Clin Med Derm Flashcards
Excoriation
Picking or scratching
Skin components (superficial to deep)
Epidermis,
dermis (appendages: sweat glands, oil glands, hair, nails)
subcutaneous fat
Layers of epidermis
From bottom to top- basal cell, stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum, stratum corneum
(also contains melanocytes and Langerhans cells)
Basal cell layer
Basement layer, undifferentiated proliferating cells takes 4 weeks to go from basement to roof
Skin cells divide in this layer
Stratum spinosum
Layer above basal cells, contains keratinocytes.
Stratum granulosum
Differentiated cells, have more keratin and become flatter, cells begin to stick together. Polysaccharides, glycoproteins, and lipids may also be found here
Stratum corneum
Roof layer, stacked in layers. 15-25 most surfaces, 100 on palms/soles
Major physical barrier, cells are large, flat, filled with keratin
Cells die and shed in this layer
Melanocytes
Pigment producing cells in basal cell layer, rise to surface when stimulated by sunlight
Provide protection from UV rays
Langerhans cells
From bone marrow (found in epidermis) like macrophages and present antigens to lymphocytes (immune cells)
Dermis
Tough, elastic support. Contains nerves, blood vessels and appendages. 1-4 mm thick (thinner in face, thicker in soles)
Skin appendages
Eccrine sweat glands, apocrine sweat glands, hair follicles, sebaceous glands, nails
Eccrine sweat glands
Sweat only, triggered by emotion and thermal stimuli(regulates body temp) , transported by duct in dermis to epidermis
Apocrine sweat glands
No useful purpose, body odor only (caused by surface bacteria), glands in axillae and anogenital areas, located deep in dermis and reach surface by hair follicle
Hair follicle
Protective and decorative
2 types: vellus (fine, light colored “peach fuzz”) and terminal (coarse, dark, most of the hair on our bodies)
Hair growth
Occurs in cycles:
Anagen: active growth
Catagen: transition
Telogen: resting, when hair easily falls out
Sebaceous glands
Produce sebum, located with hair follicles, size and activity controlled by androgen- full size at puberty
Nails
Made of keratin,formed from matrix of dividing cells, grow at 0.1 mm/day
3 months for finger nails to grow out
6-12 months for toe nails to grow out
Nail components
Proximal fold: protects matrix, contains cuticle
Matrix: produces nail plate (if damaged, can never be repaired and nail will always grow abnormally)
Hyponychium: distal edge of the nail
Subcutaneous fat
Lies between dermis and fascia
Insulation, cushion, and energy reserve
Macule
Flat Skin lesion, different color
Ex- freckle
Papule
Small raised skin lesions, no fluid
ex-pimple
Alopecia
Partial or complete hair loss. Can scar or not, determines if hair can grow back
Affects children and adults
Possible causes: Autoimmune and genetic
Comedones
Blackheads (open), whiteheads (closed)
Vesicle
Blister filled with clear fluid, less than .5 cm diameter
Bullae
Blister filled with clear fluid, greater than .5 cm diameter
Pustule
Raised fluid filled lesion, filled with pus or cloudy fluid
Wheal
Lesion of dermal edema, speed bump in skin (slightly raised) (Ex. Urticaria (hives))
Nodule
Raised marble like, diameter and depth greater than .5 cm
Ulcer
Epidermis is gone and part of dermis affected, from pressure (being in bed for a long time)
Lichenification
Thickening of epidermis, alligator skin, exaggerated skin lines visible. During inflammatory process, person scratches (intense excoriation), skin thickens
Polyp
Soft fleshy growth, skin tag
Fissure
Linear cracks and tears in epidermis, seen with swelling
Scale
Thickened stratum corneum, dry, easily flakes off
dandruff, eczema, psoriasis
Crust
Dried liquid (blood, serum, pus) on surface of skin, scab
Atrophy
Loss of skin tissue
Epidermal -skin looks thin/shiny (saran wrap)
Dermal- detectable depression (divot) “sunken in appearance”
Plaque
Elevated skin lesion but lacks depth, diameter greater than .5cm
Telangectasia
Squiggly, broken, enlarged superficial blood vessels
Depigmentation
Complete loss of pigment in an area (Vitiligo)
Hypopigmentation
Partial loss of pigment (Tinea versicolor)
Hyperpigmentation
Excessive pigment, darker than surrounding skin
Macule is considered a hyperpigmented lesion
Langer’s lines
