Dermatology - key terms Flashcards
What is the difference between pruritus and pruritis?
Pruritus - medical term for itchy skin
Pruritis - itching
What is alopecia?
Hair loss
What is a bulla?
A blister - localised collection of fluid more than 0.5cm in diameter
Larger than a vesicle
What is erythema?
A diffuse or localised redness of the skin that can disappear when pressed
How can you test for erythema?
Diascopy - use pressure to blanche the skin, it will go white rather than red
What is a macule?
A flat circumscribed skin discolouration of less than 1cm in diameter - like a freckle
No surface elevation or depression
What is a nodule?
Circumscribed solid elevation greater than 1cm that usually extends into the dermis
What is a papule?
A small solid elevation less than 1cm in diameter
Feels solid with oedema and epidermal hyperplasia
What causes a papule to occur?
Infiltration of inflammatory cell, fluid or foreign material such as calcium
What is a patch?
A localised flat change in skin pigmentation larger that 1cm in diameter
(A big macule)
What is a plaque?
A flat topped elevation of the skin more than 0.5cm made up of a coalition of papules
Flatter than a nodule
What is a pustule?
A small circumscribed elevation of the epidermis filled with purulent material
What is a vesicle?
Small circumscribed elevation of the epidermis filled with clear fluid less than 0.5cm in diameter
What is a wheal?
A sharply circumscribed raised lesion consisting of oedema
Usually appears and disappears within minutes to hours
What is another word for a blister?
A bulla
What is the name for a diffuse or localised redness of the skin that can disappear when pressed?
Erythema
What is another word for a freckle?
A macule
What are the names for big and small solid elevations that extend into the dermis?
Big - nodule
Small - papule
What is a coalition of papules called?
Plaque
What is a big macule/freckle called?
A patch
What is a elevation in the epidermis filled with purulent material compared to clear fluid?
Pustule - purulent
Vesicle - clear fluid
How are secondary lesions caused?
By scratching, chewing, or other trauma to the skin
Also can be as a result of infections
May evolve from primary lesions
What is a comedone?
Dilated hair follicle filled with cornified cells and sebaceous material
(blackheads)
What is crust?
Dried exudate, cells, pus and scale adherent to the surface of the epidermis
What is an epidermal collarette?
A circular lesion with a marginal rim of scale
What is excoriation/erosion?
Superficial damage to the epidermis
What is a fissure?
Linear cleavage into the epidermis - crack in the skin
What is hyperkeratosis?
Increase in thickness of the cornified layer of the skin
What is lichenification?
Thickening of the skin resulting in a cobblestone appearance
What is scale?
Accumulation of loose fragments of the cornified layer of the skin
What is a scar?
Fibrous replacement tissue formed when there has been trauma
What is an ulcer?
Full thickness loss of the epidermis
What is ulceration?
Full thickness loss of the epidermis exposing the dermis
What is another word for a blackhead?
Comedone
What is the name for a circular lesion with a marginal rim of scale?
An epidermal collarette
What is the name for superficial damage to the epidermis?
Excoriation/erosion
What is the name for increase in thickness of the cornified layer of the skin?
Hyperkeratosis
What is the name for thickening of the skin resulting in a cobblestone appearance?
Lichenification
