Describing Skin Disease

Macule - small flat skin discolouration

Patch - a larger flat area of skin discolouration

Papule - elevated skin lesion less than 0.5cm in diameter

Nodule - elevated skin lesion more than 0.5cm in diameter

Plaque - elevated flat topped lesion

Wheal - raised area caused by cutaneous oedema

Vesicle - fluid-filled lesion less than 0.5cm in diameter

Bulla - fluid-filled lesion more than 0.5cm in diameter

Pustule - pus-filled lesion

Scale - visible and palpable flakes of grouped epidermal cells

Crust - dried exudate

Horn - a firm projection of keratin

Ulceration - loss of epidermis

Excoriation - breaks in the skin as a result of scratching

Maceration - softened, soggy epidermis

Lichenification - flat-topped epidermal thickening caused by rubbing