Skin tension lines, guide for strongest scar and better cosmetic outcome
Pruritis
the sensation of itching
Papulosquamous diseases
Psoriasis, pityriasis rosea, drug eruptions, lichen planus
Psoriasis
Well demarcated erythematous plaque with silvery scale on extensor surfaces
No cure, epidermal cells produced 7x normal rate (thickened stratum corneum), “too many shingles on roof”
Elbow, knees, and scalp most common
May be autoimmune disease, comorbid disease
Chronic
Koebner phenomenon
Psoriasis can occur where there is trauma to the skin ex-where surgical incision occurs
Nail psoriasis
Pitting of nail bed, subungal discoloration, difficult to treat, differentiate from nail fungus
Guttate psoriasis
Many small red plaques peppered throughout body
associated with strep/upper respiratory infection
Pustular psoriasis
Small pustules, common on hands and feet
Palmar/plantar psoriasis
Confined to palms and soles
Inverse psoriasis
Occurs in skin folds, often mistaken for Tinea infections, under breasts, between buttocks, in axillae
Systemic effects of psoriasis
Psoriatic arthritis (30%), risk for cv disease, cancer, obesity, depression/alcoholism
Psoriasis treatment
No cure, goal of tx is control
Tx depends on severity, location, symptoms, insurance, pt preference
Can be topical, phototherapy, or systemic treatment
Topical steroids (psoriasis)
Decrease inflammation, use class appropriate for location
ointments work better than creams or lotions
Phototherapy (psoriasis)
Good for widespread disease
light causes a photochemical rxn that is anti-inflammatory
Never treat back-back days
2-3x/wk, build time then taper back
Average “clear” time= 3 months
Systemic medications (psoriasis)
Methotrexate: inhibits cell proliferation, labs needed to monitor liver regularly, hepatotoxic
Soriatane: no blood donation/pregnancy for three years after d/c (teratogenic), labs for cholesterol/triglycerides. Best used for palmar/plantar psoriasis.
Otezla (Apremilast): reduces production of cytokines, $
Pityriasis rosea (PR)
Unknown cause
Peaks in spring and fall in younger population
Possible Viral etiology
Herald patch (salmon pink, 1st to show up)
followed by red/pink/brown scaly patches at trunk and proximal extremeties (like Christmas tree)
Acute
Pruritis is usually intense
Treatment for PR
Topical steroids, oral antihistamines, phototherapy
TX won’t stop eruption, will only control itch, Will last 6-12 weeks (resolve on its own), not contagious
NOT COMMON AND NOT RECURRENT
Lichen planus
Pruritic flat top violaceous (purple) papule (degree of pruritis varies)
Can affect skin, scalp, nails, and mucous membranes
test for Hepatitis C, may be associated with this
If oral only, monitor for cancer in mouth
Mostly seen in adults
4 P’s Purple, pruritic, polygonal, papules
Clinical features: Wickham’s Striae
Can lead to scarring alopecia and nail deformity
Wickham’s striae
Fine white lines or grey streaks within lesions, can be in mouth
Lichen planus Tx
Diagnose with biopsy (punch), test for hepatitis
Can tx with intralesional steroids (IL)
Topical, systemic, photo tx
Spontaneously resolves between 6 months -2 years
Can flare up with stress or recur at any time
Drug eruptions
Systemic sudden onset, hives or bright papular rash
starts proximally and moves distally
usually seen within 1 week of new med
Caused by antibiotics(bactrim/sulfa,penicillins,cephalosporins), diuretics(furesomide-lasix), NSAIDs, blood products
IF IT HAPPENS TO ONE SIDE IT WILL HAPPEN TO THE OTHER (bilateral)
Drug eruptions treatment
Biopsy to diagnose (won’t tell you what medication the pt is allergic to)
D/C suspected drug, talk to PCP about replacing drug, may take 4 weeks for drug to clear system
Fixed drug eruption
Usually develop 1 annular or oval erythematous patch
More common with PRN meds
May see 2 week delay between drug intro and lesion
May recur at same site with reexposure (lighting up of the hyper-pigmented lesion)
Seen on lip, hip, sacrum, or genitalia
Nickel to quarter in size
May have itching, burning, and pain
Causes of acne
Clogged pores due to the epidermis not shedding dead skin cells fast enough coupled with the overproduction of oil in sebaceous glands.
Naturally occurring C. acnes can infect the clogged pore causing inflammation and lesions on the skin.
