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Dercum disease
Dercum disease A condition characterized by painful fatty tumors (lipomas) beneath the skin. The diseases tends to be associated with obesity and is about 5 times more frequent in females than in males. Onset of symptoms is generally in middle age. The fatty tumors are most often located on the trunk and limbs with sparing of the face and hands Also called adiposis dolorosa.
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Condition
The term "condition" has a number of biomedical meanings including the following: 1.An unhealthy state, such as in "this is a progressive condition." 2.A state of fitness, such as "getting into condition." 3.Something that is essential to the occurrence of something else; essentially a "precondition." 4.As a verb: to cause a change in something so that a response that was previously associated with a certain stimulus becomes associated with another stimulus; to condition a person, as in behavioral conditioning.
Skin
Skin is an organ of the integumentary system; which is composed of a layer of tissues that protect underlying muscles and organs. Skin is used for insulation, vitamin D production, sensation, and excretion (through sweat).
Obesity
Abnormal body weight, usually defined as more than 20 percent above average for age, height and bone structure.
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Deoxyhemoglobin
The form of hemoglobin without oxygen, the predominant protein in red blood cells.
Depigmentation
Loss of color (pigment) from the skin, mucous membranes, hair, or retina of the eye. The color of the skin, mucous membranes, hair, and retina is due to the deposition of melanin, which is a coloring matter. Melanin is produced by specialized cells called melanocytes. Other terms pertaining to pigment include pigmentation (the presence of pigment), hypopigmentation and underpigmentation (too little pigment), and hyperpigmentation (too much pigment).
Depo-Provera contraceptive
Depo-Provera prevents pregnancy in three ways: It inhibits ovulation, changes the cervical mucus to help prevent sperm from reaching the egg, and changes the uterine lining to prevent the fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus.
Depression, dysthymia
A type of depression involving long-term, chronic symptoms that are not disabling, but keep a person from functioning at "full steam" or from feeling good. Dysthymia is a less severe type of depression than what is accorded the diagnosis of major depression. However, people with dysthymia may also sometimes experience major depressive episodes, suggesting that there is a continuum between dysthymia and major depression.
Depression, major
A disease that interferes with the ability to work, sleep, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities.
Dercum disease
Dermal
Pertaining to the skin.
Dermatan sulfate
An glycosaminoglycan (formerly called a mucopolysaccharide) found mostly in skin but also in blood vessels, the heart valves, tendons, and the lungs. Dermatan sulfate accumulates abnormally in several of the mucopolysaccharidosis disorders.
Dermatitis and diarrhea, zinc deficiency
Among the consequences of zinc deficiency, dermatitis (skin inflammation) and diarrhea are particularly prominent features.
Dermatitis, atopic
A skin disease characterized by areas of severe itching, redness, scaling, and loss of the surface of the skin (excoriation). When the eruption (rash) has been present for a prolonged time, chronic changes occur due to the constant scratching and rubbing known as lichenification (thickening of the skin with accentuation of the skin lines to form a crisscross pattern). This disorder usually affects young children on the face and extensor surfaces of the arms and legs (elbow and knee sides). Older children and adults are usually affected on the sides of the neck and on the inside of the elbow and knee. Atopic dermatitis is frequently associated with other atopic (allergic) disorders, especially asthma and allergic rhinitis (hayfever). A defect of the immune system within the skin has been shown, but the reason for this is unknown.
Dermatitis, stasis
A skin irritation on the lower legs, generally related to circulatory problems. Stasis refers to a stoppage or slowdown in the flow of blood (or other body fluid such as lymph). A stasis ulcer is an ulcer (a crater) that develops in an area in which the circulation is sluggish and the venous return (the return of venous blood toward the heart) is poor. A common location for stasis ulcers is on the ankle.
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