Terminology in dermatology

Lesion
A lesion is any single area of altered skin. It may be solitary or multiple.

Rash
A rash is a widespread eruption of lesions.

Dermatosis
Dermatosis is another name for for skin disease.

Whan examining the skin, a dermatologist assesses distribution, morphology and arrangement of
skin lesions, i.e. their number, size and colour, which sites are involved, their symmetry, shape
and arrangement.
The dermatologist will carefully feel individual lesions, noting surface and deep characteristics.
Which layer(s) of the skin are involved? If scaly, does the surface flake off easily? If crusted, what
is underneath?
Specialised techniques include:

• Wood's light (long wave UVA) examination for pigmentary changes and fluorescent
infections
• Dermoscopy for pigmented lesions to diagnose melanoma

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Structure of the skin
The skin is considered to have three parts: the outer epidermis, middle dermis and deep
subcutaneous tissue. There is a basement membrane that separates the epidermis from the
dermis and acts as a communication channel between the two layers.

Structure of the skin

Images provided by University of Auckland

Epidermis
The epidermis is a complex ‘brick wall’ made of cells called keratinocytes, which produce a
protein called keratin. The epidermis also contains pigment cells called melanocytes, which
produce melanin, Langerhans cells, which present antigens to the immune system, and Merkel
cells, which have a sensory function.

• Basal layer: the columnar or rectangular cells at the bottom of the epidermis from which
new cells are continuously produced. Scattered melanocytes are normally found in this
layer.
• Squamous cells: as the keratinocytes mature and move upwards towards the skin
surface, they become flat in shape, or squamous (also called spinous or prickle cells).
Langherhans cells are found in this layer.
• Granular layer: flattened cells filled with dark granules containing keratohyaline
protein.
• Horny layer: stacks of dead cells without nuclei make up the dry or keratinised stratum
corneum. The top layer of cells loosens and falls off.

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 • Desmosomes: the structures that stick adjacent keratinocytes tightly together, rather like
cement between bricks.
Epidermal appendages include:

• Eccrine glands, which produce sweat

• Apocrine glands, scent glands found in armpits and groins
• Pilosebaceous structures containing hair and sebaceous glands (oil glands)
• Nails
Dermis
The dermis is made up of connective tissue that supports the epidermis, providing nutrients and
protecting it. The papillary dermis is the upper portion beneath the epidermis and the lower
portion is the reticular dermis.

• Collagen: protein fibres arranged in bundles providing strength to the skin.

• Elastin: protein making up fibres that allow the skin to stretch
• Ground substance: gel containing hyaluronic acid and other polysaccharides.
• Fibroblasts: cells that produce collagen, elastin and ground substance.
• Nerves: sensory and autonomic fibres with distinct nerve endings for touch, heat, cold,
pressure and pain.
• Blood vessels: arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules and veins carrying blood to and
from the skin.
• Lymphatics: extensive network of thin-walled vessels nourishing and draining the skin.
• Arector pili muscles: attached to hair follicles. Contraction results in goose bumps.
• Cellular infiltrations: immune cells around blood vessels, and recruited in great numbers
to heal wounds and fight infection. Many skin diseases are characterised by specific
patterns of these cells.
Subcutaneous tissue
The subcutaneous tissue, also called subcutis, is made up of adipose cells or lipocytes (fat
cells). These are surrounded by connective tissue, blood vessels and nerves.

Distribution
Distribution refers to how the skin lesions are scattered or spread out. Skin lesions may be isolated
(solitary or single) or multiple. The localisation of multiple lesions in certain regions helps
diagnosis, as skin diseases tend to have characteristic distributions. What is the extent of the
eruption and its pattern?
Acral
Affects distal portions of limbs (hand, foot) and head (ears, nose).
Blaschko's lines
Following a roughly linear, segmental pattern described by Blaschko and thought to be indicative
of somatic mosaicism.
Dermatomal
Corresponding with nerve root distribution.
Extensor
Involving extensor surfaces of limbs. Contrast with flexor surfaces.
Flexural
Involving skin flexures (body folds); also known as intertriginous.
Follicular
Individual lesions arise from hair follicles. These may be grouped into confluent plaques.
Generalised
Universal distribution: may be mild or severe, scattered or diffuse

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Herpetiform
Grouped umbilicated vesicles, as arise in Herpes simplex and Herpes zoster infections.
Koebnerised
Arising in a wound or scar. The Koebner phenomenon refers to the tendency of several skin
conditions to affect areas subjected to injury.
Photosensitive
Favouring sun exposed areas. Does not affect skin that is always covered by clothing.

