# acantholysis

CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/acantholysis
Updated: 2026-05-26

## Definition

a medical condition where the skin cells that hold the skin together start to separate. This often causes the skin to look loose or blister.

For teachers: the separation of epidermal cells from one another, resulting in the loss of cohesion between the keratinocytes. This process is a hallmark of certain autoimmune blistering disorders.

## Examples

- The doctor diagnosed the skin condition as acantholysis.
- In pemphigus vulgaris, acantholysis occurs between the cells of the epidermis, leading to the formation of painful blisters.
- The histological examination revealed acantholysis, confirming the presence of a blistering disease that requires immediate immunosuppressive therapy to prevent further tissue damage.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.