Acne
Chronic inflammatory condition affecting both genders mainly in face, chest, and back.
It consists of comedones, papules, pustules, and nodules
It can start as early as 8 years and last through adulthood
Mild acne
Classification of acne characterized by few papules, pustules, and comedones; small number of lesions; limited in location
Moderate acne
Classification of acne characterized by many papules, pustules, and comedones; can cause scarring; usually in more than one location
Severe acne
Classification of acne characterized by extensive papules, pustules, and nodules; will cause scarring; usually in more than one location
Papulopustular acne
Type of acne characterized by papules and pustules
Comedonal acne
Type of acne characterized by “whiteheads” if comedones closed, “blackheads” if comedones open
Nodulocystic acne
Type of acne characterized by nodules; feels like a hard or firm ball under the skin
Scarring will likely happen
Topical treatments for acne
Benzoyl peroxide, topical antibiotics (ex. Clindamycin), retinoids (Retin-A,differin,tazorac), witch hazel
Systemic treatments for acne
Oral antibiotics, birth control pills, spironolactone, isotretinoin (accutane)
Patient education points for acne
No cure for acne, treatment response can take up to 6 weeks, don’t pick, cleanse face 2x daily with warm water and hands, makeup and moisturizer should be oil free, avoid toners/scrubs/masks
Pitted acne scars are permanent
Topical tx may bleach fabrics
Avoid sun exposure while on most acne tx
Tx considerations for isotretinoin
Last resort tx for nodulocystic acne
Standard course is 6 months
Side effects include dry lips/skin, sun sensitivity, muscle/joint pain, alopecia, nose bleeds, depression, pseudocerebri tumor,
Frequent lab tests throughout tx to check liver
Must be seen by prescriber every 30 days throughout tx
Teratogenic
Females must choose 2 forms of birth control and must compete monthly quizzes about pregnancy prevention in order to refill monthly rx
Rosacea
Chronic inflammatory/neurovascular condition
Mainly affects face
Characterized by flares and remissions
No cure
Primarily adult disease
Symptoms of rosacea
Affects nose and medial aspect of cheeks; flat redness (flushing)
May have papules and pustules, telangiectasia, burning sensation, tenderness, blepharitis, keratitis(inflammation of the cornea)
C/o of dry eye or feeling of sand in eye
Common triggers of Rosacea
Temperature extremes, wind, stress, spicy food, alcohol (especially red wine), sun exposure, emotions
Topical Tx for rosacea
Gentle cleansers, sunscreen, topical antibiotics(metronidazole,clindamycin,sodium sulfacetamide)
topical retinoids (azaleic acid-can burn first few times), Mirvaso (vasoconstrictor) = for use episodically but rebound flaring: purple appearance can occur
AVOID BENZOYL PEROXIDE
Systemic Tx for Rosacea
Low dose doxycycline for its anti inflammatory properties
Verrucous lesion
Warty looking lesion
2 types:
-Seborrheic keratosis
-actinic keratosis
Seborrheic Keratosis (SK)
Benign warty stuck on growth
Adults only
May have hereditary factor
Appearance: Sharply defined, raised, stuck on, tan to black in color, biopsy if not clear
cut SK
Sx: asymptomatic, maybe itchy or tender if irritated
Tx: not necessary, only remove if irritated or hx of breast cx
Remove with cryotherapy for small lesion or surgery for large
Sign of Lester-Trelat = malignancy
Actinic (sun related) Keratosis
Premalignant (25% will develop into squamous cell)
Caused by excess sun exposure
Seen on face, ears, scalp, forearms, chest, upper back, hands
Initially may come and go, then stays
Appearance: Scaly, flaky, rough, red, pink, sensitive
Tx: destroy with liquid nitrogen freezing, topical chemotherapy, or photodynamic
therapy (depends on location, number, size)
Neoplasm
New and abnormal growth of tissue
Skin cancer facts
Risk of melanoma doubles after 1 burn as child
Risk of skin cancer doubles after 3-5 burns
1 person dies every hour from melanoma
Melanoma is more common form in age 25-29
1/5 develop
Skin cancer risk factors
Fair skin, light hair/eyes
Geographic location
Hx of UV exposure and radiation tx
Family hx of melanoma
50 or more moles on body
Chronically suppressed immune system (transplant pt)
More deadly in non-Caucasian due to delayed dx
Basal cell skin cancer
Most common skin cancer
Not life threatening
Caused by increase sun exposure
Sx: sore that doesn’t heal, pearly shiny bump, scar like appearance, red scaly crusted patch, lesion may bleed
Dx: made by biopsy
Tx: Cryotherapy, topical chemo, ED&C, MOHS Surgery, excision
Excellent cure rate
ED&C
Burn an scrape method for treatment
Blind test, not retesting to make sure cancer is gone
