Nurs 5432 Dermatolologic disorders
How do you differentiate
between the different skin
disorders?
2025/11/10
, Nurs 5432 Dermatolologic disorders
Primary Skin Lesions
Macule: A macule is a change in the color of the skin. It
is flat, and if you were to close your eyes and run your
fingers over the surface of a purely macular lesion, you
could not detect it. It is less than 1 cm in diameter.
Some authors use 5 mm for size criterion. Sometimes
"macule" is used for a flat lesion of any size.
Patch: A patch is a macule greater than 1 cm in
diameter.
Papule: A papule is a solid raised lesion that has
distinct borders and is less than 1 cm in diameter.
Plaque: A plaque is a solid, raised, flat-topped lesion
greater than 1 cm in diameter. It is analogous to the
geological formation of a plateau.
Nodule: A nodule is a raised solid lesion and may be in
the epidermis, dermis, or subcutaneous tissue.
Generally larger and deeper than a papule.
Tumor: A tumor is a solid mass of the skin or
subcutaneous tissue; it is larger than a nodule.
Vesicle: A vesicle is a raised lesion less than 1 cm in
diameter and is filled with clear fluid.
Bulla: A bulla is a circumscribed fluid filled lesion that is
What are primary and greater than 1 cm in diameter.
secondary skin lesions?
Pustule: A pustule is a circumscribed elevated lesion
that contains pus.
Wheal: A wheal is an area of elevated edema in the
upper epidermis.
Secondary skin lesions are changes that occur as
consequences of progression of the disease,
scratching, or infection of the primary lesions.
2025/11/10
How do you differentiate
between the different skin
disorders?
2025/11/10
, Nurs 5432 Dermatolologic disorders
Primary Skin Lesions
Macule: A macule is a change in the color of the skin. It
is flat, and if you were to close your eyes and run your
fingers over the surface of a purely macular lesion, you
could not detect it. It is less than 1 cm in diameter.
Some authors use 5 mm for size criterion. Sometimes
"macule" is used for a flat lesion of any size.
Patch: A patch is a macule greater than 1 cm in
diameter.
Papule: A papule is a solid raised lesion that has
distinct borders and is less than 1 cm in diameter.
Plaque: A plaque is a solid, raised, flat-topped lesion
greater than 1 cm in diameter. It is analogous to the
geological formation of a plateau.
Nodule: A nodule is a raised solid lesion and may be in
the epidermis, dermis, or subcutaneous tissue.
Generally larger and deeper than a papule.
Tumor: A tumor is a solid mass of the skin or
subcutaneous tissue; it is larger than a nodule.
Vesicle: A vesicle is a raised lesion less than 1 cm in
diameter and is filled with clear fluid.
Bulla: A bulla is a circumscribed fluid filled lesion that is
What are primary and greater than 1 cm in diameter.
secondary skin lesions?
Pustule: A pustule is a circumscribed elevated lesion
that contains pus.
Wheal: A wheal is an area of elevated edema in the
upper epidermis.
Secondary skin lesions are changes that occur as
consequences of progression of the disease,
scratching, or infection of the primary lesions.
2025/11/10
