Abnormalities: Skin, Hair and Nails Flashcards
zosteriform
linear arrangement along a unilateral nerve route
gyrate
twisted, coiled spiral, snake-like
annular
or circular, begins in center and spreads to periphery
confluent
lesions run together ex) hives
discrete
distinct individual lesions that remain separate ex) acne
polycyclic
annular lesions grow together
target
or iris, resemble iris of eye, concentric rings of color in lesions
grouped
clusters of lesions
impetigo
highly infectious bacterial infection of the skin. can spread to other body areas and other people by direct contact.
Describe the appearance of Impetigo
- moist, thin-roofed vesicles with thin, erythematous base.
- rupture to form thick, honey-colored crusts.
Describe the appearance of Varicella (Chicken Pox)
- small, tight vesicles first appear on trunk and spread to face, arms, and legs.
- shiny vesicles on erythematous base are commonly described as the dewdrop on a rose petal.
- vesicles erupt in succeeding crops over several days; they become pustules and then crusts.
- intensely pruritic.
Describe the appearance of Tinea Corporis
- scales: hyperpigmented in whites, depigmented in dark skinned people
- on chest, abdomen, back of arms forming multiple circular lesions with clear centers
Tinea Pedis
- “athletes foot”
- a fungal infection found in chronically warm, moist feet (i.e children after gym activities, athletes, aging adults who cannot dry their feet well)
Describe the appearance of Tinea Pedis
- first appears as small vesicles between toes, on sides of feet and on soles
- grows scaly and hard.
Tinea Capitis
(scalp ringworm)
caused by fungal infection, highly contagious; may be transmitted from one person to another, by domestic animals or soil.
Describe the appearance of Tinea Capitis
- rounded, patchy hair loss on scalp, leaving broken-off hairs, pustules and scales on skin.
- lesions may be fluorescent blue-green under Wood’s light
Folliculitis
“razor bumps”
- superficial inflammatory infection of hair follicles that occurs after shaving (when growing out hairs curl in on themselves and pierce the skin, making a foreign body inflammatory reaction).
- usually involves face and neck and is common in black men, hispanic men.
Describe the appearance of Folliculitis
- multiple pustules
- “white heads” with hair visible at center and erythematous base.
Hirsutism
- excess body hair in females forming a male sexual pattern (upper lip, face, chest, abdomen, arms, legs)
- caused by endocrine or metabolic dysfunction or occasionally is idiopathic
Nail clubbing
- inner edge of nail elevates
- nail bed angle is > 180 degrees
- distal phalanx looks rounder, wider, and shiny
Describe the appearance of Eczema
- erythematous papules and vesicles, with weeping, oozing and crusts
- usually on scalp, forehead, cheeks, forearms and wrists, elbows and backs of knees.
- paroxysmal and severe pruritus
Describe the appearance of Intertrigo (Candidiasis)
- scalding red, moist patches with sharply demarcated borders, some loose scales.
- usually in genital area extending along inguinal and gluteal folds.
- aggravated by urine, feces, heat and moisture
Describe the appearance of an Allergic Drug Reaction
- erythematous and symmetric rash, usually generalized.
- some drugs produces urticarial rash or vesicles, and bullae.
Describe the appearance of Psoriasis
- scaly, erythematous patch, with silvery scales on top.
- usually on scalp, outside of elbows and knees, lower back and anogenital area.
Describe the appearance of Herpes Zoster/Shingles
- small, grouped vesicles emerge along route of cutaneous sensory nerve, then pustules, and then crusts
- acute appearance, unilateral does not cross midline.
- commonly on trunk but can appear anywhere.
Herpes Zoster/Shingles
- caused by varicella zoster virus, a reactivation of the dormant virus of chickenpox.
- if on ophthalmic branch of cranial nerve V, it poses risk to eye.
- pain is often sever and long lasting in aging adults.
2 Types of Melanoma
- malignant melanoma
2. metastatic melanoma
Melanoma
- potentially lethal lesion that are the malignant transformation of melanocytes.
- risk factors are UV radiation from sun exposure, indoor tanning and family history.
Describe the appearance of Melanoma
- usually brown; can be tan, black, pink-red, purple or mixed pigmentation.
- often irregular or notched borders.
- may have scaling, flaking and oozing texture.
Kaposi’s Sarcoma
- a vascular tumor and is the most common tumor in HIV-infected persons.
- easily could be mistaken for bruises or nevi and be ignored.
Describe the appearance of Kaposi’s sarcoma
-multiple patch-stage early lesions are faint, pink on the temp and beard area.
Describe the appearance of Seborrheic Dermatitis
- thick, yellow-to-white, greasy adherent scales with mild erythema on scalp and forehead
- resembles eczema except that cradle cap is distinguished by absence of pruritus.
Alopecia Areata
- sudden appearance of a sharply circumscribed, round or oval balding patch.
- usually with smooth, soft, hairless skin underneath.
Pediculosis Capitis
(head lice)
- history includes intense itching of the scalp, especially the occiput.
- the nits (eggs) of lice are easier to see in the occipital area and around the ears, appearing as 2- to 3-mm oval translucent bodies, adherent to the hair shafts.
Describe the appearance of a Stage 1 Decubitus Ulcer
- intact skin appears red but unbroken.
- localized redness in lightly pigmented skin does not blanch (turn light with fingertip pressure)
- dark skin appears darker but does not blanch.
Describe the appearance of a Stage 2 Decubitus Ulcer
- partial thickness skin erosion with loss of epidermis or also the dermis.
- superficial ulcer looks shallow like an abrasion or open blister with a red-pink wound bed
Describe the appearance of a Stage 3 Decubitus Ulcer
- full-thickness pressure ulcer extending into the subcutaneous tissue and resembling a crater.
- may see subcutaneous fat but not muscle, bone or tendon.
Describe the appearance of a Stage 4 Decubitus Ulcer
- full-thickness pressure ulcer involves all skin layers and extends into supporting tissue.
- exposes muscle, tendon or bone and may show slough (stringy matter attached to wound bed) or eschar (black or brown necrotic tissue)
vitiligo
complete absence of melanin pigment in patchy areas of white or light skin
xerosis
dry
seborrhea
oily
ashen gray color in dark skin or marked pallor in light skin occurs with
anemia, shock and arterial insufficiency
chronic iron deficiency anemia may show
“spoon” nails, with a concave shape
jaundice occurs with
hepatitis, cirrhosis, sickle cell disease, transfusion reaction and hemolytic disease of the newborn.
What often accompanies jaundice in both light and dark skinned people?
light or clay-colored stools and dark golden urine
In hyperthyroidism, the skin feels
smoother, and softer, like velvet
In hypothyroidism, the skin feels
rough, dry and flaky
Arterial Insufficiency causes the skin to be
very thin and shiny
scleroderma
hard skin
Pits, transverse grooves or lines may indicate
a nutrient deficiency or accompany acute illness that disturbs nail growth
brown linear streaks on the nails are
abnormal in light skinned people and may indicate melanoma
