Derm Teminology

Macule

Circumscribed, flat change in color of skin; <1.0 cm diameter

Patch

Circumscribed, flat lesion (large macule); >1.0 cm diameter

Papule

Raised sold lesion; <0.5 cm diameter. Papules may become confluent and form plaque

Plaque

Circumscribed, raised superficial lesion with flat surface; >0.5 cm diameter

Nodule

Circumscribed, raised, firm lesion; >0.5 cm; may have started as a papule

Wheal

Firm, raised, pink/red swelling of the skin; size and shape varies; usually itchy; lasts <24 hours; hives

Tumor

Large papule or nodule; usually >1 cm diameter

Pustule

Circumscribed, raised lesion containing purulent exudate that may be cloudy, white, yellow, or hemorrhagic; size varies

Vesicle

Circumscribed, raised lesion; filled with serous liquid or semi-solid material; may become infected; blister

Bulla

Vesicle > 0.5 cm

Cyst

Firm, raised encapsulated lesion; filled with liquid or semi-solid material; may become infected

Erosion

all or part of epidermis is lost. heals WITHOUT scarring (dermis not involved)

Ulcer

hole in skin: loss of full thickness of epidermis + part/all of dermis. heals WITH scarring

Excoriation

linear erosion from scratching

Fissure

crack/split in skin

Scale

thick stratum corneum

Crust

scab: dried stuff

Atrophy

thinning of skin. generalized: physiologic aging; or localized: stretch marks

Lichenification

thickening of skin, exaggeration of normal skin markings, results from repeated rubbing or scratching

Macerated

water logged skin, swollen and soft

Annular

ring-shaped

Serpiginous

wandering or twisting, like a snake

Dermatomal

lesions in a dermatome: shingles!

Exophytic

protruding from the skin

Keratotic

thickening of the skin and horny layer (dry heaped up, hard skin)

Pedunculated

a narrow, stalk-like attachment to the skin (skin tags)

Psoriasiform

resembling psoriasis

Varicelliform

resembling chicken pox

Verrucous

wartlike

Annulare

peripheral circular curving

Atrophic

thinning of the skin

Hyper/hypo

pigmented - increase/decrease of pigment

Depigmented

LOSS of pigment (vitiligo)

Violaceous

reddish purple

Morbilliform

measles like" eruption, symmetric macular <1cm macules or smaller that become confluent (viral exanthems)