Common skin disorders Flashcards
What is acne vulgaris? What does it manifest as?
- inflammation of pilosebaceous units of certain body parts
- occur most frequently in adolescence
- manifests as comedones, papulopustules, or nodules plus cyst
Epidemiology and pathogenesis of acne vulgaris?
- age of onset: 10-17 females 14-19 males more in males than females - pathogenesis: disease of pilosebaceous follicles 4 factors involved: -follicular hyperkeratinization -increased sebum production - propionibacterium acnes w/in the follicle - inflammation
Clinical presentation of acne vulgaris?
- lesions on the skin
- pain in lesions
- skin lesions include:
comedones
papules and papulopustules
nodules
What are the acne grades?
- grade 1: minimal blackheads and a few papules
- grade 2: 10 or more, blackheads, papules, and pustules, redness and inflammation
- grade 3: 15-20+, blackheads, papules, and pustules, redness and inflammation
- grade 4: severe case, extreme amt of pustules, extreme edema
What makes up the inflammatory lesions? The noninflammatory lesions?
- inflammatory: papules/pustules
- noninflammatory: closed and open comedones
Dx for acne vulgaris?
- clinical one
- female pts with dysmenorrhea or hirsutism: total/free testosterone, DHEA-S, LH, FSH
1st line Tx of acne vulgaris?
- OTC: benzoyl peroxide salicylic acid - topical retinoids (first line): Adapalene (differin): best tolerated tretinoin (retin-A) Tazarotene (Tazorac)
2nd line tx of acne vulgaris?
- topical abx: clindamycin, erythromycin (1st choice)
- oral therapies:
doxy and minocycline (Minocin) - oral isotretinoin (Accutane) - for severe tx failure, must register in iPLEDGE program b/f using (have to monitor CBC, lipids, and LFTs) - teratogenic
What is Rosacea? Epidemiology?
- chronic acneform disorder of facial poilosebaceous units
- increased reactivity of capillaries to heat
- epidemiology:
onset at 30-50yo
females predominantly
Exacerbating factors of rosacea?
- hot liquids
- spicy foods
- alcohol
- exposure to sun and heat
- cold
- exercise
- menopausal flushing
Clinical presentation of rosacea?
- redness to the cheeks, nose and chin
- burning or stinging with episodes
4 subtypes of rosacea?
- erythematotelangiectatic: flushing, redness, stinging
- papulopustular rosacea: redness/bumps, resemble acne
- phymatous rosacea: skin thickening/bumpy
- ocular rosacea: skin is irritated around the eye, swollen
Tx of Rosacea?
- minimize precip. factors
- topical abx are first line therapy for mild to moderate pt (typically w/o papules or pustules)
- Azelaic acid (gel or cream) apply BID
- 1st line: metronidazole (apply daily - cream or gel)
- erythromycin (cream) - apply thin layer BID
- clindamycin (gel or soln apply bid)
- brimonidine (gel) applied once a day
- systemic abx for moderate to severe sxs (papules, pustules, or ocular involvement) - tetracycline, doxy/minocycline, erythromycin
Other non pharm tx for Rosacea?
- laser tx can be helpful in telangiectasias
- pulsed light therapy can be helpful for facial erythema
- cleansers
- photodynamic therapy (put on photosensitizing gel)
- avoid harsh soaps, lotions - astringents
- use sunscreen
Complications of Rosacea?
- eye involvement
- gram neg. folliculitis
- permanent telangiectasias
- rhinophyma
What is rhinophyma?
- soft tissue hypertrophy of the nose related to vasodilation
- if it gets severe - surgical resection of the tissue
What is folliculitis? MC pathogen? What else is it caused by?
- infection of the hair follicles
- MC pathogen: staph aureus
- Hot tub folliculilits caused by pseudomonas
- can be caused by yeast, but this is the exception to the rule (immunocompromised)
- causes: irritation from shaving, clothes, enviro - oil, tar
Sxs of folliculitis?
- looks like red pimples with a hair in the center
- may itch or burn
- “hot tub” folliculitis appears about 72 hrs after - may also have fever, upset stomach
Tx of folliculitis?
- warm compresses 3x a day
- shaving should be avoided in involved areas
- topical abx such as Mupirocin (bactroban)
- recent research shows systemic abx to be of no benefit
- usually resolves spontaneously
What is recurrent folliculitis assoc with? Tx?
- assoc with nasal carriage of S. Aureus (bactroban (Mupirocin) used on anterior nares bid for 2-5 days once monthly decreases frequency)
What may predispose a pt to candida folliculitis?
- abx therapy, corticosteroid therapy, and immunosuppression may predispose a pt to candida folliculitis
What is pseudobarbae folliculitis?
- aka razor bumps
- very common in African Americans
- occurs when free ends of tightly coiled hairs reenter skin and cause a fb inflammatory response
- firm papules with embedded hair
- dx is made based on clinical appearance
Tx of pseudobarbae folliculitis?
- most effective and safe tx: stop shaving (first line)
- warm compress
- laser hair removal
- adjunctive medical therapy:
topical retinoids (tretinoin)
low potency steroids (tx only for 3-4 wks)
topical antimicrobials: benzoyl peroxide 5% or clindamycin 1%
What are furuncles and carbuncles?
- furuncles (boils): skin abscesses caused by staph infection of a hair follicle
- carbuncles: cluster of furuncles. They may progress from an erythematous lesion to a fluctuant lesion after 4 days
lesion may rupture spontaneously (pus and necrotic tissue are extruded)
Common areas for furuncles and carbuncles? Predisposing factors?
- butt, axillae, neck, face, waist
- predisposing factors: diabetes, malnutrition, obesity, hematologic disorders, living in hot/humid climate, acne
Tx of furuncles/carbuncles if less than 5 cm? Larger than 5 cm?
- hot compresses to enhance drainage
- fluctuant lesions benefit from I&D
- packing of the wound may be necessary
- system abx if constitutional sxs (fever and sx) or concomitant cellulitis bigger than 5 cm:
- use bactrim 1-2 tabs BIDx 10 days (covers MRSA)
- clindamycin and cephalexin (keflex) very effective against most staph and strep