Papular

Papular is a medical term used to describe a type of skin lesion or a lesion pattern characterized by small, solid elevations on the skin. In dermatology, a papule is defined as a raised spot up to 1 centimeter in diameter that does not contain fluid. Papular lesions can be flesh-colored, pink, red, or brown and may be solitary or grouped. They can appear on any body site and may be flat-topped or dome-shaped, with or without surface scale.

The descriptor papular does not indicate a single disease; rather, it denotes morphology that can occur in many conditions. Common examples include acne vulgaris, which often presents with inflammatory papules on the face and trunk; lichen planus, which features polygonal, violaceous papules; papular urticaria, a pruritic eruption seen in children associated with insect bites; folliculitis, which produces papules around hair follicles; and certain viral warts or other infectious eruptions that present as papules.

Diagnosis is typically clinical, based on history, distribution, appearance, and associated symptoms. In ambiguous cases, a skin biopsy or dermoscopy may be used to clarify the underlying pathology. Treatment is directed at the cause: many papular conditions are self-limited; others require topical therapies (such as corticosteroids or calcineurin inhibitors), antiseptics for infection, or systemic treatments for inflammatory or infectious etiologies. Patient education focuses on avoiding triggers when possible and managing symptoms like itch.

Overall prognosis varies by underlying condition; the term papular simply describes the lesion type and is used across a wide range of dermatologic diseases.