Basic Dermatology Skills

Question 1

What do you ask regarding presenting complaint?

Answer 1

Nature (rash (more wide spread) vs lesion (skin cancer, isolated)
Site
Duration

Question 2

What do you look for regarding history of presenting complaint?

Answer 2

Initial pearance and evolution
Symptoms (particularly itch and pain)
Aggravating and relieving factors
Previous and current treatment - are they using creams regularly enough?

Question 3

What do you for in regards to past medical history?

Answer 3

Systemic disease
History of atopy
History of skin cancer or pre-cancer
History of sunburn / bathing / sun bed use
SKin type

Question 4

What are the Fitzpatrick skin types?

Answer 4

Type 1 - White, Always burns and never tans.

Type 2 - White, Usually burns, difficulty tanning

Type 3 - White, Sometimes burns, average tan

Type 4 - Moderate brown, rarely burns, tans with ease

Type 5 - Dark brown, Very rarely burns, tans very easily

Type 6 - Black, Does not burn, tans very easily.

Question 5

Family history

Answer 5

Family history of skin disease
Family history of atopy
Family history of autoimmune disease

Question 6

Social history

Answer 6

Occupation
Sun explosive (inc. sun beds)
Contactants
Improvements in PC when away from work

Question 7

Drug history

Answer 7

Regular and recent
Systemic and topical
Specific with topical: where? How much? How long for?

Question 8

What are the stages of a dermatological exam?

Answer 8

Inspect

Palpate

Describe

Systematic check - whole skin, hair, nails, mucous membranes

Question 9

How do you describe rash?

Answer 9

S - Site / distribution (rash) or size / shape (lesion)
C - Colour and configuration
A - Associated changes e.g. surface features
M - Morphology

Question 10

How do you describe a pigmented lesion?

Answer 10

ABCD
A - Asymmetry 
B - Border (irregular or blurred)
C - Colour 
D - Diameter