Primary lesions
Flat / nonpalpable area of change in skin color
• Freckles, scarlet fever rash, freckle, flat
moles, petechiae
• Port wine stain, Mongolian
What is a Macule/ Patch?
Similar to vesicle but contains purulent material
Acne, impetigo, molluscum
What is a Pustule
Dried body fluid on the skin
Pus, serum, blood
Eczema, impetigo
What is Crusts
Fibrous tissue of irregular shape
Raised and grown beyond the boundary of
the original wound
What is a Keloid
Palpable, solid elevation of epidermis 1 cm
across
Warts, early varicella lesions, raised nevi
What is a Papule
Circumscribed elevation of skin
Caused by movement of fluid into the dermis
Uticaria, insect bites, intradermal TB test
What is a Wheal
Raised cluster of keratinized cells, irregular,
diameter is variable
Can be thick or thin, dry or oily
Dry skin, skin flaking after allergic reaction
What is Scales
Linear crack in the epidermis (may be
deeper)
Moist or dry
Tinea pedis, chapped lips
What is Fissures
Solid lesion deeper into dermis
Can be raised, level with or below skin
Lipoma, warts
What is a Nodule/ Tumor
Rough thickened epidermal area
Chronic dermatitis
Leathery skin
What is Lichenification
Depressed moist, loss of part of the
epidermis
After ruptured vesicle or bulla
What is Erosions
Superficial fluid filled elevation (shiny)
Palpable
poison ivy, herpes simplex and zoster
Blisters, burn lesions
What is a Vesicle/ Bulla
Fibrous tissue, thin or thick
Color may be lighter or darker than
surrounding skin
Healing wounds
What is scars
Concave, moist, loss of epidermis
Ulceration- stasis, decubitus
What is ulcers