Dermatology Flashcards
Define Acne Vulgaris.
Disorder of pilosebaceous follicles found in the face and upper trunk.
- An opportunistic bacteria (normal skin flora) plays a role → Propionibacterium acnes
What are the levels of acne?
- Comedones - follicles impacted and distended by incompletely desquamated keratinocytes and sebum → Blackheads (open) or Whiteheads (closed)
- Papules and pustules
- Nodulocystic and scarring
What are the signs and symptoms of dermatology?
- Greasy face
- Comedones, papules, pustules, nodules
- Psychological impact → low self-esteem
What is the management of acne vulgaris?
- Advice
- Cleaning face → avoid over-cleaning the skin (twice a day with gentle soap is ok)
- Make-up → use emollients and cleansers, non-comedogenic preparations
- Face → avoid picking and squeezing scars due to the risk of scarring
- Medications = stepwise approach - review every 8-12w
- Mild to Modeerate
- Topical retinoid ± benzoyl peroxide (BPO)
- Topical antibiotic (clindamycin) + benzoyl peroxide (BPO)
- Azelaic acid 20%
- Moderate not responding to topicals:
- Oral antibiotic (max 3m) + BPO / retinoid
- 1st line = tetracyclines
- 2nd line = macrolides
- COCP + BPO / retinoid
- Oral antibiotic (max 3m) + BPO / retinoid
- Severe = Dermatologist referral = Oral isotretinoin = Roaccutane
- Mild to Modeerate
- Once cleared, maintain with topical retinoids or azelaic acid (20%)
What are the side effects of roaccutane?
- Dryness
- Pruritis
- Conjunctivitis
- Muscle aches
- Teratogenic
- Must be on 2 forms of contraception
- Deranged LFTs
- Low mood and Suicidal ideation
What is roaccutane?
Synthetic form of Vitamin A.
What are the indications for a dermatologist referral for acne vulgaris?
- Nodulocystic acne / scarring
- Severe form - acne conglobata, acne fulminans
- Severe psychological distress
- Diagnostic uncertainty
- Failing to respond to medications
Define Milia.
White pimples on nose and cheeks, from retention of keratin and sebaceous material of the pilosebaceous follicle.
What are the signs and symptoms of milia?
- Neonatal - affects up to 50% of new-borns
- Often nose, but also mouth, palate, scalp, face, upper trunk
- Heal spontaneously within a few weeks
- Primary:
- Around eyelids, cheeks, forehead, genitalia
- Should clear in a few weeks
- Associated with trauma
What is the management of milia?
Self-limiting
Define Molluscum Contagiosum.
Common viral infection (molluscum contagiosum / pox virus) transmitted by skin-to-skin transmission.
What are the signs and symptoms of molluscum contagiosum?
- ≥1 small pink skin-coloured or pearly papules, ulcerated/umbilicated
- Painless but may be itchy occasionally
- Commonly found on the chest, abdomen, back, armpits, groin, back of knees
What is the management of molluscum contagiosum?
- Acute = Self-resolving → 6-9 months - normally within the year
- No need to avoid school
- Wear long-sleeve clothes and don’t share towels
- Chronic (>2 years) = Cryotherapy
Define Eczema.
Chronic, relapsing, inflammatory skin condition characterised by an itchy red rash.
What are the common triggers for eczema?
- Irritants
- Contact allergens
- Extremes of temperature
- Abrasive fabrics
- Sweating
- Dietary factors (10%)
- Inhaled allergens - pollens, dust mite
Where is eczema commonly found?
- Infant = face and trunk
- Older child = extensors of limbs
- Young adult = localises to flexures
What is the classification of eczema?
What are the appropriate investigations for suspected eczema?
- Consider food allergies → blood or skin prick testing
- Consider contact dermatitis → patch testing
What is the management of eczema?
- Mild
- Emollients
- Mild topical corticosteroids
- Moderate
- Emollients
- Moderate topical corticosteroids
- Topical calcineurin inhibitors
- Bandages
- Severe
- Emollients
- Potent topical corticosteroids
- Systemic therapy
- Phototherapy
- Topical calcineurin inhibitors
- Bandages
- Antihistamines
- Severe itching / urticaria = non-sedating antihistamine (e.g. fexofenadine, cetirizine)
- Sleep disturbance = 7-14-day trial of a sedating antihistamine (e.g. promethazine)
What is the management of infected eczema?
- Skin swab and culture
- Oral flucloxacillin - erythromycin if pen-allergic
What is the management of eczema herpeticum?
- Oral aciclovir
- If around eyes = same day referral to ophthalmologist
- Health education
- Rapidly worsening eczema, clustered blisters, punched-out erosions = Emergency
What are the indications for a specialist referral for eczema?
- Immediate
- Eczema herpeticum
- Urgent referral (<2 weeks)
- Severe atopic eczema not responded to optimum therapy within 1-week
- Bacterially infected eczema treatment failure
- Non-urgent referral (>2 weeks)
- Diagnosis uncertain
- Atopic eczema on face not responding
- Contact allergic dermatitis causing significant social and psychological problems
- Severe recurrent infections
What counselling should be given to parents with a child with eczema?
- Explain the diagnosis - characterised by dry, itchy skin
- Explain it is very common and many children grow out of it
- Explain the management (and use of steroids if necessary)
- Encourage frequent, liberal use of emollients - and as a soap substitute)
- Explain the association with other atopic conditions
- Advise avoidance of triggers - e.g. types of clothes, detergents, soaps, animals
- Avoid scratching
- Safety net about signs of infection or eczema herpeticum
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Information and Support
- Itchywheezysneezy.co.uk – excellent website demonstrating how to apply emollients
- British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) – has an information leaflet on atopic eczema
- National Eczema Society – has fact sheets
What are the causes of impetigo?
- Common skin infection
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Streptococcus pneumonia
What are the signs and symptoms of impetigo?
Golden-yellow crusted appearance - Honeycomb scab
What is the diagnosis?
Impetigo
What is the diagnosis?
Milia
What is the diagnosis?
Molluscum Contagiosum