Dr Chaitanya Vemuri

Primary Skin Lesions

Macule Patch Papule Nodule Tumor Plaque Vesicle Pustule Bullae Wheal Telangiectasia Abscess Petechiae, purpura & ecchymosis

Macule
A flat, colored lesion,

<2cm in diameter, not raised above the surface of surrounding skin Freckle prototype of pigmented macule

Macule

patch
A large(>2cm)flat lesion

with a color different from surrounding skin Differs from macule only in size

Papule
A small, solid lesion,

<0.5 cm in diameter, raised above the surface of surrounding skin & hence palpable Eg: white head in acne

Papule

Nodule
A large ( 0.5 5.0 cm ),

firm lesion raised above the surface of surrounding skin. Differs from papule only in size

Tumor
A solid,raised growth

>5cm in diameter

Plaque
A large >1cm, flat topped

raised lesion, edges may either be distinct ( in psoriasis ) or gradually blend with surrounding skin ( in eczematous dermatitis )

Vesicle
A small, fluid filled

lesion, <0.5 cm in diameter, raised above the plane of surrounding skin. Fluid is often visible and the lesion are translucent Vesicles in Allergic Contact Dermatitis

Pustule
A vesicle filled with

leukocytes The presence of pustule does not necessarily signify the the existance of infection

Abscess
A localised collection of

pus in a cavity, more than 1 cm in diameter

bulla
A fluid filled, raised,

often a translucent lesion >0.5cm in diameter

Wheal
A raised, erythematous,

edematous, papule / plaque, usually representing short-lived vasodilatation and vasopermeability Eg: utricaria

telangiectasia
A dilated superficial

blood vessel.

Petechiae, purpura & ecchymosis

Petechiae pinhead-sized macules of extravascular

blood in the dermis. Petechiae are flat. The larger ones are referred to as purpura If bleeding involves deeper structures then it is an ecchymosis

Burrow
A linear or cuvillinear papule, caused by burrowing

scabies mite

Comedones
A plug of keratin and sebum wedged in dilated

pilosebaceous orifice.

Secondary Skin Lesions

Scale Crust Excoriation Erosion Fissure Sinus Scar Atrophy Striae Lichenification

Scale
A flake arising from

stratum corneum d/t excessive accumulation. Eg: psoriasis

Crust
Dried exudate of body

fluids (blood / serous fluid) Which might be either yellow ( serous crust ) red ( hagic crust )

Ulcer
An area of skin from

which the whole of epidermis & atleast the upper part of dermis has been lost

Excoriation
Linear, angular erosions

that may be covered by crust and are caused by scratching.

Erosion
Area of skin denuded by

complete or partial loss of epidermis. No associated loss of dermis

Fissure
A slit- shaped deep ulcer
Eg: irritant dermatitis of

hands

Sinus
A cavity or channel that

permits the escape of pus or fluid

Scar
A change in the skin

secondary to trauma or inflammation Sites may be erythematous, hypopigmented or hyperpigmented depending upon their age /character.

Scar

Atrophy
A accquired loss of

substance . In skin, this may appear as a depression with intact epidermis ( loss of dermal /subdermal tissues ) Or appear as sites of shiny, delicate, wrinkled lesions ( epidermal atrophy )

Striae
A streak like, linear ,

atrophic, pink, purple or white lesion d/t changes in connective tissue Eg: cushings syndrome, pregnancy induced

Lichenification
A distinctive thickening

of skin that is characterized by accenuated skin-fold markings.