dermatological conditions Flashcards
what is the largest organ dog the body?
the skin
what system is the skin a part of?
integumentary system
what tissue makes up the epidermis?
epithelial
what tissue primarily makes up the dermis?
connective
what are the 4 primary functions of the skin?
- sense
- protection
- temperature regulation
- vitamin D synthesis
what is a blister?
a pocket of fluid (serous or blister water) in epidermal layers
what layer does a blister hit when it becomes a blood blister?
the dermal layer
what causes a blister to form?
friction or rubbing forces
what is an abrasion?
rubbing or scraping of the epithelium
do abrasions always bleed?
no, only if it reaches the dermal layers
what is the key aspect of an incision?
a clean cut
does a sharp object or a blunt object create an incision?
sharp
what are two key aspects of a laceration?
jagged edges and it reaches the dermal layer
what is an avulsion?
a gouging or pulling away of a skin section
true or false: you should remove the skin flap with an avulsion.
false
what are the 4 steps to wound management
- control the bleeding
- cleansing and debridement
- prevent infection
- apply sterile dressing
how do you control bleeding?
direct pressure to help with coagulation
what two things should be used to help prevent infections?
antiseptic solutions and antibiotic ointment
how big should a wound be to need sutures?
> 3 cm
what layers are impacted with a superficial wound?
epidermal layers
what layers are impacted with a deep wound?
dermal layers
what replaces connective tissue during healing in deep wounds?
scar tissue
what helps limit scarring during wound healing?
approximation of margins
what is a hypertrophic scar?
one that stays within boundaries of the would with parallel alignment
what is a keloid scar?
grows beyond boundaries of the wound, can form a nodule or tumor-like appearance
what causes premature aging of skin, drying and wrinkling (pruning)
chronic overexposure to UV light
what is melanin?
the natural “dark” pigment that protects skin
how does melanin protect the skin?
absorbs UV radiation
true or false: only UV-A is related to skin cancer
false, both UV-A and UV-B are related
What is the best SPF for protection against UV rays?
SPF 30
what percentage of UV is blocked by SPF 30
~97%
what individuals are at a higher risk against UV rays?
light skin tone and those on prescription drugs
what is neoplasm
abnormal or excessive growth, develops into a tumor, malignant form is cancer
what are the 3 common forms of skin cancer?
- Basal cell carcinoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Malignant melanomas
what is the most common cancer in young women and is considered life threatening?
malignant melanomas
what type of skin cancer rarely metastasizes?
basal cell carcinoma
What are the A, B, C, and Ds of melanoma
Asymmetric
Border irregularity
Color
Diameter
what are the 2 types of bacterial infections?
staphylococcus and streptococcus
is staphylococcus made from clumps or chains?
clumps
are staph and strep single celled micro-organisms?
yes
what type of bacterial infection is pus producing?
pyoderma
what type of bacteria causes folliculitis?
staph
what is the main cause of folliculitis?
shaving or skin irritation that creates infected hair follicles
what are ways to manage folliculitis?
topical ointments, antiseptic washes, or oral antibiotics
what is cellulitis?
a staph or strep infection that spreads rapidly and affects the dermis and subQ of legs and arms
are carbuncles/furuncles caused by strep or staph?
staph
what are s/s of carbuncles/furuncles
red, swollen, inflamed lesion, pus-filled, tender to touch, swollen lymph nodes, may have a fever
what is the treatment to carbuncles?
warm soaks or compress, antibiotics, and/or surgical drainage
how is impetigo contagiosa transmitted?
direct body contact with open wound or insect bites
what is the treatment to impetigo
topical and/or oral antibiotics
what are the s/s to impetigo?
itching, red, oozing, crusty, tender
what does MRSA stand for?
Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus
what does ORSA stand for?
oxacillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus
how are MRSA and ORSA transmitted?
direct contact, infected clothing or hygiene products
true or false, viruses don’t require a host cell to survive
false
what is a virus?
a nucleic acid, and an ultramicroscopic organism
where is HSV 1 common?
mouth and nasal mucosa
where is HSV 2 common?
genitalia
how are viruses transmitted?
through direct contact with open wound or mucosa
what type of tissue does dermatophytosis impact?
superficial keratinized tissue
what type of dermatological condition is ringworm (tines)
fungal
what is tines capitus?
a fungal infection that infects hair follicles and creates scalp lesions
what is corporis?
a fungal infection that affects the torso, arms, and legs
how is corporis characterized?
circular wheel patterns with red raised patches inside
what is the common name for tines pedis?
athletes foot
where does athletes foot start?
the web spaces between toes
what are s/s of athletes foot?
scaling, flaking, and itching that could progress beyond the toes
what is tines unguium?
a fungal infection that impacts the nail bed or plate (fungi embedded within)
is tines versicolor yeast or mold?
yeast
what does the yeast feed on with versicolor?
skin oils, and thrives in warm and humid conditions
what is the treatment solution for fungal infections
anti-fungal agents or topical applications
what is contact dermatitis?
an allergic reaction caused by direct contact?
what 3 things can cause contact dermatitis?
- chemical triggers (allergens)
- mechanical triggers (irritants)
- hypersensitivity disorders
what are the classic s/s of contact dermatitis?
hives, redness, swelling, and itching
what is chilblains?
a reaction that occurs when the skin is exposed to wind and/or cold contact
