Basic lesions

The different types of skin lesions play an essential role in the precise description of skin diseases. One distinguishes between primary and secondary lesions.

Primary Lesions

Primary lesions are skin lesions at the beginning of the dermatosis, without secondary changes. They have a greater diagnostic impact than secondary lesions.

Primary Lesion thumbnail 1.1 Macule

Primary Lesion thumbnail 1.2 Urtica

Primary Lesion thumbnail 1.3 Papule

Primary Lesion thumbnail 1.4 Plaque

Primary Lesion thumbnail 1.5 Nodule

Primary Lesion thumbnail 1.6 Vesicle and bulla

Primary Lesion thumbnail 1.7 Pustula (Pustule)

Primary Lesion thumbnail 1.8 Cyst

Secondary Lesions

Secondary lesions develop from primary lesions over time or by additional artifacts, like scratching. They have less diagnostic impact and often do not allow conclusions to the primary lesions, since various primary lesions may evolve to the same secondary lesion, like for example scaling.

 

Secondary Lesion thumbnail 2.1 Scales

Secondary Lesion thumbnail 2.2 Crust

Secondary Lesion thumbnail 2.3 Necrosis

Secondary Lesion thumbnail 2.4 Erosion

Secondary Lesion thumbnail 2.5 Excoriation

Secondary Lesion thumbnail 2.6 Ulcer

Secondary Lesion thumbnail 2.7 Fissure

Secondary Lesion thumbnail 2.8 Atrophy

Secondary Lesion thumbnail 2.9 Scar