Derm Flashcards
Symptoms of exzema
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What is atopy
Atopy refers to the genetic tendency to develop allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis, asthma and atopic dermatitis (eczema)
Papule vs nodule
Papule - A circumscribed, elevated, solid lesion, less than 1 cm.
Nodule - A palpable, solid lesion, greater than 1 cm in diameter. These are usually found in the dermal or subcutaneous tissue, and the lesion may be above, level with, or below the skin surface.
What is a macule
Macule - A circumscribed flat area less than 1 cm of discoloration without elevation or depression of surface relative to surrounding skin.
What is a patch
Patch - A circumscribed area of discoloration, greater than 1 cm, which is neither elevated or depressed relative to the surrounding skin.
What is a plaque
Plaque - A well-circumscribed, elevated, superficial, solid lesion, greater than 1 cm in diameter.
What is a vesicle
- A small, superficial, circumscribed elevation of the skin, less than 0.5 cm, that contains serous fluid.
What is a bulla
- A raised, circumscribed lesion greater than 0.5 cm that contains serous fluid.
What is a tumour
Tumor - Solid, firm lesions typically > 2 cm that can be above, level with, or beneath the skin surface. Also known as a mass
What is a pustule?
Pustule - A small (< 1 cm in diameter), circumscribed superficial elevation of the skin that is filled with purulent material. Can also be described as a vesicle filled with pus.
Examination findings in atopic eczema
O/E: Lichenification around, hyperpigmented possible, extensor in Asian and black, hypopigmentation (reversible with treatment), follicular in black people – around follicles. Papular or nodular.
Complications of atopic eczema
Immune response impaired – lymphatics ect as dry so impetigo, sleep deprivation, erythroderma, infection. Eczema herpeticum. Stap Aureus normally with crusting, weeping. Can group A strep, post strep glomerular nephritis.
Treatment of eczema herpeticum
Multiple lesions, systemically unwell, can get anywhere but also on face. (Eczema Herpeticum) Aciclovir, punch out lesions
Treat quickly- emergency
Treatment of atopic eczema
1) Emollient, corticosteroid (topical),
topical calcineurin, antiseptics
Cream vs ointment e.g epaderm, hydromol, emollin Aim to use 250-500g a week Massage with directions of hairs Wet wraps/ bandage Bath oils Soap substitute Antiseptic moisturisor
Antihistamine not useful but may help sleep
Topical tacrolium or pimecolimus
2) Systemics: Abx, antihistamine, pred, photo
nasal carriage eradication
3) Systemics: Aza, MMF, Ciclosporin, MTX
Ciclo monitor BP and renal function
Aza monitor TMPT, LFT and FBC
Dangers of steroids on body
2 tier for steroids so 2 options for exacerbation. Thinner on face, groins and armpits, don’t suddenly stop severe. Thinning is reversible at first. Steroids can mask tinea infection – tinea incognito.
What is Seborrhoeic eczema
Young males, red flakey, sides of nose, foreheads, scalp (scaling and dandruff), groin, axillae, genital
Anti fungal with steroid
What is asteatotic eczema
Pruritic, dry, cracked, lack of oil. Elderly and 20s
Emollients only needed
What is contact dermatitis/ eczema?
Can be irritant, allergic or photocontact
Red, itchy burning rash
Allergic more widespread, irritant just in area of contact
Allergic:
Often Nickel, develops later in life. Strange distribution, chromate in liver and in builders in cement. Possible on neck from perfume or nail varnish, rubber, hair dye (PPD) (can be sudden in later life),
P: Patch testing – 12 circles, red eczematous (not skin prick which is type 1 whereas eczema is type 4 and T cell related (48 hour)). Acutely antiseptic soak.
Irritant: Constantly washing hands
P: Pain nail varnish over
Treatment
- Cold moist compress
- Antihistamine for itch
- Avoid scratching
- Wash with soap and cool water to get rid of substance
- Corticosteroids
What is stasis dermatitis/ venous eczema?
Vericose veins, venous hypertension, red eczematous response in lower legs, white area = atophy blonche, hemosiderin leads to brown tissue can get leg ulcers from it. Irritation and thickening, itching. May lead to cellulitis
P: Compression bandages, intermitten pneumatic compression pumps, raise legs, avoid injury, keep active, emollients, steroid, vascular surgery
psoriasis epidemiology
Demographics: 2% of pop, M=F (chronic plaque), <40years, incidence is stable, genetic association. 2 types. 1<40. 2>40. Different genetics for each.
