Colour | Examples |
---|---|
Blue | Mongolian spot, benign blue nevus |
Yellow | Xanthoma, jaundice |
Violet | Lichen planus, lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis |
Red | Psoriasis, cherry hemangioma |
Brown | Hemosiderin |
White | Lichen sclerosus |
Black | Ink (tattoo), melanin |
Arrangement | Description | Examples |
---|---|---|
Nummular | Coin-like | Nummular eczema |
Annular | Ring-like | Granuloma annulare, tinea, urticarial |
Linear | Line-like | Arthropod bites, striae, poison ivy |
Grouped | Discrete lesions in localized areas | Herpes zoster, herpes simplex |
Serpiginous | Snake-like | Cuteaneous larva migrans |
Retiform | Net-like | Wickham's striae in lichen planus |
Confluent | Merging together | Psoriasis, drug rash |
Primary Lesions
Lesions | Description | Examples |
---|---|---|
Macule | Flat lesions, <1cm | Freckles, cafe-au-lait |
Patch | Flat lesions, >1cm | Vitiligo, port wine stain |
Papule | Palpable, superficial lesion, <1cm | Basal cell carcinoma |
Plaque | Palpable, superficial lesion, >1cm | Psoriasis, eczema |
Nodule | Palpable, deep lesion, <1cm | Erythema nodosum |
Tumour | Palpable, deep lesion, >1cm | Lipoma |
Wheal | Irregular, transient, edematous (disappears in 24-48 hours) | Urticaria, dermatographism |
Vesicle | Palpable, filled with serous fluid, <1cm | Herpes simplex |
Bulla | Palpable, filled with serous fluid, >1cm | Bullous pemphigoid |
Pustule | Palpable, filled with purulent material | Acne, impetigo, pustular psoriasis |
Cyst | Nodule, filled with fluid or semisolid material | Epidermal inclusion |
Secondary Lesions
Secondary Lesions | Description | Examples |
---|---|---|
Crust | Dried residue of serum, pus or blood | Impetigo |
Erosion | Loss of superficial epidermis, heals without scar | Abrasion, TEN, scalded skin |
Ulcer | Deeper loss of epidermis and dermis, heals with scar | Venous insufficiency, arterial insufficiency, malignancy |
Fissure | Linear crack in skin | Tinea pedis |
Scar | Fibrous replacement tissue, may be atrophic or hypertrophic | Keloid |
Scale | Thickened stratum corneum resulting in flakes of epidermis | Seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, cutaneous t cell lymphoma |
Consider the following special tests:
Named after Dr. F Mohs, Mohs surgery refers to the surgical technique by which skin cancers are excised as completely as possible. This occurs through the employment of tangential cutting and frozen-section histology. With Mohs surgery, microscopic examination of the margins of excised specimens is employed to ensure affected tissue is removed as completely as possible, while leaving healthy tissue intact.