Glossary "P"

PAIRED COMPARISON:
A clinical study design in which each individual subject uses two different compounds. The advantage of this study design is that each subject is his or her own control. Variations between subjects do not affect the variations between compounds.

PAPILLAE (PAHPILL lee):
When referring to the dermis, the projections which extend upward from the dermis to the epidermis and help anchor the dermis and epidermis together.

PAPULE (PAP yule):
A small, solid, elevated skin lesion less than 0.5 cm in diameter. The top of the papule can be flat, pointed, or rounded. Papules are common lesions in acne.

PARALLEL GROUP:
Study design in which each subject receives a single medication and groups of subjects receiving one medication are compared to groups of subjects receiving another medication.

PARENTERAL (par EN ter al):
Drug administered by injection.

PATCH TEST:
Test which helps identify allergens responsible for allergic contact dermatitis.

PERCUTANEOUS PENETRATION (PUR cue TAY nee us):
Penetration through the skin.

PERIORAL DERMATITIS (PUR ee OR al DUR muh TIE tis):
Condition characterized by erythema, scaling and papules, and pustules around the mouth. A possible side effect of topical corticosteroids.

PHAGOCYTOSIS (FAG oh site TOH sis):
The absorption and digestion of foreign materials by cells.

PHARMACO-KINETICS (FAR muh koh kih NET iks):
The study of how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and eliminated by the body.

PHARMACOLOGY:
The science that studies drugs, their actions, chemistry and uses.

PHOSPHOLIPID (FOS foh LIP id):
A lipid containing phosphorus. Used in dry skin preparations.

PHOTOAGING:
Signs of aging produced by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation.

PHOTOBIOLOGY:
The study of how light affects living organisms and biological processes.

PHOTOTHERAPY:
Therapeutic use of light.

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT:
Healthcare professional who assists physicians and often provide direct patient care. In some states, physician assistants can prescribe drugs.

PILOSEBACEOUS UNIT (PIE low seh BAY shus):
The sebaceous follicle, sebaceous glands and sebaceous ducts. The site of acne.

PITUITARY GLAND (pih TWO ih TAR ee):
An endocrine gland attached to the base of the brain.

PITYRIASIS ALBA (PIT eh RYE ah sis AL buh):
Seborrheic dermatitis.

PITYRIASIS CAPITIS (PIT eh RYE ah sis KAP ih tis):
Dandruff.

PITYROSPORUM (pit ter a spore um):
A yeast that is common inhabitant of skin, especially from puberty on, it is not the yeast that causes vaginitis in women.

PITYROSPORUM FOLLICULITIS:
An acne-like rash that is composed of minute 1-3 mm in diameter papules and pustules but no comedones (blackheads / whiteheads) located most frequently on the forehead and sides of the face.

PITYROSPORUM ORBICULARE (PIT ee ROS poh rum or BIC you LA reh):
Also known as Malassezia furfur. A yeastlike fungus.

PITYROSPORUM OVALE (PIT ee ROS poh rum OVA lul):
Also known as Malassezia ovalis. A yeastlike fungus implicated in the pathogenesis of dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis.

PLACENTAL BARRIER (plah SEN tal):
The membranous vascular organ that develops in female mammals during pregnancy, lining the uterine wall and enveloping the fetus.

PLAQUE (plak):
An elevated, flat-topped lesion often described as being shaped like a plateau.

PLASMA:
The liquid portion of blood.

POMADE ACNE: An elegant oil or grease used most frequently by African-Americans to style the hair, at body temperature on the scalp it may melt and then seep down onto the face and produce an acneiform rash.

PORE:
The opening to a pilosebaceous unit.

POSTADOLESCENT ACNE IN WOMEN:
Few scattered closed comedones and papulopustules along the mandibles in adult women; frequent during menstrual flares.

PREDNISOLONE (PRED nih so lone):
A corticosteroid produced by modification of the hydrocortisone molecule; prednisolone has a double bond in the A ring.

PREPAID GROUP PRACTICE:
A form of healthcare delivery in which the care is delivered by a group of physicians and other providers for a fixed monthly rate.

PRIMARY IRRITANT CONTACT DERMATITIS:
A type of contact dermatitis. A nonallergic reaction to a substance that has a toxic effect on the skin.

PROPIONI-BACTERIUM ACNES (PRO pee ON ih back TEH ree um AK nees):
Anaerobic bacterium that thrives in the follicular canal of the pilosebaceous unit. Implicated in the pathogenesis of acne.

PROPOLYENE GLYCOL (PRO pill een GLYE kol):
Colorless hygroscopic liquid used as a solvent in topical dermatologic preparations.

PROSTAGLANDIN (PROS tah GLAN din):
A group of hormone-like chemical mediators that produces reactions such as dilation and contraction of blood vessels.

PROTHROMBIN (pro THROM bin):
A plasma protein converted into thrombin during blood clotting.

PROTOCOL:
A precise plan that is the blueprint for clinical studies.

PRURITUS (proo RYE tus):
Itching.

PRURITUS VULVAE:
Itching of the female genitalia caused by emotional stress.

PSEUDOFOLLICULITIS BARBAE (SUE doh fol LIK you LYE tis BAR bay):
Follicular papules or pustules provoked by close shaving of the beard area in men. Usually occurs in men with very curly hair.

PSORIASIS (so RYE uh sis):
A skin disease in which the normal epidermal turnover rate is speeded up. Psoriasis is characterized by scaly, silvery plaques. Psoriasis is one of the steroid-responsive dermatoses.

PUNCH BIOPSY:
Procedure in which 2-8 mm of tissue is removed for pathologic study. A biopsy punch is drilled into the skin with a back and forth cutting motion.

PURPURA (PUR pu rah):
Lesion caused by the escape of blood from a vessel into the surrounding tissue.

PUS:
A collection of white blood cells in tissue fluid, it may be either a sign of infection or inflammation.

PUSTULE (PUS tyule):
Vesicle filled with cloudy or purulent fluid such as pus.

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