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excoriation

excoriation

9.3
A scrape where the skin has been rubbed away
  • noun
  • /ɪkˌkɔːriˈeɪʃən/
translation icon : excoriación
  • Genital lesions due to infections or other causes, and sexual practices that may lead to excoriations or breaks in the skin or mucous membrane surfaces of the genitalia, greatly enhance the likelihood of infections.

Examples

  • Changes in the color of the skin, blisters, bruises, and excoriations often develop and are signs of early breakdown.

    Academic text (1995)
  • The nurse applied ointment to the excoriations on his back, helping to soothe the irritated skin.

  • This time she had an extensive rash, excoriation, and pruritus vulvae.

    Academic text (2007)
  • The only thing that marred his appearance, aside from his pasty white color, was the excoriations on his forearms.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The doctor examined the patient's arm and noted several excoriations caused by excessive scratching.

  • After playing outside, the child came home with excoriations on her knees from falling on the gravel.

Synonyms

scratch
vsexcoriation
203 1.6

A thin shallow mark on skin or a surface made by something sharp

describes skin worn away by rubbing or irritation rather than sharp scoring
abrasion
vsexcoriation
41 4.8

An area of skin rubbed off by scraping

refers to skin loss from injury or irritation more generally
scrape
vsexcoriation
30 1.3

A mark on a surface caused by rubbing it against something hard

is broader, covering any scraped or worn skin place

How Severe

ulcer
81 3.7
excoriation
9.3
abrasion
41 4.8
scratch
203 1.6

Surface Forms

excoriation singular
excoriations plural

Morphology

excoriation = excoriate (semi-transparent) = excoriate + ion

The relation to the verb 'excoriate' is clear, but the specific medical noun meaning 'a scraped lesion or raw spot' is a result noun rather than the most basic action noun reading.

Etymology

Excoriation comes from the Latin parts ex- 'out' and corium 'skin', so it literally means a place where the skin has been scraped or worn away. This origin explains why excoriation is used for a physical scrape or sore.