Plaque

Background

Normal dermal anatomy.

Dermatology Nomenclature

Small lesions (<0.5cm)

Name	Raised/Palpable	Fluid-Filled	Other Description	Diagram
Macule	No	None	flat, cirumscribed, colored
Papule	Yes	None	Solid
Vesicle	Yes	Clear
Pustule	Yes	Pus	Leukocytes or keratin

Large lesions (>0.5cm)

Name	Raised/Palpable	Fluid-Filled	Other Description	Diagram
Patch	No	None	Large macule (flat, colored)
Plaque	Yes	None	Superficially raised, circumscribed solid area
Nodule	Yes	None	Distinct large papule
Bulla	Yes	Clear	Large vesicle/blister or exposed epidermal layer
Wheal	Yes	Edema	Firm and edema of dermis

Other

Ulcer, fissue, and erosion

• Eschar
• Fissure/erosion/ulcer
• Necrotizing rashes

Differential Diagnosis

Plaques

• Psoriasis
• Bowen disease
• Discoid lupus erythematosus
• Drug eruption
• Erythema annulare centrifugum
• Lichen planus
• Lichen simplex chronicus
• Nummular dermatitis (nummular eczema)
• Parapsoriasis
• Pityriasis rosea
• Seborrheic dermatitis

See Also

• General approach to rashes