Types of Skin Lesions

What are primary lesions? Primary lesions are those objective lesions with which cutaneous or skin diseases begin. This type of skin lesion may continue as such or may undergo modification, passing into the secondary or consecutive skin lesions. The primary skin lesions include : Macules, papules, tubercles, wheals, tumors, vesicles, blebs and pustules.

Now in this article, I will explain the meaning of each of these skin lesions.

What are macules (maculæ)? Maculae are variously-sized, shaped and tinted spots and discolorations, without elevation or depression; as, for example, freckles, spots of purpura, macules of cutaneous syphilis.

What are papules (papulæ)? Paules are Small, circumscribed, solid elevations, rarely exceeding the size of a split-pea, and usually superficially seated; as, for example, the papules of eczema, of acne, and of cutaneous syphilis.

What are tubercles (tubercula)? These are Circumscribed, solid elevations, commonly pea-sized and usually deep-seated; as, for example, the tubercles of syphilis, of leprosy, and of lupus.
What are wheals (pomphi)? These are Variously-sized and shaped, whitish, pinkish or reddish elevations, of an evanescent character; as, for example, the lesions of urticaria, the lesions produced by the bite of a mosquito or by the sting of a nettle.

What are tumors (tumores)? These are Soft or firm elevations, usually large and prominent, and having their seat in the corium and subcutaneous tissue; as, for example, sebaceous tumors, gummata, and the lesions of fibroma.
What are vesicles (vesiculæ)? These are Pin-head to pea-sized, circumscribed epidermal elevations, containing serous fluid; as, for example, the so-called fever-blisters, the lesions of herpes zoster, and of vesicular eczema.

What are blebs (bullæ)? These are Rounded or irregularly-shaped, pea to egg-sized epidermic elevations, with fluid contents; in short, they are essentially the same as vesicles and pustules except as to size; as, for example, the blebs of pemphigus, rhus poisoning, and syphilis.

What are pustules (pustulæ)? These are Circumscribed epidermic elevations containing pus; as, for example, the pustules of acne, of impetigo, and of sycosis.

Secondary Lesions.
What are secondary lesions? Those lesions resulting from accidental or natural change, modification or termination of the primary lesions. Secondary Lesions include: Scales, crusts, excoriations, fissures, ulcers, scars and stains.


Scales (squamæ) are dry, laminated, epidermal exfoliations; as, for example, the scales of psoriasis, ichthyosis, and eczema.
Crusts (crustæ) are dried effete masses of exudation; as, for example, the crusts of impetigo, of eczema, and of the pustular and ulcerating syphilodermata.

Excoriations (excoriationes) are superficial, usually epidermal, linear or punctate loss of tissue; as, for example, ordinary scratch-marks.

Fissures (rhagades) are linear cracks or wounds, involving the epidermis, or epidermis and corium; as, for example, the cracks which often occur in eczema when seated about the joints, the cracks of chapped lips and hands.

Ulcers (ulcera) are rounded or irregularly-shaped and sized loss of skin and subcutaneous tissue resulting from disease; as, for example, the ulcers of syphilis and of cancer.
Scars (cicatrices) are connective-tissue new formations replacing loss of substance.

Stains are discolorations left by cutaneous disease, which stains may be transitory or permanent.
This is the end and I hope that this article have done justice to primary and secondary skin lesion

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