Oregon Written Tattoo Practice Test

What type of skin lesion is a macule?

1. Secondary lesion

2. Primary lesion

3. Malignant lesion

4. Infectious lesion

The correct answer is: Primary lesion

A macule is classified as a primary lesion in dermatology. Primary lesions are the original skin changes that appear as a direct result of a disease process. They are typically flat and distinguished from other types of lesions by their characteristics, such as color and texture. Specifically, a macule is defined as a flat, distinct, and colored area of skin that is less than 1 centimeter in diameter. It does not involve any change in the texture of the skin. Understanding the categorization of lesions is vital for diagnosis and treatment considerations, especially in the field of tattooing and skin care, as a tattoo artist should be aware of any existing skin conditions on a client's skin before proceeding with tattooing.