Terminology in dermatology

From greek.doctor

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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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

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