Dermatology Flashcards
How should a skin exam be performed?
- Should be conducted in good light
- Should be complete
- Evaluation of scalp, hair, nails, eyes, mouth, palms, soles
- Exam should be visual & tactile
What are the types of primary lesions?
- Macule, patch
- Papule, plaque
- Nodule, tumor
- Vesicle, bulla
- Pustule
- Cyst
- Wheal
Macule
Patch
-
Macule
- Flat & nonpalpable
- Represent cutaneous color changes
-
Patch
- Large macule
Papule
Plaque
-
Papule
- Epidermal or superficial dermal lesions
- Elevated above the skin surface
-
Plaque
- Large or coalesced papules
Nodule
Tumor
- Nodule
- Dermal lesions below the skin surface
- May have epidermal component
-
Tumor
- Large nodule
Vesicle
Bulla
-
Vesicle
- Fluid-filled papules
-
Bulla
- Large vesicle
Pustule
purulent-filled papules
Cysts
nodules filled w/ expressible material
Wheals
cutaneous elevations caused by dermal edema
What are examples of secondary characteristics?
- Scaling
- Crusting
- Pigmentation changes
- Excoriations
- Scars
- Ulcers
- Atrophy
- Fissures
Scaling
desquamation of the stratum corneum
Crusting
dried exudate & debris
Excoriations
linear erosions into the epidermis
caused by fingernail scratches
Scars
thickened fibrotic dermis
Ulcers
absence of epidermis & some of dermis
Atrophy
thinning of epidermis or dermis
Fissures
linear cracks into the dermis
What are examples of configuration & distribution?
-
Configuration of lesions
- Linear
- Annular (circles)
- Arcuate (half-circles)
- Grouped
- Discrete (distinct & separate)
-
Distributions
- Generalized
- Acral (hands, feet, buttocks)
- Confined to dermatome
- Other specific locations
What are some diagnostic procedures for dermatology?
-
Woods light
- Identifies pigmentary changes & some dermatophytes
- Scrapings
-
Cultures
- Bacteria, virus, fungus
- Invasive techniques
-
Immunofluorescent staining
- Autoimmune vasculitic disorders
What scrapings are used for diagnosis in dermatology?
-
Fungus
- 10% KOH added to scraping of scale or exudate to identify fungal hyphae
-
Scabies
- Examine scraping of unscratched lesion or burrow for mites, eggs, feces
-
HSV
- Base of vesicle scraped
What are some invasive techniques used for diagnosis in dermatology?
- Incision & drainage
- Diagnosis, cultures, therapy
- Biopsy
-
Shave or tangenital
- Epidermal or superficial dermal lesions
-
Punch
- Epidermal, dermal, superficial subq
-
Excision
- Complete lesion removal
-
Shave or tangenital
Absorption of topical agents in children vs. adults
- Skin of child = skin of adult
- Exception
- Premature infant
- Absorption is greater
- Thinner stratum corneum
Therapeutic efficacy of a topical agent is related to both the _________ and the ______.
active ingredient, vehicle
Hydration of the skin is critical. What are some examples of moisturizers?
-
Ointments
- Little or no water
- Maximal water-retaining properties
- Useful for very dry skin
-
Creams
- 20-50% water
- Useful for skin of average dryness
-
Lotions
- More water than creams
- Useful for minimally dry skin, large SA
-
Solutions & alcohol-based gels
- Useful for areas w/ hair (scalp)
What is thickened skin called?
What does it require?
Hyperkeratosis
- Keratolytics
- Salicylic acid
- Urea
- Alpha-hydroxy acids
- Retinoic acid
What are some examples of destructive therapies?
Used for warts, molluscum contagiosum
- High dose salicylic acid
- Podophyllin
- 5-FU
- Cryotherapy
- Electrotherapy
- Laser therapy
What are some examples of anti-infective agents?
- Topical antibiotics
- Antifungals
- Antivirals
- Antiparasitic agents
What anti-inflammatory agents are used for treatment in dermatology?
Topical corticosteroids
- Weakest steroid that will achieve the treatment goal should be used first
- Low-potency on the face or groin
- Epidermis is thinner, increased side effects
- Systemic vs. local side effects
- Other
- Tacrolimus ointment (atopic dermatitis)
- 1-5% sulfer (acne)
- Tar (eczema & psoriasis)
What are the local side effects of topical corticosteroids?
- Acne (acne rosacea)
- Hirsutism
- Folliculitis
- Striae (axilla, groin)
- Hyper/hypo-pigmentation
- Atrophy
- Ecchymoses & telangiectasias
- Tachyphylaxis (insensitivity)
What is contact dermatitis?
What are the 2 categories?
- Inflammation of the epidermis & superficial dermis secondary to direct contact w/ the skin by a sensitizing substance
- Categories
- Allergic contact dermatitis
- Primary irritant contact dermatitis
What is the etiology of allergic contact dermatitis?