Signs of psoriasis
Nails-pitting, Onycholysis (lifting of distal nail plate), Hyper-keratotic, brittle, may occur atypical e.g. natal cleft (top of bum crack).
Red, scaling, symmetrical plaque, extensor, scalp, lower back. Pitting of nails, Onycholysis, oil spots (orange/yellow), nail dystrophy. 50% have nail involvement.
DDX psoriasis
Fungal – symettrical scaley, cutaneous T cell lymphoma, guttate can be pityriasis rosea, discoid or sebhorraic eczema
Psoriasis investigation
Scraping and histology
Triggers psoriasis
. Also environmental triggers e.g. strep, HIV, trauma – Koebner phenomenon- e.g. bites. Also drug triggers e.g. NSAIDS, BB, stress, lithium, anti-malarials.
Symptoms psorisis
Same as signs but poor QoL worse than DM
Types psoriasis
Plaque, guttate, inverse pustular and erythrodermic
Treatment psoriasis
Explain treatments are suppressive and no cure.
1) Vitamin D, Dovobet (Steroid and calcipotiol (Vit D) ointment) – Vit D normalises differentiation and antiinflam – can cause irritation in skin- large areas= hypercalcaemia
2) Keratolytics, e.g. urea and lactic acid
3) Vitamin A , dithrinol (purple stain skin and shower) – anthrolin- affects keratinocyte prolif- causes skin itch/burning- can stain skin- in patients only, tar? Issues with cosmetic acceptability- cruder the tar the better it works.
4) Emolliants
5) Coal tar –exorex
6) Topical steroids, Cling film with ointment can maximise absorption, strong steroids cause remission when stopped so need to titrate downwards (see steroids) (also can cause pustular)- striae ulceration. Rarely used. Side effects if over 10% of body surface. potent only 8 weeks, very potent only 4
7) Acitretin (retinoid) or DMARDS e.g MTX, Cyclosporin
8) Light treatment, PUVA, sunbed or paint psorylin (photophorin), less used as cancer risk.
UVB – don’t need psorylin, safer. Need to go to hospital 3x a week for both.
9) Biologics Infliximab 75% improvement in 80% severe cases
Steps:
1) Topical first line Vit D, Topical corticosteroids, Tar.
2) Day treatment: Dithranol/ tar, phototherapy – lengthy, needs washing off, time commitment
3) Systemic and biological >10% of body
NICE - not severe (topical)
- Start with Vit D and steroid OD each
- Double dose
- Add Coal tar or Potent cortico
- Go to very potent
- Treatment resistant add short-contact dithranol (cream/ ointment)
- On scalp, consider karyolytics to remove scale. Dont escalate to dithranol
- On flexures, face, genitals, more likely to get steroid side effects, consdider calcineurin inhibitors via specialist
NICE - severe (extensive 10% or not controlled or guttate (phototherapy) or major impact of wellbeing. Go to PHoto first then systemic or straight to systemic
- Phototherapy. Narrowband UVB for plaque or guttate 3x a week. PUVA (oral or topical) (Psoralen with local UVA irradiation) for Palmoplantar pustulosis - risk of cancer with PUVA.
- Resistnat to phototherapy - systemic, broad, narrow UVB or PUVA.
- Rsistant to everything? TNF antag e,g, infliximab
- Systemic therapy, agent based on patient with adjunct topical therapy. MTX first line, then ciclo (fast response). third - acitretic (retinoid). forth line - dimethyl fumerate or apremilast. fifth line biologics
How to assess psoriasis
Comorbidities Arthritis (15%) Psycho social effects Validated tool e.g. PEST (psoriasis epidemiology screening tool) Assess CV riski -Lipid modification - RFs for CVD Risk of VTE in hospital
Severity:
Physicians Global asssessment (PGA), the body surfact affected, nails and hair (difficult to treat sites), systemic upset e.g. erythroderma or generalised pustular psoriasis
Psoriasis area and severity index (PASI)
Dermatology QoL Index (DLQI)
Monitoring with MTX
LFTs and serum procollagen III (cirrosis but low PPV, high NPV)
What is guttate psoriasis
After strep or bacterial UTRI. Good UV therapy evidence. Guttate= drop. Small lesions over upper trunk and proximal extremities.