• Head & neck: spares eyelids, depth of wrinkles & furrows, areas shadowed by hair, nose &
chin. Typically involves V of neck.
• Backs of hands: spares finger webs. More severe on proximal than distal phalanges.
• Forearms: extensor rather than flexor.
• Feet: dorsal surface, sparing areas covered by footwear.
• Lower legs: may affect extensor and/or flexor surfaces
• Trunk: rarely affected

Pressure areas
Affecting areas regularly prone to injury from pressure at rest.

• Tops of the ears when sleeping

• Buttocks when sitting
• Heels when lying
Seborrhoeic
The areas generally affected by seborrhoeic dermatitis, with a tendency to oily skin (seborrhoea).
Scalp, behind ears, eyebrows, nasolabial folds, sternum and interscapular.
Symmetrical
In the same regions, the left side is affected in a similar way to the right side.
Truncal
Favours trunk and rarely affects limbs.
Unilateral
Wholly or predominantly on one side of the affected region.

Configuration of Lesions
Configuration refers to the shape or outline of the skin lesions. Skin lesions are often grouped
together. The pattern or shape may help in diagnosis as many skin conditions have characteristic
configuration.

Nummular lesion
Round (coin‐shaped) lesions. Also known as discoid.

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Linear lesion
A linear shape to a lesion often occurs for some external reason such as scratching.
Also striate.

Target lesion
Concentric rings like a dartboard. Also known as iris lesion.

Gyrate rash
A rash that appears to be whirling in a circle.

Annular
Lesions grouped in a circle.

Colour
Descriptive terms used to describe skin colour include:
Carotenaemia
Excessive circulating beta-carotene (vitamin a precursor derived from yellow/orange coloured
vegetables and fruit) results in yellow/orange skin colouration. Tends to be pronounced on palms
and soles. Does not affect cornea.
Hyperpigmentation
Hypermelanosis or haemosiderin deposits result in skin colour that is darker than normal.
Hypopigmentation
Loss of melanin results in skin colour that is paler than normal but not completely white.
Leukoderma
White skin. Also known as achromia.
Infarcts
Infarcts are black areas of necrotic tissue due to interrupted blood supply.
Jaundice
Excessive circulating bilirubin results in yellow/green skin colour, prominent in cornea.
Erythema
Red skin due to increased blood supply and blanch with pressure (diascopy).

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Erythroderma
The skin condition affects the whole body or nearly the whole body, which
is red all over.

Telangiectasia
Telangiectasia is the name given to prominent cutaneous blood vessels.

Purpura
Purpura is bleeding into the skin. This may be as petechiae (small red,
purple or brown spots) or ecchymoses (bruises). Purpura does not blanch
with pressure (diascopy).

Morphology
Morphology is the form or structure of an individual skin lesion.

• Skin lesions may be flat, elevated above the plane of the skin or depressed below the
plane of the skin.
• They may be skin coloured or red, pink, violaceous, brown, black, grey, blue,
orange, yellow.
• Consistency may be soft, firm, hard, fluctuant or sclerosed (scarred or board-like).
• The lesions may be hotter or cooler than surrounding skin.
• They may be mobile or immobile.

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Macule
A macule is an area of colour change less than 1.5 cm diameter.
The surface is smooth.

Patch
A patch refers to a large area of colour change, with smooth surface.

Papule
Papules are small palpable lesions. The usual definition is that they are less than 0.5
cm diameter, although some authors allow up to 1.5 cm. They are raised above the
skin surface, and may be solitary or multiple.

