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Disease outbreak restricts source of rash covering the skin (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

epidermic

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'disease outbreak restricts source of rash covering' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'skin' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'skin' could be 'derm' (I've seen this in another clue) and 'derm' is located in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

'the' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for epidermic that I've seen before include "Relating to the skin's outer layer" , "of outer layer of skin" , "affecting our outer layer" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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