The E-Sylum:  Volume 7, Number 48, November 28, 2004, Article 8

"NUMISMATIC" SKIN DISEASES

  Ken Spindler (disability benefits attorney, numismatist)
  writes:  "The numismatic-sounding disease about which you
  inquire is probably nummular eczema, a skin disorder in
  which the lesions are round, coin-like; thus the name.
  Per the Merck Manual:  Nummular eczema is a persistent,
  usually itchy rash and inflammation characterized by coin-
  shaped spots with tiny blisters, scabs, and scales."

  Lane J. Brunner, Ph.D., Director of Numismatic Curriculum,
  American Numismatic Association writes: "In reference to
  Tom Delorey's inquiry regarding the name of a
  Dermatological condition using the Greek root "nummis",
  he may be referring to nummular dermatitis. An idiopathic
  skin disorder that presents as discrete, round plaques,
  it affects about 1 in 2000 people. It is also known as
  nummular eczema. Tom suggested a very rare disorder and
  thus may have heard about a different skin disorder as
  nummular dermatitis is relatively common."

  Jack Wadlington and Martin Purdy also suggested these
  Terms.

  Ron Haller-Williams writes: "I can't help with this one,
  but I have located the following "near-misses", where I
  quote or adapt from search results:

 1. Nummular or discoid lesions are round (coin-shaped)
  lesions, as e.g. in Discoid Lupus Erythematosus.

  2. Psoriasis nummularis is a form of psoriasis where
  the marks are as big as coins.

  3. Nummular eczema is frequently confused with, and
  misdiagnosed as, ringworm [tinea corporis]. The term
  nummular derives from the Latin nummularius, which
  means "like a little coin" (a coin collector is a
  numismatist). Typically, tinea corporis is annular
  [ring-shaped] and nummular eczema lesions are coin-shaped,
  but there are many exceptions.

  4. Numis med soap and shampoo appear to be mild and with
  balanced pH [i.e. not excessively alkaline], and used
  for some skin conditions, I think including ringworm,
  but I don't know whether the name derivation is what we
  think it might be ...

  By the way, Tom's "Greek root nummis" appears to be a
  hybrid of the Greek NOMISMA and the Latin NUMMUS,
  though it would be the valid Latin for such phrases as
  "for coins" or "with the coins"."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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