What is an abrasion?

Also known as: scrape, rub, skinned.

An abrasion is the medical term for a minor superficial scrape of the skin. Examples include a skinned elbow, a rash from rubbing the skin against a rough surface like tarmac, gravel, or a coarse rug. They may be small or large and have a variety of shapes.

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Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM