Notes

A macule is something a person ordinarily does not have to worry about. Having freckles or age spots is genetically determined.

A nevus is darker than a macule, and is commonly called a mole. But if it changes in size or becomes irregularly shaped, a dermatologist should be consulted.

Small red dots on the skin are petechiae (plural). A petechia is a sign of the rupture of a small blood vessel.

A larger hemorrhage into the skin is seen as a reddish-purple discoloration known as purpura.

On the other hand, pallor is not so much a color change as a lack of color. A person who becomes pale or white has pallor.


Cyanosis is a serious bluish skin color indicating insufficient red blood cells or oxygen.

Erythema is the exact opposite color―redness―that indicates an inflammatory response.

Jaundice produces yet another color, this time, a yellowish tinge. In anyone other than a newborn, this color is a sign of liver disease.

A fissure is a fairly irritating skin response. The crack can be painful, whether it is between the toes or in the anal region. Infection is a possibility as well.

Deposits laid in the skin can cause an induration, while a small skin elevation is usually known as a papule.

A wheal can be caused by an accidental allergic reaction as a response to an injected substance, such as a TB skin test, or an allergy test.


The most common sebaceous gland disorder, especially in teens, is acne. Appearance is a concern due to many comedones (plural).

Another concern for older persons, and some younger ones, is alopecia. Although determined to some extent by genetics, there are numerous other causes for this disorder.

Hyperhidrosis is an embarrassing disorder that can be caused by a thyroid disorder, low blood sugar, or other disorders.
Trichomycosis is a hair disorder that also demands treatment. While not common, fungus can be hard to kill.


All skin inflammations are very uncomfortable for the person. Sometimes itching is severe, the skin may be flaky or weeping, infection is always a possibility, and of course, appearance is a major concern as well.

Cellulitis can be a serious inflammation, caused by infection, that spreads in the dermal layer of the skin, and possibly even into the subcutaneous layer.

Dermatitis is a general term for several types of skin inflammation. Contact dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, actinic dermatitis, and eczema all cause pruritus and skin inflammation, which is very uncomfortable for the person.

A chronic disease that may have a genetic component is psoriasis. The appearance is characteristic, and treatment does not cure, it only controls the symptoms.

The most serious disease is systemic lupus erythematosus. Inflammation attacks connective tissues, producing joint pain and red patches on facial skin. It is chronic and progressive with no cure.


A carbuncle is frequently caused by the staph bacteria and creates a real source of pain for the person. Clusters of boils can appear anywhere on the skin.

Caused instead by a viral infection, the three types of herpes all produce blisters that can be painful, especially with genital herpes and shingles. Oral herpes, as well as the other forms, can be transmitted to another person if the vesicles burst open.

Impetigo is a very contagious skin infection caused usually by staph or strep. The fluid in the vesicles is what is communicable when the vesicles burst and create a gold-colored crust.


Pediculosis can be a real problem for the family that has infected children. And this infection can be spread to other children at school. Children typically have a problem with head lice, while adults contract body lice. Besides treatment of the hair or body, all clothing and bedding must be washed as well.

Less common is scabies, which has symptoms that mimic dermatitis, such as pruritus, edema, and erythema. The female itch mite is the culprit here.

Athletes may have a problem with tinea, especially tinea pedis, although anyone can develop this infection. Not limited to the feet, there are also forms such as tinea capitis and tinea corporis. The name ringworm comes from the ring-shaped skin pattern.


Years after exposure to a lot of sun, a person can develop actinic keratosis. This scaly, small, round lesion is not cancerous, but can become so at a later time, so it must be watched.

Albinism is not a change in skin color, as a lack of color to begin with. A genetic condition, albinism is seen as a reduction in or lack of skin and hair pigment. A person with this condition is referred to as an albino.

A bruise by another name is an ecchymosis. Leaking or damaged blood vessels produce purplish areas on the skin.

Whether due to burns, scarring, skin inflammation, or other causes, leukoderma progresses leaving areas of reduced or no pigment in scattered areas of skin. Scleroderma, on the other hand, is a thickening of the skin. The term scler- means "hard." Much more common is xeroderma, which affects many older persons. A mild form of this occurs in very dry areas of the country, or with severe cold weather necessitating dry heat in the home.
Burns can damage one or all layers of the skin, so methods of categorizing burns include computing the amount of the body burned, using the total body surface area method, and by designating the depth of the burn.

The larger the area of the body burned, the more serious is the problem. Shock and infection can complicate the body's natural response to this type of injury.

Burns are classified according to depth of injury, with a partial-thickness burn only damaging the epidermis. A full-thickness burn damages the epidermis and dermis, and the deep burn goes deeper into the subcutaneous and muscle layers. But some agencies use a system of superficial, partial-thickness, and full-thickness classification, or the first-, second-, third-, and fourth-degree burn classification.


Any disease of the nail can be said to be a type of onychopathy. While onychomycosis sounds very ominous, it is in fact a fairly common problem, just not by that name. Treatment may require several months, however, to produce a healthy nail.

An infection around the nail has the interesting name of paronychia because the root onych means "nail." In fact, all of the nail problem terms have interesting names, but just break the words down into their parts, and they will make more sense.

Many people have onychomalacia. For some people, special nail polishes or an increased intake of gelatin may help with the problem.

Another somewhat common problem is onychocryptosis. This can be painful and needs professional treatment if it is severe.
The most common cause of skin cancer is exposure to the sun. Sunscreen products and a hat are helpful deterrents. The cancer usually occurs years after the exposure.

Basal cell carcinoma is the least dangerous. Slow growing and very slow to spread through the body, it is usually a small sore that will not heal.

Squamous cell carcinoma is more dangerous as it is faster growing and will spread sooner through the body.

Both types of carcinomas should be examined by a physician and ideally removed before they cause major problems.
Malignant melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, as it can be fatal. Some people ignore the black lesion with a reddish edge as they think it is a mole. But melanoma has an irregular shape, irregular edges, and gets larger. This skin cancer needs to be removed as soon as possible. If a mole changes shape, increases in size, or develops uneven edges, a physician should be consulted immediately.

Kaposi's sarcoma is a less common form of skin cancer, found primarily in patients with HIV or AIDS. Brown or purple patches appear on the skin and there is usually involvement of internal organs as well.