Skin Lesions

Palor

Abnormal color:
white skin--> pale
dark skin --> gray, grayish brown
yellow undertones --> pale gray, greenish brown

Cyanosis

Abnormal color:
white skin --> blue undertones
dark skin --> gray, whitish skin with gray/blue conjunctiva
yellow undertones: greenish- gray

Jaundice

white ski --> yellow
dark skin --> golden to dark olive

Erythema

redness or rash caused by increased blood flow to the capillaries near the skin's surface
red to dark bluish-purple
hyperpigmentation & hypopigmentation

Petechiae

Petechiae are small, pinpoint red or purple spots that appear on the skin, mucous membranes, or eyes due to bleeding from small capillaries under the skin

Clustered

Patterns and Shapes

Serpiginous

Patterns and Shapes

Macule

Primary skin lesion:
less than 1.0 cm
on the surface
non-palpable
local
color changes in skin

Patch

Primary skin lesion:
more than 1.0 cm
on the surface
non-palpable, local color changes in skin

Papule

Primary:
less than 1.0 cm
superficial
elevated

Plaque

primary skin lesion:
more than 1.0 cm
elevates superficial
often formed by coalesces of papules

Nodule

Primary skin leison:
more than 0.5 cm marble like deeper and firmer than papule
under the skin

Wheal

hives
superficial often reddish or deeper brown
localized skin edema

Vesicle

Primary:
less than 1.0 cm
palpable serous fluid
round/oval lesions

Bulla

Primary:
1.0 cm or larger
palpable serous-filled
round/oval lesions
bug bite

Pustule

Primary:
filled with puss
inflammatory cells
acne

Erosion

Secondary skin lesions
non-scarring wearing away of superficial epidermis
surface is moise but does not bleed, one healed no scar
ex: canker sore and blister

Fissure

Secondary
linear crack in skin
often from excessive dryness of skin
ex: athletes foot

Excoriation

Secondary:
linear or punctate
erosions caused by scratching
ex: cat scratch

Crust

Secondary:
dried exudate, such as serum, blood, or pus, accumulates on surface of the skin.

Scale

Secondary:
Shedding or accumulation of dead epidermal cells.
ex. dandruff

Ulcer

Secondary:
an open sore or wound on the skin that can be painful and may result in tissue breakdown.

Atrophic Scar

Secondary skin lesion:
resulting skin level is depressed with loss of tissue. a thinning of the epidermis
ex: stretch marks

Lichenification

Secondary:
skin has become thickened and leathery.

ABCDE of Skin Cancer

asymmetry
border
color
diameter
evolving

Color

Inspection and documentation:
either skin colored or state the discoloration

Size

Inspection and documentation: Measure in mm or cm; for oval measure long axis and perpendicular

Elevation

Inspection and documentation:
flat (cannot palpate or feel), raised, or pedunculated (attached by trunk like a skin tag)

Number

Inspection and documentation:
solitary, multiple or an actual number

Texture

Inspection and documentation:
Smooth
Fleshy
Scaling

Anatomic location and descriptioin

Inspection and documentation:
generalized, localized, skin-fold areas, extensor or flexor areas

Linear

Patterns:
straight line

Geographic

Paterns
areas of one color, with variably scalloped borders of additional color

Confluent

Patterns:
lesions run together

Zosteriform

Patterns:
lesions that follow a nerve dermatome

Annular, Acriform

Shape:
have a circular shape