Basic Dermatology Skills

Question 1

What are the Fitzpatrick skin types?

Answer 1

1 - white, always burns, never tans

2 - white, usually burns, difficulty tanning

3 - white, sometimes burns, average tan

4 - moderate brown, rarely burns, tans easily

5 - dark brown, v rarely burns, tans v easily

6 - black, doesn’t burn, tans v easily

Question 2

Significant past medical history & FH

Answer 2

Systemic diseases

History of atopy (asthma, hay fever eczema)

History skin cancer/ pre-cancer

History sunburn/ sunbathing/ sub bed use

Skin type

FH:
Skin disease
Atopy
Autoimmune disease

Question 3

How to examine the skin

Answer 3

Inspect
Palpate
Describe
Systemic check (whole skin, hair, nails, mucous membranes)

Question 4

Pneumonic for describing skin

Answer 4

SCAM

Site,distribution (rash)
Or Size and shape (lesion)

Colour (and configuration)

Associated changes e.g. surface features

Morphology

Question 5

ABCD for pigmented lesions

Answer 5

Asymmetry
Border (irregular/ blurred)
Colour
Diameter

Question 6

4 types of site and distribution

Answer 6

Generalised
Flexural
Extensor
Photosensitive

Slide 19

Question 7

4 types of configuration

Answer 7

Discrete
Confluent
Linear
Target

Slide 20

Question 8

4 types of colour

Answer 8

Erythematous (red and blanching)

Purpuric (red or purple and non blanching)

Brown/ black (pigmented or hyperpigmented)

Hypopigmented (depigmented if total loss of colour)

Slide 21

Question 9

4 types of surface features

Answer 9

Scale (built up keratin)

Crust (dried exudate)

Excoriation (erosion from scratching = pruritus)

Erosion/ ulceration (partial or full thickness loss)

Slide 22

Question 10

12 types of morphology

Answer 10

Macular

Papule

Patch

Plaque

Nodule

Vesicle

Pustule

Bulla

Annular (ring shaped)

Wheal (urticaria)

Discoid/ nummular

Comedone (open room closed)

Slide 23

Question 11

4 hair findings

Answer 11

Slope is (patchy)

Alopecia (diffuse)

Hypertrichosis

Hirsuitism

Slide 26

Question 12

4 nail findings

Answer 12

Koilonychia

Pitting

Onycholysis

Clubbing

Slide 27