Terminology in dermatology
== Primary skin lesions ==
- Flat lesions
- Macule
- A flat skin lesion < 1 cm in size with discolouration
- Patch
- A flat skin lesion > 1 cm in size with discolouration
- Macule
- Infiltrative lesions
- Papule
- An elevated palpable skin lesion < 0,5 cm in size
- Epidermal
- Plaque
- An elevated palpable skin lesion > 0,5 cm in size
- Intradermal
- Tuber
- An elevated palpable skin lesion whose infiltration involves the entire depth of the dermis
- Nodule
- A circumscribed elevated lesion > 1 cm
- In dermis and subcutis
- Tumor
- Large solid mass of tissue
- Papule
- Fluid-filled lesions
- Vesicle
- Small fluid-containing lesion
- Intraepidermal
- Bulla
- Large fluid-containing lesion
- Intraepidermal or subepidermal
- Urtica/wheal
- Transient oedema in the dermis
- Pustule
- Collection of pus in or below the epidermis
- Vesicle
- Dermatopathological terms
- Acantholysis
- Separation of epidermal cells due to dissolution of desmosomes
- E. g. in pemphigus vulgaris
- Acanthosis
- Hyperplasia of stratum spinosum
- E.g. in acanthosis nigricans
- Hypergranulosis
- Hyperplasia of stratum granulosum
- E.g. in lichen planus
- Hyperkeratosis
- Hyperplasia of stratum corneum
- E.g. in psoriasis
- Papillomatosis
- Hyperplasia and enlargement of dermal papillae
- Parakeratosis
- Keratinocytes in stratum corneum retain their nuclei
- E.g. in
- Psoriasis
- Dandruff
- Spongiosis
- Intraepidermal oedema
- E.g. in
- Atopic dermatitis
- Allergic contact dermatitis
- Acantholysis
Secondary skin lesions
- Scales
- Detaching fragments of a thickened stratum corneum
- Dry and usually whitish
- Erosion
- Loss of epidermis
- Heal without scarring
- Excoriation
- Loss of papillary dermis
- Heals with scarring
- Fissure
- Painful, deep, linear opening of skin through the epidermis and into the dermis
- Rhagades
- Cracks or tears in the skin caused by stretching of brittle skin
- Ulcer
- Skin defect with loss of epidermis and upper papillary dermis
- Usually leave scars
- Crust
- Dried secretion
- Red-brown crust – blood
- Yellow crust – serum
- Honey-coloured crust – purulent streptococcus exudate
- Yellow-green crust – purulent staphylococcus exudate
- Scar
- Permanent fibrous lesions
- A result of the repair process
- Hypertrophic scar = keloid scar
- Atrophic scar
- Atrophy
- Thinning of epidermis and dermis
- Lichenification
- Increased thickness of epidermis
- Cobblestone-like surface
- A result of chronic rubbing or scratching