MOHS Surgery
Highest cure rate
Cut around skin cancer, put on a slide, and look under microscope to see if any left, continue until none is left
Better cosmetic outcome
Squamous cell skin cancer
Second most common skin cancer
700,000 dx/year
If untreated, can metastasize
Caused by excess sun exposure/radiation, lips often affected, can develop with immunodeficiency
Sx: Thick round horn like lesion, wart-like sore, may bleed, irregular rough red patch persists
Dx: made by biopsy
Tx: Cryotherapy, topical chemo, ED&C, MOHS surgery
Good prognosis
Facts about malignant melanoma
Most serious skin cancer- 4%
Causes most skin cancer related deaths
If dx and tx early, cure rate near 100%
Can be hereditary- 1st degree relative has it, 50% greater chance of developing
Signs of Malignant Melanoma
ABCD’s (EF)
A- Asymmetry
B- Borders (jagged edge)
C- Color (multi-colored, not good)
D- Diameter (6mm or less, pencil eraser)
E- evolving (changes)
F- failure to respond to tx
Diagnosis of Malignant Melanoma
Done by biopsy
Should use excision biopsy- gives a deeper test
and better plan for tx
4 types of Malignant Melanoma
- Superficial spreading (in situ)
- Lentigo Maligna- Elderly (in situ)
- Acral Lentiginous (in situ)
- Nodular (starts invasive)
Superficial Spreading
Most commonly
Trunk in men
Legs in women
upper back in both
Lentigo Maligna- Elderly
Chronically damaged skin
Common in face, ears, arms, upper trunk
*big freckle turns cancer from sun exposure
Acral lentiginous
Seen under nails or palms of hands/soles of feet
Common in African Americans and Asians, can advance quickly
Nodular
Most aggressive, starts invasive, presents with raised lesions
Seen on trunk, legs, scalp of men
Worse prognosis of the 4
Breslow’s Thickness
Measures the deepest point of tumor penetration in mm
In situ- confined to the epidermis, best prognosis
Thin tumor- <1 mm
Intermediate tumor- 1mm-4mm
thick tumor- >4mm
Staging of Melanoma
Stage 0- in situ
Stage 1- Up to 1mm thick, no spread
Stage 2- 1.01 mm-4mm thick, no spread
Stage 3- MM has spread to nearby lymph nodes or skin
Stage 4- MM has spread to internal organs, far away skin, and far away lymph nodes
After treatment for malignant melanoma
See ophthalmologist 1x/ year
See gynecologist 1x/year
See dermatologist every 3 months for first year, every 6 months for 2-5 years, and 1x/year after 5 years
Who does psoriasis affect?
Affects all ages
Most common onset is around the third decade of life
Strep infection, emotional stress, skin trauma, drugs and obesity can contribute to the onset
Onset of psoriasis
-Usually gradual, can be sudden
-strep can cause another form of this
-emotional stress/obesity/medications can aggravate
Atopic Dermatitis
Condition characterized by chronic, itchy, eczematous eruptions
It affects the face, neck, antecubital and popliteal spaces, and flexor surfaces
It is common in childhood
Symptoms of Atopic dermatitis
Pruritis, burning, erythema, scaling, crusting, lichenification
Basic treatments for atopic dermatitis
Moisturizer cream
Decrease bathing frequency
Gentle cleansers, humidifiers, sensitive skin laundry detergents
trim nails
Topical treatments for Atopic dermatitis
Topical steroids, calcineurin inhibitors-Immunomodulators; Rx moisturizers; phototherapy
Systemic treatments for Atopic dermatitis
Oral steroids, antihistamines, antibiotics
Irritant contact dermatitis
Condition caused by a substance that produces a direct toxic effect to the skin
It only affects the skin in contact with the substance (ex. nickel in a watch)
Allergic contact dermatitis
Condition caused by an immunologic reaction that triggers inflammation
It can be systemic and cause anaphylaxis (ex. Poison ivy)
Seborrheic dermatitis
Condition characterized by a superficial inflammatory response
It can be chronic and occurs in hairy areas of body
Organism causing this is Malassezia
Symptoms of Seborrheic dermatitis
On face: white or yellow skin, flaky, erythema, may be pruritic
On scalp: dandruff with no itch, erythema, or adherent scale
Shampoo treatments for Seborrheic dermatitis
3x per week: selenium sulfide, zinc pyrithione
(Head and Shoulders), or Ketaconazole (Nizoral)
Topical treatments for Seborrheic Dermatitis
Low potency topical steroids PRN, immunomodulators (elides and protopic), topical antifungals, and keratolytics for thick scale
For eyelids, baby shampoo
Treatment for Lichen Simplex Chronicus
Potent topical steroid (ointment or cordran tape),
Interlesional steroids, oral and topical anti pruritics, behavior modification
Name 3 functions of the skin
Temperature regulation
Insulation
Sensation
Protection
Where are Melanocytes and Langerhans cells located?
