Glossary entry (derived from question below)
May 28, 2012 20:59
12 yrs ago
4 viewers *
English term
Sweden
sluggish skin
English
Medical
Medical (general)
This is a question from an exam for masseurs/skin therapists. Can't really make out what is meant by "sluggish skin".
When should tapotement be avoided?
A If the client has a ***sluggish skin***
B If the client has a combination skin
C If the client has a vascular skin
D If the client has a mature skin
When should tapotement be avoided?
A If the client has a ***sluggish skin***
B If the client has a combination skin
C If the client has a vascular skin
D If the client has a mature skin
Responses
+4
4 mins
Lindsay Spratt
France
France
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
France
Por/Sp/Cat/Fr->En, IoLDipTrans, MACantab
Native in: English
Works in: Portuguese to English, Spanish to English, English, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
8
Selected
dull
This sounds strange to me too because 'sluggish' usually refers to a person or a mood.
Found a few results online though which seems to suggest it means dull, which makes sense.
"Sluggish skin is usually dull, tired and lacking oxygen. Re-mineralise, hydrate and regenerate tired, sluggish skin with extracts such as White Nettle and Grape" ... at http://www.sbcgels.co.uk/by-symptom/sluggish-skin
Found a few results online though which seems to suggest it means dull, which makes sense.
"Sluggish skin is usually dull, tired and lacking oxygen. Re-mineralise, hydrate and regenerate tired, sluggish skin with extracts such as White Nettle and Grape" ... at http://www.sbcgels.co.uk/by-symptom/sluggish-skin
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you, Lindsay!"
+1
6 mins
Slow in responding to treatment
This is directly from the OED - but I'm not convinced that's necessarily what's meant here.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Yvonne Gallagher
: Lindsay's "dull" is for cosmetic looks but yours is the medical exolanaton of "sluggish"
12 hrs
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|
Thanks gallagy2 .
|
1 hr
skin that is not radian, smooth, hydarted
That would be my [medical] interpretation of 'sluggish' which is, however, not an established medical term :)
HTH
HTH
10 hrs
Ellen Kraus
Austria
Austria
Specializes in field
Austria
more than thirty years of experience
Native in: German 
Works in: Greek to German, English to German, Greek to English, and 5 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
flaccid or loose skin
I ´d expect is meant here
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Note added at 10 Stunden (2012-05-29 07:27:49 GMT)
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Vitamins For Flaccid Skin | LIVESTRONG.COM
www.livestrong.com/.../232611-vitamins-for-fla... - 14 Jun 2011 – Vitamins For Flaccid Skin. Flaccid skin can be caused by aging or disease, and in either case can look unsightly. Intrusive treatments and
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Note added at 10 Stunden (2012-05-29 07:27:49 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Vitamins For Flaccid Skin | LIVESTRONG.COM
www.livestrong.com/.../232611-vitamins-for-fla... - 14 Jun 2011 – Vitamins For Flaccid Skin. Flaccid skin can be caused by aging or disease, and in either case can look unsightly. Intrusive treatments and
Reference comments
6 hrs
Sonia Geerlings
Australia
Australia
Native in English
&
English
Australia
Cosmetics, Tourism & Marketing - NAATI
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English, English
Reference:
Just to add to Lindsay & Gallagy's line of thought...
Sluggish = untoned, opposite of taut. Facial contours need defining / shaping. Typical causes: slow cellular renewal/ need for regeneration, build up of toxins, lack of hydration, oxydised cells, poor circulation…In very simple terms, the skin looks kind of fat and heavy/slightly sagging.
1 day 15 mins
Reference:
Not a medical term
Please note that this is an exam for masseurs and "skin therapists". I am not sure what a skin therapist is, but I cannot imagine any serious health care professional taking an exam with masseurs.
Speaking as a physician, I can say that "sluggish skin" is not in our lexicon so I will not hazard a guess.
It is possible that it is not even in the cosmetologist's lexicon and is thrown into the mix as one of the "wrong" answers on the exam.
Again I am not sure what is meant by "vascular" skin, but I would guess they mean skin with lots of telangiectasiae or arteriovenous malformations. That would be the "correct" answer as tapotement could produce bruising. So, "sluggish skin" may just be thrown in there to confuse the students. It is fun to confuse students. ;-)
Speaking as a physician, I can say that "sluggish skin" is not in our lexicon so I will not hazard a guess.
It is possible that it is not even in the cosmetologist's lexicon and is thrown into the mix as one of the "wrong" answers on the exam.
Again I am not sure what is meant by "vascular" skin, but I would guess they mean skin with lots of telangiectasiae or arteriovenous malformations. That would be the "correct" answer as tapotement could produce bruising. So, "sluggish skin" may just be thrown in there to confuse the students. It is fun to confuse students. ;-)
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