Dermatology Made Simple : Description and Terms in Skin Lesions:

Description and Terms in Skin Lesions:

Genrally speakingwe can divide skin lesions into three clinical gradings:

1.Skin lesions with well defined appearance and distribution.

2.Skin diseases with a characteristic and specific pattern.

3.Skin diseases with a variety of clinical presentations.

Terms to describe Skin Lesions:

Papule:

A raised lesion from the skin with a diameter from 0.5 cm to 1.0 cm.

Nodule:

A raised skin lesion with more than 1.0 cm diameter.

Plaque:

A circumscribed superficial and raised area of between 1.0 – 2.0 cm in diameter.

Blister:

A raised lesion that contains fluid.

Pustules:

Lesions containing purulent material.

Erosion:

A superficial loss of epidermis that heals without scarring.

Excoriation:

A partial or complete loss of epidermis due to scratching.

Desquamation:

This refers to peeling off of superficial layers of the skin.

Lichenification:

This refers to hardening of the skin.

Annular lesions:

Thses are ring shaped lesions of the skin.

Nummular lesions:

These refer to coin like lesions of skin.