Oregon Esthetician State Board

What term describes a skin sore or abrasion caused by scratching or scraping?

1. Excoriation

2. Keloid

3. Scale

4. Scar

The correct answer is: Excoriation

The term that describes a skin sore or abrasion caused by scratching or scraping is excoriation. Excoriations are typically identified as injuries to the skin surface, often involving the removal of the epidermis, which can result from repetitive friction or itching behaviors. This condition can vary in severity, ranging from mild redness and irritation to more severe abrasions that could lead to bleeding or infection. In contrast, keloids are a type of thickened scar that forms due to excessive collagen production during the healing process. Scales refer to flakes or dry patches of skin that commonly accumulate due to conditions like psoriasis or eczema, rather than being directly caused by physical abrasion. Scars are the result of healing after a wound or injury and can indicate that the skin has undergone trauma, but they are more permanent and involve the formation of new tissue rather than being a current sore or abrasion. Therefore, excoriation is the most accurate term to describe a current skin sore resulting from scratching or scraping.