Assessing Skin, Hair, and Nails Flashcards
-flat lesion
-<1cm diameter
-different pigmentation from skin
-ex: freckles
Macules
-elevated, solid, demarcated lesion
-<1cm in diameter
-ex: wart and some moles
Papules
-elevated lesions
-<1cm
-filled with serous fluid
-chicken pox or shingles
vesicles
-vesicle
->1cm
-ex: blister
Bullae
-elevated lesions
-<1cm
-filled with pus
-ex: impetigo or acne
pustules
-elevated, firm, & coarse
-scaly lesions
->1cm
-ex: psoriasis
plaques
An inherited disorder with a deficiency or absence of pigment in the skin, hair and eye, or eye only due to an abnormality in the production of melanin
albinism
loss of hair
alopecia
Thinning of the skin surface and loss of normal skin markings; muscle wasting
atrophy
Transverse grooves or ridges on the nail plate that are temporary and usually occur after a severe illness
Beau’s lines
A tool for predicting pressure ulcer risk
Braden scale
A discoloration often seen on the face of pregnant women and known as the “mask of pregnancy”
Chloasma
An abnormal enlargement of the distal phalanges with a flattening of the curvature of the nail margin at the cuticle, where the nail meets the cuticle; nailbed angle measures greater than 160 degrees
clubbing
Dried serum, blood, or pus on the surface of the skin; AKA scab
crusting
A bluish discoloration of the skin, lips, mucus membranes and and/or nails
cyanosis
Encapsulated fluid-filled or semi-solid mass in the subcutaneous tissue or dermis
cyst
A flat, livid black-and-blue or purple spot or area due to the escape of blood into the tissues from ruptured blood vessels; AKA bruise
ecchymosis
Superficial destruction of a surface area of skin or mucous membrane by inflammation, ulceration, or trauma
erosion
Intense redness of the skin due to excess blood in dilated superficial capillaries, as in fever or inflammation
erythema
injury causing loss of the epidermal layers, often caused by scratching; AKA abrasion
excoriation
A palpable bruise; localized swelling filled with blood resulting from a break in a blood vessel;a collection of extravasated blood trapped in the tissues of the skin or in an organ
hematoma
Linear crack in the epidermis that can extend into the dermis
fissure
Excessive growth of hair
hirsutism
A yellowish discoloration of the skin and sclera, often related to liver problems such as hepatitis
jaundice
Excessive scar formation
keloid
Rough, thickened epidermis; skin becomes hardened and leathery usually as a result of chronic irritation, rubbing or scratching
lichenification
The presence of tiny raised lines or ridges that run up and down the length of the nail due to aging, nail injury, or trauma
longitudinal ridging
The occurrence of smooth-surfaced white spots or patches under the nails, of unknown cause; possibly result from cuticle manipulation
leukonychia
Epidermal cells that produce melanin
melanocytes
A small, pearly, firm, noninflammatory elevation of the skin; a clog of the eccrine duct, the true sweat gland; commonly associated with newborn babies but can appear on people of all ages
milia
Benign, flat, dark-bluish or mulberry-colored congenital birthmark; rounded or oval spots with wavy borders and irregular shape usually on the sacral region
Mongolian spots
Uneven discolored patches on the skin as a result of cutaneous ischemia (lowered blood flow to the surfaces of the skin)
mottling
A congenital or acquired usually highly pigmented, sharply circumscribed area on the skin that is either flat or raised; AKA mole
nevus
A solid, elevated skin lesion that extends into the dermis or subcutaneous tissue; 0.05.- 2 cm
nodule
A general lack of color due to decreased visibility of the normal oxyhemoglobin, often seen in persons who are anemic, in shock, or who are about to faint
pallor
Inflammation of the tissues adjacent to the nail of a finger or toe usually accompanied by infection and pus formation
paronychia
Flat, nonpalpable, but visually distinct areas on the skin surface with color different from the person’s normal skin; greater than 1 cm
patch
Numerous tiny purple or red spots appearing on the skin or mucus membranes as a result of tiny hemorrhages within the dermal or submucosal layers
petechiae
An ulcer due to local interference with circulation; AKA decubitus ulcer; lay term “bed sore”
pressure ulcer
Any of several hemorrhagic states characterized by patches of purplish discoloration resulting from extravasation of blood into the skin and mucous membranes, ecchymoses or petechiae
purpura
A small thin flake of keratinized epithelium; flaking of the skin
scale
Thin to thick fibrous tissue that replaces normal skin following injury; the end product of wound repair
scare
A pathological condition in which a tissue has become hard and which is produced by overgrowth of fibrous tissue or by increase in interstitial tissue
sclerosis
Abnormally increased secretion and discharge of sebum producing an oily appearance of the skin and the formation of greasy scales
seborrhea
The elasticity or resilience of the normal skin such that the skin rapidly recoils after being pulled up or pinched
skin turgor
A form of telangiectasis characterized by a central elevated red dot the size of a pinhead from which small blood vessels radiate
spider angioma
Permanent dilation of groups of superficial capillaries and venules
telangiectasia
A skin abnormality indicative of dehydration; poor skin turgor in that the skin maintains a triangular or tent-like appearance when gently pinched
tenting
A solid, elevated skin lesion that extends into the dermis or subcutaneous tissue; greater than 2 cm; a swelling or enlargement occurring in inflammatory conditions; also called neoplasm, a new growth of tissue characterized by progressive, uncontrolled proliferation of cells
tumor
Loss of epidermis and dermis
ulcer
Skin rash that appears as raised, well-circumscribed areas of erythema and edema involving the dermis and epidermis; may be very pruritic; AKA wheals; lay term: hives
urticaria
The fluid-filled elevated masses less than 1 cm often seen in herpes and chickenpox
vesicle
The appearance on otherwise healthy skin of non-pigmented white patches of varied sizes
vitiligo
Localized edema in the epidermis causing irregular elevation that may be red or pale; AKA urticaria or hives
wheal
