Papule

{{short description|Small, circumscribed, solid elevation of skin with no visible fluid}} {{Hatnote|Contrast with "macule" and other lesions at Skin condition § Primary lesions.}} {{Infobox medical condition (new) | name = Papule | synonyms = | image = Fibrous papule of the nose 01.jpg | caption = Fibrous papule of the nose | pronounce = {{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|æ|p|juː|l|}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/papule|title=Papule definition and meaning - Collins English Dictionary}}</ref> | field = Dermatology<ref name=Andrews2020/> | symptoms = Small, well-defined bump in skin<ref name=Andrews2020/> | complications = | onset = | duration = | types = | causes = | risks = | diagnosis = | differential = | prevention = | treatment = | medication = | prognosis = | frequency = | deaths = }}  A '''papule''' is a small, well-defined bump in the skin.<ref name=Andrews2020>{{cite book |last1=James |first1=William D. |last2=Elston |first2=Dirk |last3=Treat |first3=James R. |last4=Rosenbach |first4=Misha A. |last5=Neuhaus |first5=Isaac |title=Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology |date=2020 |publisher=Elsevier |isbn=978-0-323-54753-6 |page=11|edition=13th |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UEaEDwAAQBAJ&dq=papule&pg=PA11 |language=en |chapter=2. Cutaneous signs and diagnosis}}</ref> It may have a rounded, pointed or flat top, and may have a dip.<ref name=Andrews2020/> It can appear with a stalk, be thread-like or look warty.<ref name="DermnetNZ"/> It can be soft or firm and its surface may be rough or smooth.<ref name=Andrews2020/> Some have crusts or scales.<ref name=Andrews2020/> A papule can be flesh colored, yellow, white, brown, red, blue or purplish.<ref name=Dinulos2019>{{cite book |last1=Dinulos |first1=James G. H. |title=Habif's Clinical Dermatology |date=2019 |publisher=Elsevier |isbn=978-0-323-61269-2 |page=4 |edition=7th |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TvjCDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA4 |language=en |chapter=1. Principles of diagnosis and anatomy}}</ref> There may be just one or many, and they may occur irregularly in different parts of the body or appear in clusters.<ref name=Andrews2020/> It does not contain fluid but may progress to a pustule or vesicle.<ref name=Andrews2020/> A papule is smaller than a nodule; it can be as tiny as a pinhead and is typically less than 1 cm in width, according to some sources,<ref name=Andrews2020/><ref name=DermnetNZ>{{cite web |last1=Oakley |first1=Amanda |title=Terminology in dermatology |url=https://dermnetnz.org/topics/terminology/ |website=dermnetnz.org |access-date=20 September 2021 |language=en}}</ref> and 0.5 cm according to others.<ref name=Dinulos2019/> When merged together, it appears as a plaque.<ref name="Dinulos2019"/>

A papule's colour might indicate its cause, such as white in milia, red in eczema, yellowish in xanthoma and black in melanoma.<ref name=Andrews2020/> They may open when scratched and become infected and crusty.<ref name=Bolog2022>{{Cite book |last1=Bolognia |first1=Jean L. |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4QZSEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA4 |title=Dermatology Essentials |last2=Schaffer |first2=Julie V. |last3=Duncan |first3=Karynne O. |last4=Ko |first4=Christine |date=2022 |publisher=Elsevier |edition=2nd |isbn=978-0-323-70971-2 |language=en |chapter=1. Basics |pages=4–5}}</ref>

==Definition== thumb|Papule and plaque A papule is a small, well-defined bump in the skin.<ref name=Andrews2020/> It is smaller than a nodule; it can be as tiny as a pinhead and is typically less than 1 cm in width, according to some sources,<ref name=Andrews2020/><ref name="DermnetNZ"/> and 0.5 cm according to others.<ref name="Dinulos2019"/>

==Evaluation== A papule may have a rounded, pointed or flat top, and may have a dip.<ref name=Andrews2020/> It can be polygonal but is never rectangular or square.<ref name=Allen2010>{{Cite book|last=Allen|first=Herbert B.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e-9Wifq-R4gC&q=Dermatology+Terminology|title=Dermatology Terminology|date=2010|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-1-84882-839-1|location=Philadelphia|pages=1–13|language=en|chapter=1. Papulosquamous diseases}}</ref> It can appear with a stalk, be thread-like or look warty.<ref name=DermnetNZ/> Ulceration, oozing, bleeding or thin blood vessels may be present in a papule.<ref name=Allen2010/> It can be soft or firm and its surface may be rough or smooth.<ref name=Andrews2020/> Some have crusts or scales.<ref name=Andrews2020/> A papule can be flesh colored, yellow, white, brown, black, blue or purplish, or varying shades of red.<ref name=Dinulos2019/><ref name=Allen2010/> The intensity of redness might indicate how long the papule has been present.<ref name=Allen2010/> There may be just one or many, and they may occur irregularly in different parts of the body or appear in clusters.<ref name=Andrews2020/> It may progress to a pustule or vesicle.<ref name=Andrews2020/>

== Differential diagnosis == Angiofibromas are papules, types of which include the usually solitary fibrous papule of the nose and periungual angiofibroma, and multiple in pearly penile papules, and the facial angiofibromas as may be seen in tuberous sclerosis.<ref name=Paller2020>{{cite book |last1=Paller |first1=Amy S. |last2=Mancini |first2=Anthony J. |title=Clinical Pediatric Dermatology: A Textbook of Skin Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence |date=2020 |publisher=Elsevier |location=St Louis, Missouri |isbn=978-0-323-54988-2 |page=251 |edition=6th |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H3UrEAAAQBAJ&dq=electrosurgery+pearly+penile&pg=PA251 |language=en |chapter=9. Cutaneous tumors and tumor syndromes}}</ref>

Papules with scale on the palms and soles may occur in secondary syphilis, psoriasis, eczema, tinea manuum, mycosis fungoides.<ref name=Allen2010/> In lichen planus papules may be itchy, flat-topped, polygonal, purplish with white streaks, and can be solitary, or occur in clusters or in a line.<ref name=Allen2010/>

== See also == * List of cutaneous conditions

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Dermatologic terminology