Dermatology Flashcards
What is acanthosis nigricans?
Symmetrical, brown, velvety plaques that are often found on the neck, axilla and groin
What are the causes of acanthosis nigricans?
T2DM
GI Cancer
Obesity
PCOS
Acromegaly
Cushing’s disease
Hypothyroidism
Prader-Willi syndrome
Drugs: COCP, Nicotinic Acid
What is the pathophysiology of acanthosis nigricans?
Insulin resistance → hyperinsulinemia → stimulation of keratinocytes and dermal fibroblast proliferation via interaction with insulin-like growth factor receptor-1 (IGFR1)
What is Acne Vulgaris and what are the common subtypes?
Chronic inflammation of the pilosebaceous unit with or without localised infection
Comedones: Dilated sebaceous follicle (whitehead/blackhead)
Papules/Pustules: Inflammatory lesions form when the follicle bursts releasing irritants
Nodules/cysts: Excessive inflammatory response
Scarring: Ice pick scars/ hypertrophic scars
What are the classifications of Acne Vulgaris?
Mild: open and closed comedones with or without sparse inflammatory lesions
Moderate acne: widespread non-inflammatory lesions and numerous papules and pustules
Severe acne: extensive inflammatory lesions, which may include nodules, pitting, and scarring
What is the treatment for mild-moderate Acne Vulgaris?
First Line: 12-week course of topical combination therapy
Topical adapalene with topical benzoyl peroxide
Topical tretinoin with topical clindamycin
Topical benzoyl peroxide with topical clindamycin
Topical benzoyl peroxide may be used as monotherapy if contraindicated or if the person doesn’t want a topical retinoid or antibiotic.
What is the treatment for moderate-severe Acne Vulgaris?
First Line: 12-week course of
Topical adapalene with topical benzoyl peroxide
Topical tretinoin with topical clindamycin
Topical adapalene with topical benzoyl peroxide + oral lymecycline or oral doxycycline
Topical azelaic acid + either oral lymecycline or oral doxycycline
When should Acne Vulgaris be referred to a dermatologist?
Acne conglobate: a rare and severe form of acne found in men with extensive inflammatory papules, suppurative nodules (that may coalesce to form sinuses), and cysts on the trunk.
Patients with nodulocystic acne
Referral should be considered in the following scenarios:
Mild-moderate acne has not responded to two completed courses of treatment
moderate-severe acne has not responded to previous treatment that includes an oral antibiotic
Acne with scarring
Acne with persistent pigmentary changes
Acne is causing or contributing to persistent psychological distress or a mental health disorder
Why are retinoids/ benzyl peroxide co-prescribed with oral antibiotics?
Reduces the risk of antibiotic resistance
What complications can occur from long-term antibiotic usage? How would you treat it?
Gram-negative folliculitis. Treated by high dose oral trimethoprim
What should be avoided in pregnancy for Acne? what can be used?
Avoid Tetracyclines and avoid oral isotretinoin (Teratogenic). Use erythromycin
What can be used as an alternative to oral antibiotics for Acne in women?
First Line: COCP, used in combination with topical agents
Second Line: Dianette (co-cyprindiol), has VTE risk so only given for 3 months.
What is only given under specialist supervision for Acne Vulgaris?
Oral isotretinoin. Contraindicated in pregnancy
What are Actinic keratoses?
Actinic, or solar, keratoses (AK) is a common premalignant skin lesion that develops due to chronic sun exposure.
Small, crusty, scaly lesions. May be pink, red, brown, or the same as the skin.
Sun-exposed areas e.g. temples of head
multiple lesions may be present
What is the management of Actinic keratoses?
Sun avoidance, sun cream
Fluorouracil cream: 2- 3 weeks. The skin will become red and inflamed - sometimes topical hydrocortisone is given following fluorouracil to help settle the inflammation.
Topical diclofenac: may be used for mild AKs. Moderate efficacy but much fewer side effects
Topical imiquimod
Cryotherapy
Curettage and cautery
What is alopecia areata?
An autoimmune condition causing localised, well-demarcated patches of hair loss.
At the edge of the hair loss, there may be small, broken ‘exclamation mark’ hairs.
What is the management plan for alopecia areata?
Hair will regrow in 50% of patients by 1 year and in 80-90% eventually.
Other treatment options include:
Topical or intralesional corticosteroids
Topical minoxidil
Phototherapy
Dithranol
Contact immunotherapy
Wigs
What is Tinea Pedis? What is it caused by?
Athletes Foot. Caused by Trichophyton Fungi
How does Tinea Pedis present?
Scaling, flaking, and itching between the toes
What is the treatment for Tinea Pedis?
Topical imidazole, undecenoate, or terbinafine
What is Basal Cell Carcinoma?
1 of the 3 types of skin cancer. Lesions are also known as rodent ulcers and are characterised by slow growth and local invasion. Metastases are extremely rare.
What are the features of Basal Cell Carcinoma?
Nodular BCC occurs on sun-exposed sites.
Initially a pearly, flesh-coloured papule with telangiectasia
may later ulcerate leaving a central ‘crater’.
What are management options for Basal Cell Carcinoma?
Surgical removal
Curettage
Cryotherapy
Topical imiquimod/ fluorouracil
Radiotherapy
What is ur’s Disease?
Precancerous dermatosis is a precursor to squamous cell carcinoma. It is more common in elderly patients. There is around a 5-10% chance of developing invasive skin cancer if left untreated.