Describing Lesions Flashcards
What is a lesion
Any single area of altered skin.
May be solitary or multiple
What is an eruption
Widespread eruption of lesions
What is pruritus
Medical term for itch
What is erythema
Redness of the skin or mucous membranes causes by hyperemia
What does dermatitis mean in general
Inflammation of the skin
What is a macule
flat area of altered skin colour
includes freckles!
What is a patch
Large, flat area of altered colour
Usually smooth
What is a papule
Raised lesion of <0.5cm in diameter
What is a nodule
Raised lesion of >0.5cm in diameter
What is a plaque
Palpable scaling lesion >0.5cm
What is a vesicle
Raised, clear fluid- filled lesion <0.5cm
What is a bulla
raised , fluid filled lesion >0.5cm
What is a pustule
a purulent (i.e filled with neutrophils) vesicle
What is an abscess
localised collection of pus surrounded by damaged/inflammed tissue
What is a comedone
plugged follicular orifice - pore
Open comedone: blackhead
Closed comedones: whiteheads
What is a wheal
Edematous papule or plaque due to dermal oedema
What is excoriation
loss of epidermis due to scratching
What is lichenification
well defined roughening of skin
What is scaling
increase in the death of cells on the skin surface
What is a crust
rough surface consisting of dry exudate
What is a scar
new fibrous tissue which occurs as a wound is healing
May be atrophic, hyperthrophic or keloidal
What is a fissure
epidermal crack due to excess dryness
What is an erosion
loss of some or all of the epidermis leaving a denuded surface
What is an ulcer
loss of epidermis and dermis
