Dermatology Library
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L
Lentigo:
A small brownish spot (of the pigment melanin) on the skin.
Lentigo maligna melanoma:
A melanoma characterized by small brownish spots on the skin. Lentigo maligna melanoma occurs in about 5% of malignant melanoma cases, usually in the elderly. It is most common in sun damaged skin on the head, neck, and arms.
Also see: Melanoma
Lesion:
An injury or wound, a localized abnormal structural change in the skin.
Lichen Planus:
Lichen planus is an inflammatory disease that usually affects the skin, the mouth, or sometimes both. It may affect the genital skin as well. The cause of lichen planus is not known. There are cases of lichen planus- type rashes occurring as allergic reactions to medications for high blood pressure, heart disease and arthritis. In those cases, identifying and stopping the use of the drug helps clear up the condition within a few weeks. Some people with lichen planus can also have hepatitis C. Lichen planus affects men and women equally, and occurs most often in middle-aged adults.
Lipoatrophy:
Loss of fat from underneath the skin. Common causes are aging and disease.
Liver spots:
"Age spots" or "liver spots" are flat, brown areas called lentigines. They have nothing to do with the liver - they are caused by the sun and usually appear on the face, hands, back and feet. They are generally harmless. They may look like melanoma and therefore may require evaluation. Commercial "fade" creams will not make lentigines disappear, but effective prescription medications and surgical resurfacing treatments are available.
Lupus:
Patients with lupus erythematosus (LE) often have skin signs and develop many different types of lesions. LE skin diseases are divided into two broad categories: those skin lesions that occur only in people with LE, known as LE-specific skin lesions, and those skin lesions that can occur in people with LE, but can also occur in other diseases (LE-non-specific skin lesions). There are three broad categories of LE-specific skin lesions: chronic cutaneous LE (CCLE), or diseases limited to the skin, subacute cutaneous LE (SCLE), and acute cutaneous LE (ACLE). Another skin condition related to lupus is discoid LE, where unsightly red scaly patches develop which leave white scars. Discoid LE predominantly affects the cheeks and nose, but sometimes involves the upper back, V of neck, and backs of hands. Bald areas can develop if the hair follicles are involved. Discoid LE may affect the lips causing ulcers and scaling.