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

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

This seals in hydration instead of letting product sit on top of dry skin, and the timing matters most for body serums, retinol lotions and keratosis pilaris treatments. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2026

That can include dry brushing, scalp oiling, applying a hair mask and picking one skin concern to target that day, whether dryness, keratosis pilaris or body acne. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 June 2026

For many people, chemical exfoliants are the go-to for addressing body concerns like keratosis pilaris, acne, or uneven texture. — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 16 Aug. 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