- Direct T-cell mediated response to an exogenous applied allergen
- Steps for rxn
- Initial sensitization
- Rechallenge (small, not dose-dependent)
- Common causes
- Poison ivy, oak, sumac
- Nickel-containing jewelry & belt buckles
- Topical lotions & creams
- Perfumes & soaps
Allergic contact dermatitis
clinical features
management
- Erythematous papules & vesicles in the area that came into contact w/ the allergen
- Treatment
- Topical corticosteroids
- Avoidance of the offending allergen
What is the etiology of primary irritant contact dermatitis?
What is the most common type?
- Caustic substances that irritate the skin
- Not an allergic rxn, no sensitization needed
- Dose-dependent
- Most common type: diaper dermatitis
- Multifactoral disorder
- Prolonged contact w/ urine & fecal matter, friction, maceration, proteases in feces
- Secondary infection: Candida albicans
What are the clinical features of primary irritant contact dermatitis?
- Erythema w/ papules on upper thighs, buttocks, genitourinary area
- NO involvement of inguinal creases
- Candidal superinfection
- Involvement of inguinal creases
- More-intense confluent erythema
- Satellite lesions
How is primary irritant contact dermatitis managed?
- Keep skin free from urine & stool
- Skin moisturizers
- Barrier creams & ointments (zinc oxide)
- Frequent diaper changes
-
Low-potency corticosteroids
- Severe inflammation
-
Nystatin, Clotrimazole (anti-fungal)
- Candidal infection
Seborrheic Dermatitis
epidemiology
etiology
- Infants & adolescents
- Cause unknown
-
Hypersensitivity rxn to saprophytic yeast
- Pityrosporum ovale
- Lives in areas that overproduce sebum
What are the clinical features of Seborrheic Dermatitis?
- Eruption of red scales & crusts in areas w/ high numbers of sebaceous glands
- Scalp, face (eyebrows, nose, beard), chest, groin
- Skin lesions may be greasy
-
Infants
- Dermatitis limited to scalp (“cradle cap”)
- Face, upper chest, flexor creases of extrem
-
Adolescents
- Dermatitis in nasolabial folds, pinna, scalp
How is Seborrheic Dermatitis managed?
- Low potency topical corticosteroids
- Sulfer, zinc, salicylic acid-based shampoos
- Light scrubbing w/ brush to remove crusts
- Loose scales removed w/ mineral oil
- Topical anti-fungal medication
- Eradicate Pityrosporum ovale
Pityriasis Rosea
epidemiology
etiology
- Uncommon <5 YO
- Extremely common during late childhood/adolescence
- Cause unknown
- Similar to hypersensitivity rxn to virus
What are the clinical features of Pityriasis Rosea?
-
Papulosquamous disorder
- Solitary, large 2-5 cm scaly, erythematous lesion (herald patch)
- Trunk or extremities
- 1-30 days
-
Oval erythematous macules & papules
- 1-2 wks after herald patch
- 3-6 wks from chin to mid-thigh
- Skin lines: “Christmas tree” distribution
- Lesions are pruritic (50%)
How is Pityriasis Rosea managed?
- Topical or systemic anti-histamines
- Exposure to UV light may shorten course
Psoriasis
epidemiology
etiology
- 3% of children in the US
- More common in adults
- 30% develop in childhood
- Autosomal dominant inheritance
- Immune dysregulation –> epidermal proliferation
What are the clinical features of Psoriasis?
- Distribution of skin lesions & severity variable
-
Scaling papules & plaques
- Scalp: non-greasy w/o hair loss
- Ears, elbows, lumbosacral, groin
- Classic: silvery scale
-
Koebner phenomenon
- New lesions at sites of skin trauma
-
Nail involvement common
- Pits, distal thickening, lifting of nail bed, nail destruction
- Arthritis during childhood uncommon
How is Psoriasis managed?
- Moderate/high-potency corticosteroids
- UV light therapy
- Analogs of Vitamin D
- 3% salicylic acid in mineral oil for scalp
- Retinoids
- Anthralin (downgrades EGF)
What is Miliaria Rubra (Heat Rash)?
What is the etiology?
- Distrupted sweat ducts near the upper dermis (occlusion/friction) that result in sweat being released onto the skin
- Sweat on skin –> inflammatory response
- More sweat, more occlusion, heat rash
What are the clinical features of Malaria Rubra?
How is it managed?
- Small erythematous pruritic papules/vesicles
- Areas of occlusion or rubbed areas
- Inguinal region, axilla, chest, neck
- Treatment
- Avoidance of occlusive clothing
- No medications
What are the 4 types of hypersensitivity disorders?
- Urticaria
- Serum sickness
- Erythema Multiforme
- Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis
What is serum sickness?
- May initially appear as urticaria
- Systemic signs & symptoms
- Fever
- Arthralgias
- Adenopathy
- Evidence of organ injury
- Medications are common causes
- Cephalosporins