Lepra cutanea is a chronic infectious skin disease caused by a bacterium known as Mycobacterium leprae. The disease results in severe disfigurement and nerve damage. Synonyms for lepra cutanea are Hansens disease, Elephantiasis Graecorum, and leprosy. These terms are often used interchangeably, but technically refer to different variants of the disease. Hansen's disease is named after the Norwegian physician, Dr. Armauer Hansen, who discovered the bacterium in 1873. Elephantiasis Graecorum is a descriptive term coined by the ancients to describe the elephant-like appearance of the affected limbs. While leprosy is the most commonly used term, the word carries negative connotations due to its association with social stigma and ostracism.