Dermatology Terminology

Front 1

a large fluid filled lesion

Back 1

bulla

Front 2

distributed on the nose and cheeks

Back 2

butterfly pattern

Front 3

a rash that has a normal central area

Back 3

central clearing

Front 4

a very raised, erythematous scar

Back 4

cheloid/keloid

Front 5

blackhead

Back 5

comedone

Front 6

superficial loss of epidermis

Back 6

erosion

Front 7

a rash involving at least 90% of the skin surface

Back 7

erythroderma

Front 8

a thick crust over an ulcer or erosion

Back 8

eschar

Front 9

a superficial loss of epidermis from scratching or picking, therefore often linear and often covered by crust

Back 9

excoriation

Front 10

found all over the body

Back 10

generalised

Front 11

covered in thick scale

Back 11

hyperkeratotic

Front 12

covered in crust, pustules often weeping

Back 12

impetiginised

Front 13

firm

Back 13

indurated

Front 14

thickening of the epidermis usually due to friction

Back 14

lichenification

Front 15

a purple, lace-like or reticulated lesion usually on the lower legs

Back 15

livedo

Front 16

limited to one area

Back 16

localised

Front 17

a small, flat lesion

Back 17

macule

Front 18

a raised lesion 1-2 mm in diameter

Back 18

micropapule

Front 19

a raised, firm ovoid lesion

Back 19

nodule

Front 20

a large, flat lesion

Back 20

patch

Front 21

a purpuric lesion which is palpable above the surface of the skin

Back 21

palpable purpura

Front 22

a small raised lesion

Back 22

papule

Front 23

raised papules on a background of scale and redness

Back 23

papulosquamous

Front 24

a large, raised lesion

Back 24

plaque

Front 25

purple, haemorrhagic lesion

Back 25

purpura/petechiae

Front 26

a small, pus filled lesion a few millimetres in diameter

Back 26

pustule

Front 27

a lesion which stands out from those around it

Back 27

ugly duckling

Front 28

an area where there is full thickness loss of skin

Back 28

ulcer

Front 29

lace-like

Back 29

reticulated

Front 30

a pale, firm raised or depressed lesion resulting from skin injury

Back 30

scar

Front 31

covered in flakes

Back 31

scaly

Front 32

scar like

Back 32

sclerotic

Front 33

a rash that looks like a bulls-eye

Back 33

targetoid

Front 34

an erythematous, fine linear lesion composed of capillaries produced by telangiectasia

Back 34

telangiectasis

Front 35

very hyperkeratotic, similar to a wart

Back 35

verrucous

Front 36

a small fluid filled lesion a few millimetres in diameter

Back 36

vesicle

Front 37

edge fades out into surrounding skin

Back 37

poorly defined

Front 38

edge is sharp

Back 38

well defined

Front 39

edge is wavy

Back 39

serpiginous

Front 40

edge is like a number of overlapping circles

Back 40

polycyclic

Front 41

edge that looks like a map of a country

Back 41

geographic

Front 42

round

Back 42

annular

Front 43

red

Back 43

erythema

Front 44

purple

Back 44

violaceous

Front 45

grey

Back 45

slate

Front 46

darker than surrounding skin

Back 46

hyperpigmented

Front 47

lighter than surrounding skin

Back 47

hypopigmented

Front 48

white

Back 48

depigmented

Front 49

red-brown

Back 49

bronze

Front 50

purple-grey

Back 50

dusky

Front 51

many different colours

Back 51

variegated

Front 52

oozing clear fluid from the skin surface

Back 52

weeping

Front 53

covered in scabs

Back 53

crusted

Front 54

itch

Back 54

pruritus

Front 55

tingling, burning, numbness

Back 55

dysaesthesia