What term was commonly used to describe various skin disorders in the Middle Ages?

The term "leprosy" was commonly used during the Middle Ages to describe various skin disorders. Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, was often associated with severe stigma and misunderstanding, leading to widespread fear and social exclusion of individuals affected by it. The symptoms of leprosy, which can include skin lesions and nerve damage, were particularly alarming to people during that time, prompting a broader application of the term to encompass a range of skin ailments, not just the specific disease itself.

In contrast, terms like psoriasis, eczema, and scabies refer to more specific medical conditions with particular causes and symptoms that were not as commonly recognized or distinctly named in the Middle Ages. These conditions were less likely to invoke the same level of societal fear and response that leprosy did, causing it to overshadow other skin disorders in the historical context. The widespread use of the term “leprosy” reflects the significant impact that societal perceptions and medical understanding of the time had on how skin diseases were categorized and treated.