Terms used to explain Psoriasis can sometimes be confusing. To help you fully understand the articles and features related to this very important health topic, we have compiled a glossary of terms that can help.
ankylosing spondylitis
Function: noun
: rheumatoid arthritis of the spine —called also Marie-Strümpell disease, rheumatoid spondylitis
an*ti*bi*ot*ic
Pronunciation: \-bī-ˈät-ik; -bē-\
Function: adjective
1: tending to prevent, inhibit, or destroy life
2: of or relating to antibiotics or to antibiosis
Function: noun
: a biological product (as a globulin, serum, vaccine, antitoxin, or antigen) used in the prevention or treatment of disease
1 a: marked by long duration, by frequent recurrence over a long time, and often by slowly progressing seriousness : not acute <chronic[1] indigestion> <her hallucinations became chronic[1]>
b: suffering from a disease or ailment of long duration or frequent recurrence <a chronic[1] arthritic> <chronic[1] sufferers from asthma>
2 a: having a slow progressive course of indefinite duration used esp. of degenerative invasive diseases, some infections, psychoses, and inflammations <chronic[1] heart disease> <chronic[1] arthritis> <chronic[1] tuberculosis> compare acute 2b(1)
b: infected with a disease-causing agent (as a virus) and remaining infectious over a long period of time but not necessarily expressing symptoms <chronic[1] carriers may remain healthy but still transmit the virus causing hepatitis B>
: tar obtained by distillation of bituminous coal and used in the treatment of some skin diseases by direct local application to the skin
Function: noun
: any of various adrenal-cortex steroids (as corticosterone, cortisone, and aldosterone) that are divided on the basis of their major biological activity into glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids
: any of a class of immunoregulatory proteins (as interleukin, tumor necrosis factor, and interferon) that are secreted by cells esp. of the immune system
flare–up
Pronunciation: \-ˌəp\
: a sudden increase in the symptoms of a latent or subsiding disease <a flare-up of malaria>
: an abnormal change in structure of an organ or part due to injury or disease; esp: one that is circumscribed and well defined
-cat*ed
-cat*ing
: to make smooth, slippery, or oily in motion, action, or appearance <lubricate the eye> <lubricate the skin>
Function: noun
: a salve or unguent for application to the skin; specif: a semisolid medicinal preparation usu. having a base of fatty or greasy material
Function: noun
pl -pies
: the application of light for therapeutic purposes
Function: noun
pl -a*ses
Pronunciation: \-ˌsēz\
: a chronic skin disease characterized by circumscribed red patches covered with white scales
psoriatic arthritis
Function: noun
: a severe form of arthritis accompanied by inflammation, psoriasis of the skin or nails, and a negative test for rheumatoid factor —called also psoriasis arthropathica
: any of various synthetic or naturally occurring analogs of vitamin A
Function: noun
: any of numerous natural or synthetic compounds containing a 17-carbon 4-ring system and including the sterols and various hormones and glycosides see anabolic steroid
2systemic
Function: noun
: a systemic pesticide
T cell
Function: noun
: any of several lymphocytes (as a helper T cell) that differentiate in the thymus, possess highly specific cell-surface antigen receptors, and include some that control the initiation or suppression of cell-mediated and humoral immunity (as by the regulation of T and B cell maturation and proliferation) and others that lyse antigen-bearing cells —called also T lymphocyte, see cytotoxic t cell helper t cell suppressor t cell t4 cell
Function: adjective
: designed for or involving application to or action on the surface of a part of the body <applied a topical anesthetic to numb the skin> <eyedrops used in the topical treatment of glaucoma>
Spotlight on Psoriasis
8 Style Tips for Psoriasis
The Facts on Biologics
Dating With Psoriasis
Photos of Psoriasis
Take the Psoriasis QuizReference: Skin, Hair and Nails section on Better Medicine
Psoriasis Features
Did You Know?
View SourcePsoriasis usually starts between ages 15 and 35.