What does dermatoses mean?
Dermatoses is the plural of dermatosis, a medical term for any disease or abnormal condition affecting the skin. It derives from the Greek words derma (meaning skin) and -osis (indicating an abnormal state or condition). Dermatologists use this term broadly to cover a wide range of skin ailments — from inflammatory conditions like eczema to non-inflammatory disorders. Because it is a formal clinical term, dermatoses appears mainly in medical literature, diagnoses, and professional discussions rather than casual conversation. It is particularly common in phrases such as occupational dermatoses, describing skin conditions caused by workplace exposures, or inflammatory dermatoses, grouping conditions that involve inflammation. The singular form is dermatosis, and using one in place of the other would be grammatically incorrect. For general readers encountering the word, it helps simply to remember: if a doctor mentions dermatoses, they are talking about multiple skin conditions, whatever their underlying cause may be.
nounDermatoses is the plural of dermatosis, referring to any disease or abnormal condition of the skin, especially one that is not inflammatory.
- The plural form of dermatosis: any of various diseases or abnormal conditions affecting the skin.
"Occupational dermatoses are among the most commonly reported workplace illnesses."
"The clinic specializes in diagnosing rare hereditary dermatoses."
"Prolonged chemical exposure can lead to occupational dermatoses."
This is itself the plural form; the singular is dermatosis.
"Several distinct dermatoses were identified during the examination."
One patient can have several dermatoses at once — which is why doctors rarely say 'a dermatoses'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dermatoses
Dermatoses comes from the Greek derma, meaning skin, combined with the suffix -osis, used in medical terminology to denote an abnormal or diseased condition. The word entered English through New Latin medical usage, alongside related terms such as dermatology and dermatitis. It shares its root with many English words about skin, including epidermis and hypodermic.
Related word forms
How dermatoses is actually used
Strictly a plural noun; the singular is dermatosis. Used almost exclusively in medical and clinical contexts rather than everyday speech.
Easily confused with dermatoses
Dermatitis specifically denotes inflammation of the skin, whereas dermatoses is a broader plural term for skin diseases of any kind.