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Home Topics A–Z Common benign skin lesions
Author: Wafaa Binti Mowlabaccus, Medical Student, Department of Medicine, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Moka, Mauritius. DermNet NZ Editor in Chief: Adjunct A/Prof Amanda Oakley, Dermatologist, Hamilton, New Zealand. Copy edited by Gus Mitchell. July 2020.
A benign skin lesion is a non-cancerous skin growth.
Any individual from any age group can present with a benign skin lesion.
The features in common for benign skin lesions include:
Benign lesions can be classified by their cellular origin: melanocytic, keratinocytic, vascular, fibrous, fat, and so on,
Common benign skin lesions of melanocytic origin include the ephilis, lentigo simplex, and melanocytic naevus (mole).
Ephilides are genetically determined well-defined small brown macules with the following characteristics:
Lentigo simplex is not sun-induced. It has the following characteristics:
A melanocytic naevus can be histologically classified as a junctional, compound, or dermal naevus depending on the location of nests of naevus cells.
A junctional naevus has naevus cells at the base of the epidermis.
Flat melanocytic lesions
A compound naevus has papular and flat components due to junctional and dermal naevus cells.
A dermal naevus is characterised by naevus cells in the dermis.
Elevated moles
Benign keratoses include solar lentigo and seborrhoeic keratosis.
A solar lentigo is a sun-induced pigmented macule.
Solar lentigo
Seborrhoeic keratosis presents as a variable warty plaque.
Seborrhoeic keratosis
Epidermoid cyst is a follicular nodule with a central punctum.
Epidermoid cyst
Corns and calluses are localised areas of thickened skin induced by pressure
Corns and calluses
Sebaceous hyperplasia occurs on the forehead and cheeks of adults.
Sebaceous hyperplasia
An angioma is due to the proliferation of the endothelial cells.
Angioma
A pyogenic granuloma is a vascular response to trauma and bacterial infection.
Pyogenic granuloma
Dermatofibroma is a reactive lesion that presents as one or more firm dermal papules.
Dermatofibroma
The lipoma is the most common benign soft-tissue tumour.
Lipoma
The most common type of skin tag is also called acrochordon.
Skin tags
Books about skin diseases
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