pustule
pustule, a small circumscribed elevation of the skin that is filled with pus, a fluid mixture containing necrotic (decomposing) inflammatory cells. Pustules are often infected and have a reddened, inflamed base. The most familiar pustules are the pimples of persons with acne. Skin pustules also appear in conditions such as chickenpox and smallpox.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Kara Rogers.
Citation Information
Article Title:
pustule
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
28 November 2017
Access Date:
November 14, 2026