II. Pathophysiology

  1. Typically develop from Vesicles or bullae that fill with pus, or from Hair Follicles or Sweat Glands
    1. May also spontaneous form a non-follicular Pustule

III. Description

  1. Raised, translucent superficial, circumscribed skin lesion
  2. Contains purulent exudate (white, orange, yellow, green)
  3. Follicular Pustules are conical with hair in center
    1. Non-follicular Pustules vary in shape

IV. Differential Diagnosis: Hemorrhagic Pustules (or Necrotic Pustules)

V. Labs

  1. Gram Stain and culture of pustular discharge (exclude Disseminated Gonorrhea)

VI. Examples

  1. Drug Eruption
  2. Acne Vulgaris
  3. Generalized Pustular Psoriasis syndrome
  4. Viral vessicular eruptions may develop into Pustules (e.g. varicella, Herpes Zoster virus, Herpes Simplex Virus)

Images: Related links to external sites (from Bing)

Related Studies