Epidermis
What is the possible explanation for why topical treatments take time and why patients should be given realistic expectations?
Takes 4 weeks for cells to migrate up
What epidermal layer does cell differentiation occur?
Stratum granulosum
What epidermal layer contains a lot of keratin?
Stratum corneum
Why might treatment of palmar/plantar pathology be more aggressive than other locations?
Thicker skin layers, need to penetrate deeper to treat the cause
T/F: People with darker skin have more melanocytes than someone with fairer skin
False
Same number of melanocytes, more melanin
Collagen and elastic fibers are contained within the
Dermis
How much sweat can the body produce per day?
10 liters
What locations will we not find any hair?
Palmar and plantar surfaces
What does the pilosebaceous unit consist of?
Hair follicle and sebaceous gland (amongst other things)
Why might toenail pathology be treated different than fingernail?
More distal, blood flow
What is one possible cause of skin atrophy?
Chronic topical steroid use
Name a skin condition where Telangiectasia can be seen
Rosacea
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)
What is a dermatome?
An area of skin supplied by branches of a single spinal sensory nerve root
Name a condition where dermatomes can be clinically important
Herpes Zoster (shingles) Has a dermatomal pattern
How many dermatome groups are there? What are they divided into (general)?
5
-cervical (7)
-thoracic (12)
-lumbar (5)
-sacral (5)
-coccygeal (1)
What is the Fitzpatrick scale used for?
Classifies skin in reaction to sun exposure
A Fitzpatrick score of 1 is
Very little melanin, the fairest skin possible
A Fitzpatrick score of 6 is
The most melanin, dark skin
What is a possible etiology for psoriasis?
Possibly T-cell (immune) mediated
Is there a genetic predisposition for psoriasis?
Yes 30-50%
What is the most common type of psoriasis?
Plaque psoriasis
What age does psoriasis mostly affect?
3rd decade of life
What kinds of drugs can cause psoriasis flaring?
Lithium
Beta blockers
NSAIDS
What are some other predisposing factors for psoriasis?
Obesity
Symptoms of psoriasis can include
Pruritis
Pain
Arthralgias (**need to ask about joint symptoms)
Guttate psoriasis can be mistaken for
Tinea (fungal) infection
Ddx of Psoriasis
Candidiasis (inverse)
Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
Tinea (fungal, ringworm)
Pityriasis rosea
Seb. Dermatitis
Nummular eczema
Name 2 topical medications that we can use for treatment of psoriasis
Calcipotriene: topical steroid, alters keratinocyte proliferation
Tazarotene: topical retinoid, alters epidermal proliferation
Name alternative topical treatment we can use for psoriasis
Tar: anti inflammatory
What are some downsides of phototherapy?
Expensive, time-consuming, not widely available
Associated risks (photo aging, risk of skin cancer)
What labs do we monitor for when Methotrexate is used?
CBC, BUN, HFP, CREAT.
Not a good option for pts with alcoholic cirrhosis
Common symptom of Methotrexate
Nausea
What is an indication for starting systemic treatment for psoriasis?
Large BSA or presence of joint symptoms (indicating possible psoriatic arthritis)
Major symptom of soriatane?
Dryness (lips)
What is the preferred treatment for moderate to severe psoriasis?
Biologics- SQ injection/IV infusion
Immunosuppression causes inflammation interference
However increased risk of infection
Needs PPD
Herald patch
One 2-6 cm patch that shows up before rest of the rash blossoms
Pityriasis rosea DDx
Guttate psoriasis
Tinea
Secondary syphilis
Nummular eczema