Skin lesion Information & Skin lesion Links at HealthHaven.com

A skin lesion is a superficial growth or patch of the skin that does not resemble the area surrounding it. They may take the form of bumps, blisters, or general sores. While many are benign (such as moles or freckles) some are the result of toxins (such as mosquito bites) or diseases (such as chicken pox or psoriasis)

Most dermatoses present with skin lesions of more or less distinct characteristics. Macroscopically, these original lesions are known as the "primary lesion", and identification of such lesions is "...the most important aspect of dermatologic examination."^[1] However, these lesions may continue to develop or be modified by regression or trauma, producing "secondary lesions".^[1] Additionally, on the microscopic level, these lesions can also be characterized by a distinct set of vocabulary.^[2]

[edit] Lack of standardization

The lack of standardization of basic dermatologic terminology has been one of the principal barriers to successful communication among physicians in describing skin lesions.^[3] For example, in different dermatologic texts, the papule is variously described as no greater than 1 centimetre (0.39 in) in size, less than 0.5 centimetres (0.20 in), smaller than a pea, or ranging in size from a pinhead to that of a split pea.^[3] In 1987, the International League of Dermatologic Societies published a glossary of basic lesions that has been a step towards standardization of this basic nomenclature,^[4] but there is still no strict set of definitions that have been universally agreed upon.^[3]

[edit] Macroscopic nomenclature

[edit] Primary lesions

Macule (small) and Patch (large)
Papule (small) and Plaque (large)
Vesicle (small) and Bulla (large)
Pustule
Nodule
Wheal
Erosion
Ulcer
Telangiectasia
Burrow

[edit] Secondary lesions

[edit] Microscopic nomenclature

[edit] Evolution

While most dermatoses present with skin lesions of more or less distinct characteristics, skin lesions do evolve through time.^[5]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b James, William; Berger, Timothy; Elston, Dirk (2005). Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology (10th ed.). Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier. p. 15. ISBN 0721629210. LCCN 2005-057588
^ Kumar, Vinay; Abbas, Abul K.; Fausto, Nelson, eds (2005). Robbins and Cotran pathologic basis of disease. illustrations by James A. Perkins (7th ed.). Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders. p. 1230. ISBN 0721601871. LCCN 2004-046835
^ ^a ^b ^c Freedberg, Irwin M.; et al, eds (2003). Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine (6th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Professional. p. 13. ISBN 0071380760. LCCN 2002-021932
^ Winkelmann, R. K. (1987). "Glossary of basic dermatology lesions. The International League of Dermatological Societies Committee on Nomenclature." (in English, German, Spanish). Acta dermato-venereologica. Supplementum (Sweden: The Society for Publication of Acta Dermato-Venereologica) 130: 13. ISSN 0365-8341. PMID 3321818.
^ Rapini, Ronald P. (2005). Practical dermatopathology. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Mosby. ISBN 0-323-01198-5. LCCN 2005-047780

[Andrews-0] James, William; Berger, Timothy; Elston, Dirk (2005). Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology (10th ed.). Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier. p. 15. ISBN 0721629210. LCCN 2005-057588

[Kumar-1] Kumar, Vinay; Abbas, Abul K.; Fausto, Nelson, eds (2005). Robbins and Cotran pathologic basis of disease. illustrations by James A. Perkins (7th ed.). Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders. p. 1230. ISBN 0721601871. LCCN 2004-046835

[Fitz-2] Freedberg, Irwin M.; et al, eds (2003). Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine (6th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Professional. p. 13. ISBN 0071380760. LCCN 2002-021932

[3] Winkelmann, R. K. (1987). "Glossary of basic dermatology lesions. The International League of Dermatological Societies Committee on Nomenclature." (in English, German, Spanish). Acta dermato-venereologica. Supplementum (Sweden: The Society for Publication of Acta Dermato-Venereologica) 130: 13. ISSN 0365-8341. PMID 3321818.

[isbn0-323-01198-5-4] Rapini, Ronald P. (2005). Practical dermatopathology. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Mosby. ISBN 0-323-01198-5. LCCN 2005-047780

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