Skin Lesions Facts

Skin lesion classified as an abnormal growth or patch of skin that doesn't look like the skin area close by. The most common causes of skin lesions are injury, aging, infectious diseases, allergies, infections of the skin or hair follicles, acne, moles and skin tags.

Medical diagnosis of the underlying cause of skin lesions is usually based on your medical and personal history, what the lesion looks like, and where it appears on the body.

Early detection is a key to successful treatment of cancer,
examine your skin on regularly for skin changes or
the presence of new growths

Skin lesions can be divided into two categories:

• Primary - skin lesions which vary in color or texture to the rest of the skin or may be present at birth, most popular types are moles or birthmarks. Some skin lesions may appear during a person's life, including warts, acne, or psoriasis, allergic reactions such as hives or sunburn.
• Secondary - skin lesions include changes in the skin caused by primary skin lesions, either as a natural progression or because of scratching or picking on the skin.

Primary skin lesions types

• Macule - small, mostly circular, flat spot. The color of a macule is different from nearby skin, and are usually brown, white, or red. Most known types are freckles and flat moles. Patches are macules bigger than an inch.
• Vesicle - raised small lesion filled with clear fluid. Bigger vesicles called blisters. Usual causes of vesicles include sunburn, insect bites, chemical irritation, or some viral infections, such as cold sores.
• Pustule - raised lesion filled with pus usually caused by an infection, such as impetigo or boils.
• Papule - solid, raised, rough lesion that may be red, pink or brown. A patch of closely-grouped papules is called a plaque. Papules are associated with conditions such as warts, syphilis, psoriasis, or skin cancer.
• Nodule - solid lesion with distinct edges that is usually more deeply rooted than a papule. A nodule feels like a hard mass, distinct from the skin around it. Tumor is a large nodule.
• Wheal - raised skin lesion that can be itchy and usually disappears soon after it appears. Wheals are generally part of an allergic reaction.
• Telangiectasia - small, dilated blood vessels that appear close to the surface of the skin. Telangiectasia is often a symptom of skin diseases such as rosacea or scleroderma.

Secondary skin lesions types

• Ulcer - lesion that erodes the upper portion of the skin and part of the lower portion beneath. Ulcers can be caused by conditions such as bacterial infection or injury, or from more long-lasting problems such as scleroderma. An ulcer that looks like a deep crack in the skin is called a fissure.
• Scale - dry build-up of dead skin cells that often flakes off the surface of the skin. Diseases that cause scale include fungal infections and psoriasis
• Crust - dried collection of blood, serum, or pus. Also called a scab, a crust is often part of the normal healing process of many infectious lesions.
• Scar - discolored, fibrous tissue that permanently replaces normal skin after the tissue has been destroyed. A very thick and raised scar is called a keloid.
• Atrophy - area of skin that has become very thin and wrinkled. Normally seen in older people and those who use very strong corticosteroid skin creams.

Skin lesions treatments

Treatment of skin lesions depends upon the cause, what type of lesions they are, and the your overall health.

• Skin lesions such as moles, freckles, and birthmarks are a normal part of skin and will not disappear unless deliberately removed by a mole removal procedure. Mole removal is done clinically by our skin specialist. You need to consult the your GP or make a doctor skin check appointment with our doctor to ascertain that moles you are want to get rid of are non-cancerous.
• Lesions due to an allergic reaction often subside soon after the allergy trigger is removed. The treatment may include skin cleaning and protecting irritated skin, removing dead skin cells and scales.
• Healing of lesions due to infections or disorders depends upon the type of infection or disorder and the overall health of the individual. Ointments, creams, lotions, and topical antibiotics can be applied to treat appropriate skin infections.
• Sometimes surgical removal of a lesion may require, especially when treating skin cancer. Surgical removal usually involves cutting away the growth under local anesthetic.

Skin lesions precautions

• Stay out of the sun or using effective sunscreens to cut down on skin cancer
• Regularly inspect your body for changes in their skin, especially if you suffering from skin conditions such as diabetes or poor circulation
• In case of allergy stay away from the allergy agent, or figuring out how to safely handling it
• Keep the skin, nails, and scalp clean and moisturized
• Do not share personal care items such as combs and make-up with others, to reduce or prevent infectious skin diseases
• Skin lesions associated with sexually transmitted diseases can be prevented by using condoms