Sebaceous Cyst

Sebaceous cyst is actually a misnomer, since these cysts do not arise from sebaceous glands. The correct name is epidermoid cyst. You will also see "epidermal inclusion cyst" commonly used, but epidermoid cyst is the more general and preferred term.

They are produced when epidermal cells (from the outermost layer of the skin) become implanted within the deeper layer of the skin, the dermis. Subsequent shedding of dead epidermal skin cells into a closed space within the dermis leads to an accumulation of cheesy material that may leak to the surface of the skin. They range in size from a couple of millimeters to over an inch in diameter, and are typically firm, round, mobile under the skin, and are usually slow-growing and painless. They can become infected however, which usually leads to removal. Their color ranges from yellow to white.

The most common areas where these occur are the face, trunk, neck, extremities, and scalp, but these cysts can occur anywhere there is skin. Removal is indicated for cosmetic reasons, or if a cyst becomes infected.

Dyshidrotic eczema

Dyshidrotic eczema is the term used for POMPHOLYX or VESICULOBULLOUS HAND ECZEMA or DYSHIDROSIS..

"Dyshidrotic eczema" is a misnomer, suggesting that the vesicles of this condition are related to eccrine sweat ducts and sweating, which they are not.

This is an extremely common form of hand dermatitis, preferably called pompholyx (Gr "bubble") or vesiculobullous dermatitis of the palms and soles. Patients often have an atopic background and report flares with stress. Patients with widespread dermatitis due to any cause may develop pompholyx-like eruptions as a part of an autoeczematization response.

Infantile myofibromatosis

The name infantile myofibromatosis is a misnomer because the most common form of this disorder is solitary, not multicentric as the name implies.

Infantile myofibromatosis is a benign neoplasm of infancy, usually present at birth. Clinically it presents as a solitary nodule 70-80 percent of the time, most commonly on the head, neck and trunk. The multicentric forms may have visceral involvement with an increase in mortality. Histology shows an unencapsulated, well-circumscribed lobule of peripheral spindle cells, resembling smooth muscle. A central area with blood vessels surrounded by small rounded cells is also often seen, giving infantile myofibromatosis its biphasic appearance. Treatment has traditionally consisted of radical excision, but recent evidence shows that solitary lesions may regress. Therefore, a watch and wait approach may be warranted in certain cases .

Mycosis fungoides (MF)

Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most common clinicopathological subtype of primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

The term “mycosis fungoides” was first used in 1806 by Jean-Louis Marc Alibert, a French dermatologist, when he described a severe disorder in which large necrotic tumours resembling mushrooms presented on a patient’s skin. However, the designation is a misnomer since no association with a fungus exists.

Seborrheic keratosis

The term is a misnomer because Seborrheic keratoses result from a proliferation of keratinocytes and are not related to sebaceous glands. Therefore, these keratoses should not be termed seborrheic.


Seborrheic keratoses are the most common benign tumor encountered in older individuals, present in 80-100 percent of people over age 50. The exact etiology is unknown, but cumulative exposure to sunlight is likely involved. Clinically, they are brown verrucous plaques with a stuck-on appearance. Although they can be found anywhere on the body excluding the palms, soles, and mucosal membranes, they are most often located on the trunk, dorsal hands, and face. Therefore, they are not limited to a seborrheic distribution.

Palisaded encapsulated neuroma

Palisading nuclei are not a prominent feature, therefore, the term palisaded is misnomer, Additionally, although it is well-circumscribed, it is not truly encapsulated.

Palisaded encapsulated neuroma is characterized by a solitary, asymptomatic, skin-colored papule located usually on the face of middle-aged individuals. It is thought to result from neural regeneration after trauma. Palisaded encapsulated neuroma is often misdiagnosed as basal cell carcinoma or intradermal nevus. Histologically, there are localized dermal lobules composed of interlacing Schwann cells with variable numbers of fine axons and myelin sheaths present.

Nevus depigmentosus

The term nevus depigmentosus is a misnomer because the lesions are hypopigmented, not devoid of pigment as the name would imply.
Nevus depigmentosus is a rare, nonprogressive congenital hypopigmented macule or patch that remains stable over time. It occurs sporadically and is likely caused by a defect in the development of fetal melanocytes. Included in the differential diagnosis are vitiligo and idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis. Histopathology is similar to that of normal skin except for a decrease in density of melanosomes but normal or only mildly decreased in numbers of melanocytes.

