Primary skin lesions include macules, papules, vesicles, plaques, bullae, patches, tumors, wheals, nodules, and pustules. They are not specific to a disease and can be caused by various infections. Identifying the primary lesion is crucial in treating the disease.
A primary lesion is a change in the skin caused by a certain disease or infection. There are several types, including macules, papules, vesicles, plaques, bullae, patches, tumors, wheals, nodules, and pustules. These are not specific to a disease and are not always considered a primary lesion. The changes that occur within these types of lesions are known as secondary lesions.
Macules are small areas of skin that have changed color. They cannot be heard, only seen. A patch is a primary lesion similar to the macula, but occupies a larger area than the skin. Patches are usually larger than one cm, while a macula is typically smaller than one cm.
A papule, bulla, and vesicle are all small, raised lesions on top of the skin. The papules are firm, have shape, and are often accompanied by secondary lesion qualities, such as scales and crusts. This type of lesion also has a raised border around it. Vesicles and bubbles are not solid and are filled with a clear fluid.
The tumors are usually larger than two cm. These lesions are firm and made up of subcutaneous tissue or skin. They can also be malignant. A lump is similar to a tumor, but smaller. It can be composed of skin, subcutaneous tissue or dermis.
Pustules are elevated lesions that contain pus inside them. Many times they contain infections, but in some cases they don’t. They are small and generally do not grow larger than one cm.
A plaque is a solid, raised lesion that is typically larger than a centimeter around. Wheals sometimes look like plaques, but they can also look like papules. A wheal has a border around it and often has a very pale center.
Another type of primary lesion is called a burrow. This refers to tunnels under the skin, typically due to an infestation with some type of parasite. These tunnels appear as straight lesions on top of the skin. It is most commonly seen in cases of scabies.
A primary lesion is generally not associated with a specific disease. Many times, different diseases produce the same type of underlying lesion. Identifying the primary lesion and its cause is usually the first step a doctor takes in treating or curing a disease.
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