Term | Definition |
macule | flat, circumscribed area that is a change in color of skin; less than 1 cm (freckle) |
papule | elevated, firm, circumscribed area less than 1 cm (wart, moles) |
patch | flat, nonpalpable, irregular-shaped macule more than 1 cm (vitiligo) |
plaque | elevated, firm, and rough lesion with flat top surface more than 1 cm (psorasis) |
wheal | elevated irrefular-shaped area of cutaneous edem; solid, transient, variable size (insect bite, allergic reaction) |
tumor | elevated, solid lesion; may be clearly demarcated; deeper in dermiss; more than 2 cm |
nodule | elevated, firm, circumscribed lesion; deeper in dermis that papule; 1-2 cm (erythema nodosum) |
vesicle | elevated, circumscribed, superficial, not into dermis; filled with serous fluid; less than 1 cm (varicella) |
bulla | vesicle more than 1 cm (blister) |
pustule | elevated, superficial lesion; similar to a vesicle but filled with purulent fluid (acne) |
cyst | elevated, circumscribed encapsulated lesion; in dermis or subcutaneous layer; filled with liquid or semisolid material |
telangiectasia | fine, irregular red lines produced by capillary dilation; can be associated with acne rosacea, venous hypertension, or developmental abnormalities |
scale | heaped-up keratinized cells; flaky skin; irregular; thick or thin; dry or oily; variation in size |
lichenification | rough, thickened epidermis secondary to persistent rubbing, pruritus, or skin irritation; often involves flexor surface of extremity (chronic dermatitis) |
keloid | irregular-shaped, elevated, progressively enlarging scar; grows beyond the boundaries of wound; caused by excessive collagen formation during healing |
scar | think to thick fibrous tissue that replaces normal skin following injury or laceration to dermis (surgical incision) |
exoriation | loss of epidermis; linear, hollowed-out crusted area (abrasion, scabies) |
fissure | linear crack or break from epidermis to dermis; may be moist or dry (athlete's foot) |
erosion | loss of part of epidermis; depressed, moist, glistening; follows rupture of a vesicle or bulla |
ulcer | loss of epidermis and dermis; concave; varies in size |
atrophy | thinning of skin surface and loss of skin markings; skin appears translucent and paper-like (aged skin) |