How to Pronounce Pitted Keratolysis

Say it like this: PIT-ed kair-ah-TOL-ih-sis. The first word rhymes with "fitted," and the second word sounds like "care" plus "uh" plus "TALL" plus "ih" plus "sis." The stress falls on the first syllable of the first word (PIT) and the third syllable of the second word (TOL).

Many people stress the wrong syllable and say ker-ah-tol-I-sis (stressing the fourth syllable), but the correct way stresses the third syllable: ker-ah-TOL-ih-sis. It's an easy mistake to make, but remembering that TOL gets the stress will help you say it right.

Break it down like this: PIT-ed (2 syllables) and ker-ah-TOL-ih-sis (5 syllables). The full word has 7 syllables total: PIT-ed kair-ah-TOL-ih-sis.

"Kerato" comes from Greek and refers to the horn-like outer layer of skin called keratin. "Lysis" also comes from Greek and means "breaking down" or "dissolving." Together, keratolysis means the breakdown or dissolution of that tough outer skin layer.

This term describes a condition affecting skin where small pits or holes form in the surface. The word "pitted" means it has many little dents or pocks, and "keratolysis" refers to the breakdown of the outer skin layer that causes those pits to appear.

Yes! Other words like "keratosis" (thickening of the outer skin layer), "keratitis" (inflammation of the cornea of the eye), and "keratin" (the tough protein in skin and nails) all share the same Greek root. Whenever you see "kerato" in a medical word, it relates to that tough outer layer of skin or the cornea.

Here's an example: "The dermatologist explained that pitted keratolysis is a condition where the skin on the feet develops small indentations." This shows how the term is used to describe the specific appearance and location of the skin changes.

Pitted keratolysis is sometimes abbreviated as PK in medical writing. You pronounce it by saying the letters separately: "P-K."