primary lesions

example of macule

freckles, flat moles (nevi), petechiae, measles, scarlet fever

papule

elevated, firm, circumscribed area less than 1 cm

examples of papule

wart (verruca), elevated moles, cherry angioma, skin tag

patch

flat, nonpalpable, irregular-shaped, more than 1 cm

examples of patch

vitiligo, port wine stains, café-au-lait spots, mongolian spots

plaque

elevated, firm, rough lesion with flat top surface greater than 1 cm

examples of plaque

psoriasis, seborrheic and actinic keratoses, eczema

wheal, allergic reaction (hives)

elevated, irregular-shaped area of cutaneous edema, solid, transient, variable diameter

examples of wheal

insect bites, allergic reaction, lupus erythematosus

nodule

elevated, firm, circumscribed lesion; deeper in dermis than papule; 1-2 cm

examples of nodule

hemangioma, neurofibroma, lipomas, melanoma

tumor

elevated, solid lesion; may or may not be clearly demarcated; deeper in dermis; greater than 2 cm

examples of tumor

neoplasms, lipoma, hemangioma

vesicle

elevated, circumscribed, superficial, not into dermis; filled with serous fluid; less than 1 cm

examples of vesicle

varicella (chickenpox), herpes zoster (shingles), impetigo, acute eczema

bulla

vesicle greater than 1 cm

examples of bulla

blister, drug reaction, lupus erythematosus, impetigo

pustule

elevated, superficial lesion; similar to a vesicle but filled with purulent fluid

examples of pustule

impetigo, acne, herpes simplex, folliculitis

cyst

elevated, circumscribed, encapsulated lesion; in dermis or subcutaneous layer; filled with liquid or semisolid material

examples of cyst

sebaceous cyst, cystic acne