Tinea amiantacea

It is a misnomer to term this disease tinea because it is typically not associated with a dermatophyte infection.
Tinea amiantacea is a cutaneous disease that affects the scalp and is characterized by thick, asbestos-like scaling that results in hair follicles becoming bound down. Alopecia is often associated with this disorder and may be temporary or scarring. The etiology is unknown; however, previous reports suggest it may be a manifestation of psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis.

Capillaritis

Capillaritis is a misnomer as there is no vasculitis involved.

Capillaritis is a pigmented purpuric dermatosis which is a group of chronic, purpuric, pruritic eruptions that usually occur on the lower extremities. Capillaritis is usually associated with chronic venous hypertension. This group of dermatoses shares characteristics, histologically demonstrating extravasation of red cells, variable hemosiderin deposition, and perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates without leucocytoclastic vasculitis.

Bullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma (BCIE)

The term is actually a misnomer because Bullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma is not a true form of erythroderma, although it does resemble erythroderma clinically.
Bullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma is a rare autosomal dominant disorder of keratinization caused by a genetic defect of the epidermal keratins, K1 and K10, which leads to impairment in the tonofilament network of differentiating epidermal cells. The disorder presents at birth with generalized erythema, blistering, and erosions, followed in time by hyperkeratosis. Erythroderma or exfoliative dermatitis describes generalized redness of the skin, usually more than 90 percent of the body surface area, with variable degrees of scaling caused by underlying dermatoses, drug reactions, malignancies, systemic diseases, infections and idiopathic disorders.

Lupus pernio

The term lupus pernio is a misnomer because the condition is not associated with lupus and has no association with pernio.

Lupus pernio is a rare but characteristic skin manifestation of sarcoidosis. The lesions are often deforming and appear as chronic, hyperpigmented or violaceous nodules or plaques of the nose, cheeks, ears, and central face. Histology shows sarcoidal granulomas .

Pernio, or chilblains, is a localized inflammatory lesion of the skin resulting from an abnormal response to cold. Pernio most commonly occurs in young women but may occur in older individuals or in children. Single or multiple erythematous-to-purplish, edematous plaques appear secondary to cold exposure and are accompanied by intense pain, itching, or burning .

Chicken pox

Chicken pox, which also is known by its Latin name of varicella, is a misnomer. The disease has nothing to do with chickens.

1.Chicken pox comes from the Middle French term "chiche pois" -- which means "chickpea."

"In the Middle Ages, people in Europe made the distinction between chicken pox and smallpox. The French called chicken pox 'varicella' but the English decided on a new word that referred to the size of a chickpea. The lesions on the skin were thought to be the size of chickpeas. 'Chichepois' eventually became 'chicken pox,'

The chicken pox virus itself is the second-largest known virus in the world and is about half the size of the smallpox virus. Of the 70 genes contained in chicken pox, only a few of the genes are important for the ability of the virus to infect people.

Granuloma faciale (GF)

Granuloma faciale (GF) is an uncommon benign chronic skin disease of unknown origin characterized by single or multiple cutaneous nodules, usually occurring over the face. Occasionally, extrafacial involvement is noted most often on sun-exposed areas.

The disease mimics many other dermatoses and can be confused with conditions, such as sarcoidosis, discoid lupus erythematosus, mycosis fungoides, and fixed drug eruption.

The name granuloma faciale is a misnomer, as granulomas are never present histologically.

The epidermis is unaffected. A grenz zone of uninvolved dermis is located beneath the epidermis. Below the grenz zone is a dense, polymorphous inflammatory infiltrate located most often in the papillary and mid dermis. The infiltrate consists of neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, monocytes, and, occasionally, mast cells. Vasculitic changes, including perivascular inflammation with nuclear dust and vessel wall damage, are often observed. Extravasated RBCs and hemosiderin deposition are found, which may contribute to the color of the lesions. Later, lesions may show considerable fibrosis around venules.

Adenoma Sebaceum

Adenoma sebaceum is a misnomer because these growths are angiofibromas rather than tumors of the sebaceous gland tumors.

Adenoma sebaceum is the most commonly recognized cutaneous marker of tuberous sclerosis; the lesions appear on the face during middle to late childhood or adolescence in approximately 80% of patients. These red-brown or flesh-colored, smooth, glistening, telangiectatic 1–10?mm papules may extend from the nasolabial folds to the cheeks and chin.

Pyogenic granuloma

Pyogenic granuloma is a misnomer since the condition is not associated with pus and does not represent a granuloma histologically.

The term is used for an exuberant outburst of highly vascular granulation tissue at the site of previous relatively trivial trauma.

These lesions are very friable, bleed easily, and may grow rapidly. They respond to either curettage or simple excision. They occur most commonly on the fingertips.