This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
juggling several balls
brought together

Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

stiff vs inflexible

English answer:

brittle, prone to cracking

    The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2013-01-19 14:54:07 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)
Jan 15, 2013 18:31
11 yrs ago
2 viewers *
English term

stiff vs inflexible

English Medical Medical: Health Care Website for dry skin products
Would we say "stiff" or "inflexible" skin when talking about symptoms of psoriasis and other dry skin conditions? Or would there be an even better word to use?
Responses
4 +2 brittle, prone to cracking
4 Dry, scaly
4 keratinized
3 hard

Discussion

Lirka Jan 17, 2013:
Inelastic or poorly elastic
how about it?
or impaired elasticity of the skin...blahblah
Lara Barnett (asker) Jan 16, 2013:
Brittle Thank you for all the extra comments. In the meantime, I have done a bit more research and decided to use "brittle". On returning to this question, I can see that the only agree has been given to this answer - so all's well that ends well.
Much appreciated.
Tania McConaghy Jan 16, 2013:
"stiff" or "inflexible" The question was looking for a term meaning stiff or flexible for symptoms of psoriasis and other dry skin conditions, not psoriasis only.
Perhaps there were other terms describing the psoriasis symptoms of which the term in the question is one.
Lirka Jan 16, 2013:
You've decided, though I think the choice is not optimal. Hard skin is not idiomatic for skin conditions like psoriasis, the term applies to hard skin/calluses on foot soles, for instance.
Lara Barnett (asker) Jan 16, 2013:
Context - final answer Apologies for any lack of context. I assumed that "website for dry skin products" would imply that this was a retail site for people to purchase creams for dry skin conditions.
In the meantime, I have chosen "hard" as this seemed closest to the idea of stiff or inflexible skin.

Thank you for assitance.
B D Finch Jan 16, 2013:
Register? You need to tell us whether this is for a professional or lay readership.
Lirka Jan 15, 2013:
neither, Lara pls see my suggestion below
Jonathan MacKerron Jan 15, 2013:
hard rough skin googles well
Sarah Bessioud Jan 15, 2013:
Context? How is the term being used, Lara? It would certainly help to have an example sentence, please.
Text_Head Jan 15, 2013:
'Stiff' would tend to signal resistance to bending and 'inflexible' no ability to bend: however I'm more information about the symptoms you refer to would be useful. In these conditions skin can be referred to as dry and flaky, but are you saying the conditions also make it hard to move limbs, for example?

Responses

+2
20 hrs
Selected

brittle, prone to cracking

As a psoriasis sufferer as a child, I had such dry and "inflexible" skin on my hands that any movement of my fingers caused them to crack. I would definitely not describe my skin as stiff, inflexible or hard. It was just about as brittle as a Pringle, and suffered a similar fate when I had to bend it.

http://lyonsleaf.co.uk/dry-chapped-cracked-itchy-skin-eczema

The essential oils in this product form a powerful blend helpful in the management of problem dry skin areas, eczema and psoriasis. This is the same blend of essential oils available in our Healing Body Butter, but this heavier version will be more effective in small problem areas especially where the skin is ***prone to cracking***.

http://topauth.com/two-products-to-correct-and-prevent-aging...
Very often their skin is less elastic than it had been when they were younger and the skin may have become much drier and more ***prone to cracking***.
Peer comment(s):
agree Yvonne Gallagher : yes, dry and prone to cracking though not sure about "brittle" for skin. Or "less elastic" as in the link.
2 hrs
Thank you, gallagy2
agree Veronika McLaren
2 days 10 hrs
Thank you, Veronika.
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
18 mins

hard

can you use "hard" skin? Hard skin is both stiff and inflexible and often associated with psoriasis
Example sentence:

More common forms of psoriasis usually have symptoms that include patches of hard, dry skin that itches

A palmoplantar psoriatic lesion is generally isolated, dry, hard and slightly reddened

Peer comment(s):
agree jccantrell : This was my first thought.
3 hrs
thanks
disagree Yvonne Gallagher : PATCHES of hard skin is possible yes, but not hard skin in general. people usually talk of "hard skin" being on their feet and nothing to do with psoriasis
22 hrs
Something went wrong...
33 mins

Dry, scaly


In AE, the usage of stiff and inflexible is less prevalent than dry and scaly, a further description includes ' [dry] red patches' and [silvery scales]. The following is an excerpt from the Mayo Clinic description of psoriasis sited in the reference URL.

"Psoriasis causes cells to build up rapidly on the surface of the skin, forming thick silvery scales and itchy, dry, red patches that are sometimes painful."

If left to select either stiff or inflexible, I might suggest stiff. Though patches of psorias are stiff and inflexible, stiff, skin is always flexible to some degree; even a patch of psoriasis can be manipulated to some degree. HTH
Reference:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/psoriasis/DS00193

Peer comment(s):
agree Yvonne Gallagher : I think this is what is usually used for psoriasis sufferers
19 hrs
Thank you, gallagy2
disagree Tania McConaghy : these are in themselves useful terms for describing psoriasis etc but the question was for a term meaning stiff/inflexible for symptoms of psoriasis and other dry skin conditions. dry/scaly are not really synonyms of stiff/inflexible
19 hrs
Thank you, Tania. I understand what you mean. If you revisit the last paragraph in my answer, I addressed this issue.
Something went wrong...
48 mins

keratinized

I'd use "keratinized" in this context. Patches of keratinized skin or keratinized skin areas...
Neither stiff not inflexible apply in the context of psoriasis, neurodermitis and other dry skin conditions.

Dry/rough/cracked skin would be a lay alternative.
Peer comment(s):
neutral Yvonne Gallagher : any references to back this?//keratinized is far too general a term and does not only refer to psoriasis.
7 hrs
clinical experience//pls see my comment to Demi below
neutral Demi Ebrite : All epidermis is keratinized.Our entire body is covered in epidermis that began the release of keratin at birth; that'why it's not like 'baby skin' and offers us a wonderful outer skin. I'm. unsure how this applies.
17 hrs
good point, thanks. "Hyperkeratinized" would be a better option.
Something went wrong...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search