7 - Skin Conditions Flashcards
What is this an example of and what are some complications with this condition?
Erythroderma
What cell types are in the epidermis and how do you get pathology in the epidermis?
- Change in epidermal turnover
- Change in the surface of the skin
- Change in pigmentation of the skin
What are a few examples of disease affecting the epidermis?
- Psoriasis
- Vitiligo
What is the dermis made up of and what are some diseases of the dermis?
- Made of collagen, elastin and GAGs giving strength and elasticity
- Contains immune cells, nerve cells, skin appendages, lymphatics and blood vessels
- Dermatographism, Acne (sebaceous glands comedones)
What are the two types of sweat gland?
What are the presenting symptoms of dermatitis?
- Group of inflammatory conditions affecting the epidermis, one is eczema
- Can be inflammed, dry, red, cracked, flaky, thickened and skin pigmentation changes and vesicles and extreme itching
What are the symptoms of eczema (atopic dermatitis)?
- Atopic or family history of atopy
- Occurs on flexure areas, e.g back of knees
- Dry thickened itchy areas
- Skin often becomes lichenified and excoriated
- Usually bilateral, made worse by cold and allergies like pets
How can we manage eczema?
- Remove trigger factors e.g heat, diet
- Regular emollients
- Intermittent topical steroids for flares
- Sometimes antibiotics, phototherapy, antihistamines (stop itching) and immunosuppressants
What are the presenting sympoms of acne vulgaris?
- Mainly affects adolescents, more severe in adulthood
- On face but can spread to neck and back etc
- Individual lesions are centred on the pilosebaceous unit but can all coalesce
- Lots of papules and comedones
How can we grade acne?
How can we treat acne vulgaris?
Mild: topical anti-acne preparations, lasers and lights
Moderate: antibiotics like tetracyclines or OC pill
Severe: course of oral isotretinoin (reduces sebum production)
What are the presenting symptoms of psoriasis?
- Red and scaly plaques with well defined edges. Often silvery
- Plaques found in scalp, elbows and knees mainly (extensor)
- Mild itch but if severe can lead to lichenification, painful cracks and fissures
- When a plaque clears can leave pigmented area
- Can have pitting nails and nail separation
- Common in caucasians, has genetic and autoimmune component
What are some things that can aggravate psoriasis and what health conditions is it associated with?
Associated with:
- Coeliacs
- IBS
- Psoriatic arthritis
- T1DM
How can we treat psoriasis?
- Avoid smoking, alcohol and maintain optimal weight
- Topical: emollients, corticosteroids, Vit D analogues, salicyclic acid
- Phototherapy
- Systemic agents (severe): methotrexate and corticosteroids (avoided a lot due to withdrawal flares and systemic effects)