Macule

Macule
Cafe-au-lait macule
SpecialtyDermatology
SymptomsSmall flat spot in skin, without being raised or depressed,[1] <2cm diameter[2]
TypesDark brown/black, light, red[2]
Diagnostic methodAppearance[2]

A macule is a small flat skin spot that is neither raised nor depressed.[1] It may be an early stage of another skin sign, and occurs in varied sizes, shapes and colours.[1][3] Its border may be sharp or blurred and when touched, it feels like the surrounding normal skin.[1] It may be dark brown/black, light, or red.[2] It is generally less than 2cm in diameter; larger ones are termed a patch.[2]

Diagnosis is generally made by its appearance; the color, size and number of the macules.[4] Conditiions in which macules are a feature include oral melanotic macule and focal argyrosis.[4]

Definition

Macule and patch

A macule is a small flat skin spot, that is neither raised or depressed.[1] The term is derived from the latin for stain and describes a color change.[2]

Signs and symptoms

It may be an early stage of another skin sign, and occurs in varied sizes, shapes and colours.[1][3] Its border may be sharp or blurred and when touched, it feels like the surrounding normal skin.[1] It may be dark brown/black, light, or red.[2] It is generally less than 2cm in diameter; larger ones are termed a patch.[2]

  • Salmon-macular rash (systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis) - many red macules
    Salmon-macular rash (systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis) - many red macules
  • Multiple macules - many brown macules
    Multiple macules - many brown macules
  • Vitiligo macules - many light macules
    Vitiligo macules - many light macules
  • Mole - solitary macule
    Mole - solitary macule
  • Chicken pox - macules with papules
    Chicken pox - macules with papules

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is generally made by its appearance; the color, size and number of the macules.[4] Macules are a feature of conditions including oral melanotic macule, ephesus and focal argyrosis.[4]

Differential diagnosis

Common macule include drug reaction, junctional nevus, viral rash, freckles, and chloasma[5]


  • Macular amyloidosis
    Macular amyloidosis
  • Freckles
    Freckles

See also

Reference

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 James, William D.; Elston, Dirk; Treat, James R.; Rosenbach, Misha A.; Neuhaus, Isaac (2020). "2. Cutaneous signs and diagnosis". Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology (13th ed.). Edinburgh: Elsevier. p. 11. ISBN 978-0-323-54753-6.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Morris-Jones, Rachael (2019). "1. Introduction". In Morris-Jones, Rachael (ed.). ABC of Dermatology (7th ed.). Hoboken: Wiley Blackwell. pp. 3–4. ISBN 978-1-119-48899-6. Archived from the original on 2023-02-09. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
  3. 1 2 Oakley, Amanda. "Terminology in dermatology". dermnetnz.org. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Langlais, Robert P.; Miller, Craig S.; Gehrig, Jill S. (2017). "18. Diagnostic and descritive terminology: macule, patch, erosion, ulcer". Color Atlas of Common Oral Diseases, Enhanced Edition (5th ed.). Burlington: Jones & Bartlett Learning. p. 18. ISBN 978-1-284-24098-6. Archived from the original on 2023-02-09. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
  5. ↑ Hopcroft, Keith; Forte, Vincent (2020). "Skin: macules". Symptom Sorter. Boca Raton: CRC Press. pp. 405–407. ISBN 978-0-367-46810-1. Archived from the original on 2023-09-19. Retrieved 2023-09-19.
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