The acronym identifies warning signs for malignant melanoma.

A-Asymmetry

B- Border (Irregular)

C- Color (varied)

D- Diameter (larger than 6mm or a pencil eraser)

Petechiae

Purpura

Ecchymosis

Spider angioma

Venous star

Telangectasia

Macule

~Freckles, without elevation or depression~

Patch

~Large macule, without elevation or depression~

Papule

Warts

~Small solid elevation of skin (can be pigmented)~

Plaque

Psoriasis

~Large, Broad flat surface that appears like a plateau~

Nodule

~Solid, elevated, palpable mass of skin~

~Arises deep from dermis~

Tumor

Basal Cell Carcinoma

~enlargement of tissues into a mass by normal or pathological cells~

Wheal

Hives, Type I Allergic Reaction, Insect Bites

~white or pin, compressible papule or plaque produced by dermal edema~

Vesicle

Poison Oak, Chicken Pox

~circumscribed elevation of skin that contains fluid~

Bulla

Blister

~Large vesicle~

Pustule

Acne

~visible accumulation of pus~

Cyst

~Closed cavity or sac with a membranous lining containing fluid or semi-solid material~

*Severe Acne*

Scales

Psoriasis

~raised lesion presenting with flaking of the skin~

(thickened stratum corneum)

Crust

Scabs

~outer layer of skin produced from dried serum and remnants of blood~

Lichenification

Chronic Dermatitis

~chronic thickening of the epidermis with exaggerated normal markings~

Scar (Cicatrix)

~fibrous tissue replacing normal tissues destroyed by trauma or disease~

Keloid

~elevated progressive scar formation beyond the boundaries of the wound~

Excoriation

Abrasion or Scratch

~superficial loss of skin~

Fissure

Athlete's Foot

~linear gap or slit in skin~

Note: Nasty picture. Sorry.

Erosion

~depressed lesion produced when epidermis is removed or sloughed~

Ulcer

Syphillis

~defect or loss of dermis and epidermis~

Atrophy

Chronic Steroid Use

~thinning of the skin~

Petechia

Platelet dysfunction, thrombocytopenia

~small punctate hemorrhagic macule due to extravation of blood from vessels~

Purpura

Vascular Problems (trauma, infection, vasculitis, collagen vascular disease)

Abnormal Hemostasis (clotting factor deficiency)

~large petechia due to extravasion of blood from vessels~

Ecchymosis

Bruising, Clotting Factor Deficiency

~red or purple hemorrhage (non-palpable purpura)~

Spider Angioma (Telangiectasia)

Chronic Liver Disease

~Red central point with radiating vessels that blanches when pressure is applied to center~

Venous Star

Superficial varicosities

~bluish spider like veins that do not blanch with pressure~

Telangiectasia

~dilation of small cutaneous blood vessels~

Cherry Hemangiomas

~Small bright red papules that are round, sharply circumscribed, and occur with aging~

*Harmless*

Poison Oak

exogenous

Iris Lesion

Erythema multiforme

~a bull's eye consisting of concentric annular circles with a clear vascular center~

Serpiginous Lesions

~Curvilinear~

Annular Lesions

~edge of lesion differs from center, groups of annular lesions can form a segment called a Circinate~

Nummular Lesion

~Coin shaped~

Bullous Pemphigoid

Urticarial eruptions

Hives

~usually caused by foods, drugs or viral infections~

~can be caused by underlying tumor or collagen disease~

Erythroderma

Toxic Shock Syndrome

~whole body redness and scaling~

Solar Lentigo

~caused by a proliferation of melanocytes due to chronic sun damage~

Actinic Keratoses

~occur only on sun damaged skin and are considered PRE-MALIGNANT~

Seborrheic Keratoses

~hyperpigmented, often scaly and very well circumscribed, "stuck on" to skin~

*Benign*

Basal Cell Carcinoma

~primary skin cancer presents as a papule or nodule with a pearly appearance and central depression or ulceration~

*Rarely metastisizes, but spreads by local invasion*

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

~scaly, crusty nodule or plaque that bleeds readily~

*spreads by local invasion and metastasis*