Wickham striae are whitish lines
visible in the
papules
A papule is a small, well-defined bump in the skin. It may have a rounded, pointed or flat top, and may have a dip. It can appear with a stalk, be thread-like or look warty. It can be soft or firm and its surface may be rough or smooth. Some h ...
of
lichen planus
Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic inflammatory and immune-mediated disease that affects the skin, nails, hair, and mucous membranes. It is not an actual lichen, and is only named that because it looks like one. It is characterized by polygonal, fla ...
and other
dermatoses
A skin condition, also known as cutaneous condition, is any medical condition that affects the integumentary system—the organ system that encloses the body and includes skin, nails, and related muscle and glands. The major function of this s ...
, typically in the oral mucosa. The
microscopic
The microscopic scale () is the scale of objects and events smaller than those that can easily be seen by the naked eye, requiring a lens (optics), lens or microscope to see them clearly. In physics, the microscopic scale is sometimes regarded a ...
appearance shows
hypergranulosis Hypergranulosis is an increased thickness of the stratum granulosum. It is seen in skin diseases with epidermal hyperplasia and orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis.
See also
* Skin lesion
* Skin disease
A skin condition, also known as cutaneous cond ...
. It is named after
Louis Frédéric Wickham
Louis Wickham's grave in Neuilly-sur-Seine community cemetery
Louis Frédéric Wickham (28 February 1861, Paris – 14 October 1913, Mesnil-le-Roi) was a French physician and pathologist remembered for describing Wickham striae. He trained ...
.
References
External links
Picture from American Family Physician
{{Eponymous medical signs for integumentary system
Dermatologic signs