Medical Terminology Simplified

Repair of damaged skin, acne scars, fine or deep wrinkles, or tattoos or improvement

of skin tone irregularities using topical chemicals, abrasion, or laser

In cosmetic surgery, skin resurfacing may involve dermabrasion, chemical peels, cuta-

neous lasers, and other techniques.

Use of chemicals to remove outer layers of skin to treat acne scarring and general ker-

atoses, as well as cosmetic purposes to remove fine wrinkles on the face; also called

chemabrasion

Any of several laser treatments employed for cosmetic and plastic surgery

Cutaneous laser includes treatment of pigmented lesions, wrinkles, vascular malforma-

tions, and other cosmetic skin surface irregularities.

Removal of acne scars, nevi, tattoos, or fine wrinkles on the skin through the use of

sandpaper, wire brushes, or other abrasive materials on the epidermal layer

Pharmacology

92 CHAPTER 3• Integumentary System

skin resurfacing

chemical peel

cutaneous laser

kū-TĀ-nē-ŭs

cutane:skin

-ous:pertaining to

dermabrasion

DĔRM-ă-brā-zhŭn

Drug Category Action

antibiotics

ăn-tĭ-bī-ŎT-ĭks

antifungals

ăn-tĭ-FŬNG-găls

antipruritics

ăn-tĭ-proo-RĬT-ĭks

corticosteroids

kor-tĭ-kō-STĒR-oyds

Kill bacteria that cause skin infections

Kill fungi that infect the skin

Reduce severe itching

Anti-inflammatory agents that treat skin inflammation

Pronunciation Help Long sound a ̄in ra ̄te e ̄in re ̄birth ı ̄in ı ̄sle o ̄in o ̄ver u ̄in u ̄nite

Short sound a ̆in a ̆lone e ̆in e ̆ver ̆ıin ı ̆t o ̆in no ̆t u ̆in cu ̆t