eczema

The AHD defines eczema as "a noncontagious inflammation of ones skin, characterized chiefly by redness, itching, and the outbreak of lesions." I have no positive associations with this word (particularly at this moment) but its etymology is actually kind of cool. The word in the original Greek, ekzein, means "to boil over", as ek means "out" and zein means "boil" (AHD). Sure, it's gross, but it's also appropriate to the purpose: the bumps on the skin are like bubbles breaking the surface of boiling water.