"NUMISMATIC" SKIN DISEASES Publique Deposited
The E-Sylum: Volume 7, Number 48, November 28, 2004, Article 8
"NUMISMATIC" SKIN DISEASES
Ken Spindler (disability benefits attorney, numismatist)
writes: "The numismatic-sounding disease about which you
inquire is probably nummular eczema, a skin disorder in
which the lesions are round, coin-like; thus the name.
Per the Merck Manual: Nummular eczema is a persistent,
usually itchy rash and inflammation characterized by coin-
shaped spots with tiny blisters, scabs, and scales."Lane J. Brunner, Ph.D., Director of Numismatic Curriculum,
American Numismatic Association writes: "In reference to
Tom Delorey's inquiry regarding the name of a
Dermatological condition using the Greek root "nummis",
he may be referring to nummular dermatitis. An idiopathic
skin disorder that presents as discrete, round plaques,
it affects about 1 in 2000 people. It is also known as
nummular eczema. Tom suggested a very rare disorder and
thus may have heard about a different skin disorder as
nummular dermatitis is relatively common."Jack Wadlington and Martin Purdy also suggested these
Terms.Ron Haller-Williams writes: "I can't help with this one,
but I have located the following "near-misses", where I
quote or adapt from search results:1. Nummular or discoid lesions are round (coin-shaped)
lesions, as e.g. in Discoid Lupus Erythematosus.2. Psoriasis nummularis is a form of psoriasis where
the marks are as big as coins.3. Nummular eczema is frequently confused with, and
misdiagnosed as, ringworm [tinea corporis]. The term
nummular derives from the Latin nummularius, which
means "like a little coin" (a coin collector is a
numismatist). Typically, tinea corporis is annular
[ring-shaped] and nummular eczema lesions are coin-shaped,
but there are many exceptions.4. Numis med soap and shampoo appear to be mild and with
balanced pH [i.e. not excessively alkaline], and used
for some skin conditions, I think including ringworm,
but I don't know whether the name derivation is what we
think it might be ...By the way, Tom's "Greek root nummis" appears to be a
hybrid of the Greek NOMISMA and the Latin NUMMUS,
though it would be the valid Latin for such phrases as
"for coins" or "with the coins"."- 2004-11-28
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