Skin fissure

Eczematous fissures on skin of inner surface of finger

Schematic image comparing a skin fissure to an erosion and an ulcer.

The surface of the knuckles of a hand with xeroderma, showing skin cracking (generalized skin fissuring)

A skin fissure is a cutaneous condition in which there is a linear cleavage of skin, sometimes defined as extending into the dermis.^[1] It is smaller than a skin laceration.

Generalized

A skin area on which there are many skin fissures is called cracked skin, and is most commonly a result of skin dryness. Ichthyosis is a genetic disorder where there is often severe skin cracking.

References

1. Gary Williams; Murray Katcher. "Primary Care Dermatology Module > Nomenclature of Skin Lesions > 18. FISSURE". Department of Pediatrics. The University of Wisconsin. Archived from the original on 2013-10-20.

Further reading

• Skin Exposures and Effects
• Skin fissure, clinical studies
• Treatment of Skin Fissures