DIFFERENT SKIN LESIONS

Flat lesion at skin level

– does not elevate - if < 1 cm in diameter, the lesion is termed a ‘macule’

- if >1 cm in diameter, the lesion is termed a ‘patch’

What a macule / small flat lesion can be:

- erythema multiforme (herpes simplex infection)

- erythema marginatum of rheumatic fever

- cutis marmarata (skin mottling)

Elevated and solid lesion above the skin level

- if < 1 cm in diameter termed a ‘papule’

- if < 1 cm in diameter termed a ‘plaque’

What a papule / plaque lesion can be:

- psoriasis

Elevated and filled with fluid

- if filled with with blood, lymph, serum

- and if < 1 cm in diameter termed a vesicle

- but if > 1 cm in diameter termed a bulla

- if contains pus / purulent fluid, which is usually yellow or green, it is termed a pustule

- if elevated and red, and transient, referred to as a wheal

 

Depressed / skin eroded lesions

- a superficial, small cut into the skin, only involved the upper layers, such as the epidermis is termed an erosion

- erosions do not form scars

- a deeper cut into the skin, involving the deeper / dermal layers, will form a scar

- these are referred to as ulcers