Glossary "M"

MACERATION (MASS er AY shun):
Skin softening. A possible side effect of topical corticosteroids.

MACROPHAGE (MAC roh fahjh):
A leukocyte which helps clear foreign debris by phagocytosis.

MACULE (MAC yule):
A flat skin lesion that has a different color than the surrounding normal skin. White, brown, and red are the most common color changes seen in macules. A freckle is a macule. When a macule is larger than 5 mm it is called a patch.

MALAR EMINENCIES:
The prominent part of the cheek just below the eye.

MAST CELL:
Dermal cell which releases histamine and heparin.

MATRIX (MA triks):
The area beneath the proximal nail fold and cuticle from which the nail plates evolve and continue growth.

MEDULLA (meh DULL luh):
Inner core. The medulla of the adrenal glands produces adrenaline and noradrenaline.

MELANIN (MEL ah nin):
Pigment produced by the melanocytes in response to sun exposure.

MELANOCYTE (MEL ah no SITE):
Epidermal cell located in the basal cell layer which help protect the skin from ultraviolet radiation.

MELANOMA (MEL ah NO muh):
A dark-pigmented carcinoma derived from melanocytes.

METHOTREXATE (METH oh TREK sate):
A systemic chemotherapeutic agent sometimes used in the treatment of psoriasis.

METRONIDAZOLE (meh troh NID ah zole):
Active ingredient in the treatment of rosacea.

MG:
Abbreviation for the word milligram, which equals 1/1000 of a gram, most systemic medication doses are in milligrams.

MICELLE (mih SELL or my SELL):
Packages of sebum created by the lipophilic component of the surfactant in shampoo. Micelles are rinsed away by water during the rinse after a shampoo.

MICROBIOLOGY:
The science that studies microscopic organisms.

MICROCOMEDO (MY kroh KOM eh doh):
The first acne lesion. A microscopic accumulation of corneocytes in the follicular canal.

MICROCOMEDOME:
An invisible blackhead/whitehead under the surface of the skin formed by the inappropriate adhesion of stratum corneum cells to each other, forming a plug that obstructs the outflow of sebum from the pilosebaceous unit.

MICROSPORUM CANIS (MY kroh SPOH rum KAH nis):
A fungus responsible for cutaneous fungal infections.

MILIARIA (MILL eh ah REE ah):
Prickly heat. A possible adverse reaction to topical corticosteroids.

MINERALOCORTICO-STEROID (MIN eh RUL oh KOR tih koh STEH royd):
One of the two basic types of adrenocortical hormones. Mineralocorticosteroids affect mineral metabolism.

MINOCYCLINE (MINE oh SIGH kleen):
Antibiotic used orally in the treatment of acne.

MITOSIS (my TOH sis):
Cell division.

MOHS SURGERY (mohz):
A specialized type of skin cancer surgery in which areas of tissue are sequentially excised and then microscopically examined to define the extent of invasion and ensure that the malignancy has been completely removed. The most successful method of treating squamous and basal cell carcinomas.

MOLLUSCUM CONTAGIOSUM (mol LUS cum con TAY gi OH sum):
A viral disease characterized by dome-shaped lesions that contain a cheesy material.

MUCOUS MEMBRANE (MU kus):
Membrane lining various canals and cavities of the body.

MUTAGEN (MU tah jen):
Agent that can induce mutation in organisms.

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