Macules

The macule is the simplest dermatological lesion. It is flat and can only be seen and not felt. The macule is noted by a change in color of the skin. It may be brown, blue, red or exhibit a lesser pigment or an absence of pigment. The color of the lesion is one way in which a diagnosis may be focused.

Examples of macular lesions and disorders

• Freckle
• Vitiligo
• Tinea versicolor
• Becker's nevus
• Café-au-lait spot
• Erythrasma
• Fixed drug eruption
• Junctional nevus
• Lentigo maligna
• Lentigo
• Melasma
• Phototoxic drug eruption
• Stasis dermatitis
• Mongolian spot

Macules by color

Brown

• Becker's Nevus
• Café-au-lait spot
• Freckle
• Melasma
• Photoxic drug eruption

Blue

• Ink (tattoo)
• Mongolian spot
• Ochronosis

Red

• Drug eruptions
• Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
• Rhuematic fever
• Viral exanthems

Hypopigmented

• Piebaldism
• Radiation dermatitis
• Vitiligo
• Tuberous sclerosis