Centropedal/ truncal distribution
Self limiting in 60% (children). Looks like raindrops, rapid growth over weeks.
What is generalised pustular psoriasis?
Dermatological emergency. Withdrawral of steroids causes.
What is palmopustular psoriasis
What it says on the tin, feet too. Not psoriasis immunologically. Not always both.
Most women >40. 25% have chronic plaque psoriasis.
Smoking is associated and thyroid disease.
DDX: Pustular eczema
What is guttate psoriasis
After strep or bacterial UTRI. Good UV therapy evidence. Guttate= drop. Small lesions over upper trunk and proximal extremities.
Centropedal/ truncal distribution
Self limiting in 60% (children). Looks like raindrops, rapid growth over weeks.
Types of strep
a haemolytic e.g. viridans, strep pneumoniae
b haemolytic, Group A = pyogenese
Group
Skin manifestations of DM
Yeast candida infections – corners and inside mouth, genitalia, groin, breast
Setellite lesions away from main bodies
Candida balanitis in males
Can cause granuloma annulare – small dermal papules- asymptomatic
Necrobiosis lipoidica – legs, yellow centre, active red edge, damages small and large blood vessels. Often in shins
Crotenemia
Diabetic dermopathy (shin spots) – dull red papules, progress to well-circumscribed small round atrophic hyperpigmented skin lesions. Peripheral nephropathy/ vasc comp association. Very common.
Acral (toes and fingers) dry gangrene
Diabetic bulla – spontaneous painless blister often in acral locations
Diabetic cheiroarthropathy - Prayer sign – stiff (glycosylation of collage) cant put palms flat. Waxy skin thickening over dorsum of hand with restricted mobility particularly extension of MCP, PIP. Up to 30% with longstanding disease
Waxy skin
Malum perforans – painless long lasting ulcer
Causes of erythema nodosum
Sarcoidosis, TB, OCP, IBD
What is pyoderma gangrenosum and what causes this?
Acute inflame, break down and ulcerate, dusky blue red edge (yet to ulcerate). Exudate in centre. Can lead to chronic wound. Biopsy shows lots of dermal inflam. Sterile lesions. Topical or systemic steroids. Assoc cond e.g. IBD and RA, haematological disease. Immune mediated
Acne vulgaris symptoms
Comedones (spots) either open (blackhead) or closed (white head), increased secretion of oily sebum, microcomedones (precursor only seen with microscope), papules, nodules, pustules. Anxiety, low self-esteem, depression
Pathophysiology and cause of acne vulgaris
Hair follicles clogged with dead skin cells and oil from the skin and possible scarring – primarily affects oily skin. In the dermal layer. 1 -Excessive deposition of keratin leads to comedo formation, 2 - colnoisation by specific bacteria propionbacterium acnes, 3- local cytokine release. 4- Increased oil secretionGenetic cause and androgens. No effect of cleanliness or sunlight, unclear role of diet and cigarette smoking.
Which medications may worsen acne
lithium, hydantoin, isoniazid, glucocorticoids, iodides, bromides, and testosterone
Categories of acne according to NICE
NICE – mild moderate or severe
Mild = Non-inflam comedones, limited extent
Moderat = mix of inflam and non inflam, papules and pustules, may extend to shoulders and back
Sever acne = nodules and cysts (nodulocystic acne). Many papules or pustules, extensive.
Treatment of acne
- Reassurance but not trivialize. Dispel myths. Educate on faty food, hygiene, infection, don’t pick.
- Self care: Don’t wash more than twice a day, use mild soap or warm water, water based emollients only. Benzyl peroxide only useful over the counter drug
- If mild:
- Topical treatment
- Topical retinoid (tretinoin, isotretinoin, or adapalene) (edapeline)
- Benzoyl peroxidase (especially if pustules)
- Azelaic acid if others poorly tolerated
- COCP in woman consider
- Review
- If no response of moderate based on risk of scarring (widespread) or psychosocial morbidity combines with topical antibiotic or benzoyl peroxidase with retinoid (often poor tolerated)
- Consider oral abx with topical if on back or shoulders. Discontinue if no improvement.
- If severe
- Refer (oral isotretinoin (roaccutane))
- Treat as if moderate while waiting