What is the medical term for a wrinkle?

The medical term for a wrinkle is "rhytide." This term is derived from the Greek word "rhytis," which means wrinkle or fold. In the context of skin physiology and dermatology, rhytides refer specifically to the signs of aging in the skin that manifest as lines or creases. Wrinkles can occur due to a combination of factors, including loss of collagen and elastin, repetitive facial movements, sun exposure, and decreased moisture retention in the skin.

In contrast, dermatitis refers to inflammation of the skin that can manifest as rashes or irritation rather than wrinkles. Lentigo refers to flat, brown lesions on the skin caused by sun exposure, commonly known as age spots or liver spots, which are also not wrinkles. Atrophy refers to a decrease in the size or wasting away of a body part or tissue, which may lead to thinner skin but does not specifically denote wrinkles.

Thus, understanding that "rhytide" denotes the specific condition of wrinkling helps differentiate it from these other terms, each of which describes distinct skin conditions or changes.