US Medical Term · anatomy
Epidermis
Epidermis
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Epidermis |
| Spanish (Español) | Epidermis |
| Chinese (中文) | 表皮 |
| Korean (한국어) | 표피 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Thượng bì |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Epidermis |
| Portuguese (Português) | Epiderme |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ชั้นหนังกำพร้า |
| Japanese (日本語) | 表皮 |
What it means
The epidermis is the outermost layer of your skin — the part you can see and touch. It serves as the body's first barrier against the outside world, protecting you from germs, chemicals, UV radiation, and water loss. The epidermis is constantly renewing itself: old skin cells on the surface shed off every few weeks and are replaced by new cells moving up from below. It also contains melanocytes — cells that produce the pigment melanin, which gives skin its color and helps protect against sun damage. Conditions affecting the epidermis include sunburn, skin infections, and skin cancer. Superficial wounds and first-degree burns affect only this layer.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
The doctor said my rash is only on the surface epidermis and should heal quickly.
El médico dijo que el sarpullido está solo en la epidermis y debería sanar rápido.
I have a first-degree burn that only affected my epidermis.
Tengo una quemadura de primer grado que solo afectó la epidermis.
My skin biopsy showed abnormal cells in the epidermis.
La biopsia de piel mostró células anormales en la epidermis.
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026