keratosis

noun

ker·​a·​to·​sis ˌker-ə-ˈtō-səs 

plural keratoses ˌker-ə-ˈtō-ˌsēz 

: an area of skin marked by overgrowth of horny tissue

keratotic

ˌker-ə-ˈtä-tik 

adjective

Examples of keratosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In May 2022, a resident was diagnosed with actinic keratosis, a skin condition caused by excessive sun exposure. —Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 2025

This silicone scrubber helps smooth rough patches and keratosis pilaris. —Nora Colomer May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2025

Offering a full-body facial to undo the unwanted, visible signs of summer, each one targets problems such as body acne, keratosis pilaris, ingrown hairs, rough texture, and dry, uneven skin-tone. —Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025

Other causes may include psoriasis, scabies, or keratosis pilaris. —Carrie Madormo, Health, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Keratose, from Greek kerat-, kéras "horn" + German -ose -osis — more at kerato-

Note: The term was promulgated, if not introduced, by the German physician Hermann Lebert (1813-78) in Ueber Keratose, oder die durch Bildung von Hornsubstanz erzeugten Krankheiten und ihre Behandlung, Breslau, 1864.

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for keratosis

• acanthosis
• acidosis
• alkalosis
• amaurosis
• ankylosis
• asbestosis
• brucellosis
• cyanosis
• dermatosis
• diagnosis
• ecchymosis
• exostosis

Medical Definition

keratosis

noun

ker·​a·​to·​sis ˌker-ə-ˈtō-səs 

plural keratoses -ˌsēz 

1

: a disease of the skin marked by overgrowth of horny tissue

2

: an area of the skin affected with keratosis

keratotic

-ˈtät-ik 

adjective