Papules may be:

• Acuminate (pointed)

• Dome‐shaped (rounded)

• Filiform (thread‐like)

• Flat‐topped

• Oval or round

• Pedunculated (with a stalk)

• Sessile (without a stalk)

• Umbilicated (with a central depression)

• Verrucous (warty)

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Nodule
A nodule is an enlargement of a papule in three dimensions (height, width, length). It
is a solid lesion.

Cyst
A cyst is a papule or nodule that contains fluid so is fluctuant.

Plaque
A plaque is a palpable flat lesion greater than 0.5 cm diameter. Most plaques are
elevated, but a plaque can also be a thickened area without being visibly raised above
the skin surface. They may have well‐defined or ill‐defined borders.

Plaques may be:

• Annular (ring shaped)

• Arcuate (half-moon)
• Polygonal (varied non-geometric shape)
• Polymorphic (varied shape)
• Serpiginous (in the shape of a snake)
• Poikilodermatous (variegated appearance, usually mixed pallor, telangiectasia &
pigmentation)

Vesicle
Vesicles are small fluid‐filled blisters less than 0.5cm diameter. They may be single or
multiple.

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Pustule
A pustule is a purulent vesicle. It is filled with neutrophils, and may be white, or
yellow. Not all pustules are infected.

Bulla
A bulla is a large fluid‐filled blister. It may be a single compartment or multiloculated.

Abscess
An abscess is a localised collection of pus.

Weal
A wheal is an oedematous papule or plaque caused by swelling in the dermis. Wealing
often indicates urticaria.

Skin surface
The skin surface of a skin lesion may be normal or smooth because the pathological process is
below the surface, either dermal or subcutaneous. Surface changes indicate epidermal changes are
present.
Scaling
Scaling or hyperkeratosisis an increase in the dead cells on the surface of the skin (stratum
corneum).
Descriptive terms for scale include:

• Desquamation (skin coming off in scales)

• Psoriasiform (large white or silver flakes)
• Pityriasiform (branny powdery scale)
• Lichenoid (apparent scale is tightly adherent to skin surface)
• Keratotic (horny scale)
• Exfoliation (peeling skin)

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 • Maceration (moist peeling skin)
• Verrucous (warty)

Psoriasiform scale Pityriasiform scale

Exfoliation Verrucous scale

Secondary changes

Lichenification
Lichenification is caused by chronic rubbing, which results in palpably thickened skin
with increased skin markings and lichenoid scale. It occurs in chronic atopic eczema
and lichen simplex.

Crusting
Crust occurs when plasma exudes through an eroded epidermis. It is rough on the
surface and is yellow or brown in colour. Bloody crust appears red, purple or black.

Dystrophy
Dystrophy refers to degeneration or abnormal formation of the skin. It is often used
to refer to nail diseases.

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Excoriation
An excoriation is a scratch mark. It may be linear or a picked scratch (prurigo).
Excoriations may occur in the absence of a primary dermatosis.

Erosion
Erosion is caused by loss of the surface of a skin lesion; it is a shallow moist or crusted
lesion.

Fissure
A fissure is a thin crack within epidermis or epithelium, and is due to excessive
dryness.

Fungating
Refers to a large malignant tumour that is erupting like a mushroom or fungus.

Granulation tissue
Granulation tissue is a made of a mass of new capillaries and fibrous tissue in a
healing wound.

Ulcer
An ulcer is full thickness loss of epidermis or epithelium. It may be covered with a
dark‐coloured crust called an eschar.

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Granuloma
A granuloma is a histological (pathological) term refering to chronic inflammation in
which there are several types of inflammatory cells including giant cells. Granulomas
form in response to foreign bodies, certain infections (tuberculosis, leprosy) and
inflammatory skin diseases (granuloma annulare, granuloma faciale, sarcoidosis).

Hypertrophy
Some component of the skin such as a scar is enlarged or has grown excessively. The
opposite is atrophy or thinned skin.

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