Dermatological Considerations in the Athlete Flashcards
What are the three basic layers of the skin?
- Epidermis
- Dermis
- Subcutaneous
What are the five layers of the epidermis?
- stratum corneum
- stratum lucidum
- stratum granulosum
- stratum spinosum
- stratum basale
- Contains no blood vessels or lymphatics and therefore relies on the more vascular dermis for its supply of nutrients
Describe the Dermis
- Irregular dense layer of collagen and elastin fibers containing blood vessels, eccrine and apocrine sweat glands, nerve endings, hair follicles, and sebaceous glands
What is a Blister?
- Shearing forces result in separation of the stratum
spinosum in the epidermal layer, causing it to fill with transudate or blood due to the hydrostatic pressure.
What is the clinical presentation of a blister?
- Sharp, burning sensations, or a feeling of a “hot spot.”
- Once the friction blister matures, appears as a painful, clear fluid filled lesion (bulla) surrounded by erythema.
How is a small blister treated?
- Monitor, should resolve in a day or two
How is a Large blister treated?
- Wash with antiseptic soap
- Small incision along edge
- Evacuate fluid with infection
- Clean again, cover with antiseptic ointment
- Apply donut pad
- Repeat as needed
What is Hyperkeratosis (Callus)?
- When skin is exposed to constant friction, epidermal layer can thicken in a hyperkeratotic response known as a callus
How can painful calluses be treated?
- Apply urea cream or salycytic acid
- Rub pumice stone or emery file
- Or pare with scalpel but be careful not to remove entire callus
What are Corns?
- Form of Hyperkeratosis
- Occur over bony prominences and form as a result of ill-fitting shoes or poor biomechanics
Describe Corns
- Soft corns frequently found between the toes and are macerated from the moist environment.
- Hard corns resemble calluses but are smaller and more focal. They are typically found on the tops of toes, related to toe deformity such as hammer toes.
- Unlike calluses, corns are painful and can cause disability
What is the management for Corns?
- Correct faulty footwear or poor mechanics
- Toe separators and Orthotics
- If doesn’t work, refer to podiatrist
What is best prevention for Corns?
- Properly fitted shoes
What is Infertrigo?
- Chafing
- inflammation of the skin in body folds as a result of two skin surfaces rubbing together in areas like the groin or axilla
What is management of Infertrigo?
- Clean with soap and water
- Corticosteroid creams
What is best prevention for Infertrigo?
- Talcum Powder
- Petroleum Jelly
What is Acne Mechanica?
- Form of acne caused by heat, excessive pressure, and repetitive forces on the skin
- Causes are tight uniforms, headgear, and equipment pads and straps
What is presentation of Acne Mechanica?
- Well defined pustules and papules in the area where the equipment or clothing has irritated the skin
What is management of Acne Mechanica?
- Remove irritating cause
- Refer to derm for topical treatment
What are the two most common bacteria causing skin infection?
- Staphylococcus
- Streptococcus
Differentiate Primary and Secondary Impetigo
- Primary: Infection in area of normal, healthy skin
- Secondary: Infection where skin was previously disturbed (Abrasion, etc)
What are the three variants of Impetigo?
- Non-bullous
- Bullous
- Ecthyma
Describe Non-Bullous Impetigo
- Most often seen in children between two and five years of age
- Most commonly affected areas are the face around the mouth and nose, and the extremities
- Evolves from red papules to vesicles to pustules that then break, creating a nonpainful, crusting, honey-colored lesion
- Caused by S. aureus or S. pyogenes.
Describe Bullous Impetigo
- Presents initially with a large thin walled bulla containing yellow-colored fluid
- Most commonly affected areas are the trunk and buttocks
- Often, bulla breaks, leaving a lesion in the shape of
an arch - Cause only by S. Aureus
Describe Ecthyma Impetigo
- Affects Dermis
- Painful, “punched-out” ulcerated lesion with a yellow crust.
- May be accompanied by systemic symptoms such as fever, pruritus (itchiness) or malaise
What is Treatment for Impetigo?
- Mupirocin topical two percent applied to affected skin and nostrils three times daily for ten days
- Retapamulin topical one percent applied twice daily for five days
- If unresponsive, oral antibiotics such as dicloxacillin or cephalexin
Describe Erysipelas
- Acute onset of a well-demarcated, indurated, edematous, erythematous plaque
- Warm to the touch with localized pain
- Accompanied by systemic manifestations like fever, malaise or chills
- Most common sites of infection are face and lower
extremities
What is treatment of Erysipelas?
- Antibiotics
- Preferably Penicillin
Describe Erythrasma
- Typically presents on skin folds
- Presents as reddish-brown, pruritic, scaly plaques
How is Erythrasma Diagnosed?
- Physical Exam
- Wood’s lamp, a diagnostic tool using ultraviolet (UV) light, will confirm the diagnosis by revealing the characteristic fluorescent coral red color of the organism
What is treatment for Erythrasma?
- Topical fusidic acid
- Topical antibiotics such as erythromycin, clarithromycin or clindamycin
- If does not respond, oral antibiotics
How does Folliculitis Manifest?
- Small cluster of pustules and papules in an erythematous base around hair follicles
What is Treatment for Folliculitis?
- Stop shaving
- Topical benzoyl peroxide twice daily
- Topical antibiotics such as mupirocin applied twice daily for ten days if the lesions persist
- If becomes wide-spread, oral antibiotics such as dicloxacillin or cephalexin should be added to topical therapy
What are Furuncles/ Carbuncles/ and Abscesses?
- Furuncle: an infection of the hair follicle that is more extensive than folliculitis, Deeper in the dermis, extending through the subcutaneous tissue, causing a small abscess
- Carbuncle: a collection of furuncles draining from multiple follicles
- Abscess: Pus collections within the dermis and into deeper tissue
How does a Furuncle Present Clinically?
- Usually follow an episode of folliculitis
- Erythematous, tender, pus-filled, elevated lesion
How does a Carbuncle Present Clinically?
- Amass of inflamed follicles with purulent drainage
- Area can be tender and erythematous
How does an Abscess Present Clinically?
- Painful, tender, erythematous, pus-filled lesion with or without indurated surrounding area
- Systemic manifestation such as malaise and fever could be present, depending on the severity of the infection.
How are Furuncles/ Carbuncles/ Abscesses Treated?
- Warm compress if small to encourage draining
- If large, incision and drainage with Oral Antibiotics
What is Hot Tub Folliculitis?
- Caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram Negative)
- Typically develops 48 hours after exposure
- Pruritic, erythematous, tender, pustules and papules
- May complain of systemic manifestations such as malaise and fever
How is Hot Tub Folliculitis Treated?
- Should clear up in a week or so on its own
- Can treat with Benzoyl Peroxide
- Can use oral antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin