Serpiginous, first known to be used in the 15th century, is a term from Latin serpere to creep, usually referring to a creeping, snakelike or slowly progressive skin disease. It is used to describe the rash in

cutaneous larvae migrans Cutaneous larva migrans (abbreviated CLM) is a skin disease in humans, caused by the larvae of various nematode parasites of the hookworm family (Ancylostomatidae). These parasites live in the intestines of dogs, cats, and wild animals and shoul ...

erythema annulare centrifugum Erythema annulare centrifugum (EAC), is a descriptive term for a class of skin lesion presenting redness ( erythema) in a ring form (''anulare'') that spreads from a center (''centrifugum''). It was first described by Darier in 1916.J. Darier. D ...

, purpura annularis telangiectoides,

ringworm Dermatophytosis, also known as ringworm, is a fungal infection of the skin. Typically it results in a red, itchy, scaly, circular rash. Hair loss may occur in the area affected. Symptoms begin four to fourteen days after exposure. Multiple a ...

. and sometimes occurs in

bullous pemphigoid Bullous pemphigoid (type of pemphigoid) is an autoimmune pruritic skin disease which typically occurs in people aged over 60, that may involve the formation of blisters ( bullae) in the space between the epidermal and dermal skin layers. It i ...

. It is also used to describe serpiginous choroiditis, a rare eye condition in which irregularly shaped (serpiginous) lesions are seen in two layers of the eye surface (the

choriocapillaris The capillary lamina of choroid or choriocapillaris is a layer of capillaries that is immediately adjacent to Bruch's membrane in the choroid. The choriocapillaris was first described in man by Hovius in 1702, although it was not so named until 1 ...

and the retinal pigment epithelium).

References

Dermatologic terminology {{Dermatology-stub