih muh KRAH kah lay):
Severe dry skin in which skin scaling takes on the diamond-shaped pattern of cracked porcelain.

EDEMA/EDEMATOUS:
Swelling/swollen.

EFFICACY:
The ability to cause an effect.

ELECTROCOAGULATION (ELEC troh koh AG you LAY shun):
A method of electrosurgery. Electrocoagulation produces severe, deep destruction by delivering an intensely hot current that boils and coagulates the lesion being treated. Often used to remove lesions that require extensive destruction, such as basal cell carcinomas.

ELECTRODESICCATION (ELEC troh DEZ eh KAY shun):
A method of electrosurgery. Destroys lesions through dehydration caused by bursts of electrical current. Usually used to treat benign, superficial lesions such as warts.

ELECTROSURGERY (ELEC troh SIR jer ee):
Destruction of diseased tissue through the delivery of electrical current.

ELECTRON MICROSCOPE:
A microscope that uses electron beams instead of visible light, thereby producing much greater magnification.

ELECTRON MICROSCOPY (elec TRON my KROS koh pee):
Investigation with an electron microscope.

EMOLLIENT (eh MOL yent):
Substance that softens the rough, scaly surface of dry skin by filling in the spaces between dry skin flakes with oil droplets. Mineral oil, lanolin, certain fatty acid esters, and higher alcohols (cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol) are emollients.

EMULSIFIER (eh MUL sih FYE er):
A substance which prevents the ingredients in an emulsion from separating.

EMULSION(eh MUL zhun):
A suspension of tiny globules of one liquid in a second liquid with which the first will not mix. Oil and vinegar salad dressing is an everyday example of an emulsion.

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM (EN doh krin):
Made up of individual but related ductless glands that help regulate the body’s activities and responses. Includes the pancreas, the ovaries, the testes, and the adrenal, pituitary, thyroid, and parathyroid glands.

ENDOGENOUS (en DODGE eh nus):
Originating in or produced by the body.

ENTERIC-COATED (en TER ik):
A coating applied to tablets or capsules that prevents the release and absorption of active ingredients until they reach the intestines.

EPITHELIUM (EP ih THEEL lee um):
Cellular covering of internal and external body surfaces.

EROSION:
A depressed skin lesion that is wider than a fissure but not as deep. Usually moist; may result from a ruptured vesicle or bulla.

ERYTHEMA (ir uh THEE muh):
Inflammatory redness of the skin.

ERYTHROMYCIN (eh RITH roe MY sin):
An antibiotic used in both oral and topical forms to treat acne.

ESOPHAGITIS (eh SOFF ah JIE tis):
Inflammation of the esophagus.

ESTERIFICATION (es TER ih fih KAY shun):
A method of manipulating the steroid molecule. Esterification involves adding a carboxylic acid at a hydroxyl group in the 17 or 21 position in an attempt to increase the intrinsic potency of the steroid molecule.

EVAPORIMETER (ee VAP oh RIM eh ter):
Instrument used to measure transepidermal water loss.

EXCISE (x SIZE):
To cut out.

EXCISIONAL BIOPSY (x SIZ zhun al):
Biopsy procedure in which the entire suspicious lesion and sometimes the surrounding tissue is removed.

EXCORIATION (x KOH ree AY shun):
Scratch; linear break in the skin surface. Often covered with blood or crust.

EXTEMPORANEOUS (x STEM poh RAY nee us):
Impromptu. In medicine, used to describe medications that are made up in the pharmacy.

EXTENSOR:
A muscle which aids in extending a body part.

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