Dermatology Flashcards
What are the components of a derm hx?
1) Name/Age Occupation
2) PC
3) Background risk factors/severity markers
4) HPC
5) PmH
6) SH (hobbies/travel) + FH
7) Drug history
8) RS
Rash Hx?
1) When, where, evolution
2) Duration, symptoms - is it itchy?
3) Previous episodes
4) exacerbating/relieving factors
5) Other areas affected?
6) Severity markers ie. psoriasis
7) Impact on life/work/psychosocial
Severity markers?
Previous treatments eg. UV/Systemic drugs
Hospitilisation
Missing work/School
Social/personal life
Lesional History
Different as cancer until proved otherwise:
HPC lesion:
- How it started, how it’s evolving, symptoms, D/C, Bleeding etc
Risk factors:
- Sun, country of residence, occupation
- Previous episodes
- Family Hx
Flat non-palpable lesion
Small - Macule
Large - Patch
Raised lesions
0.5cm: Nodule
Palpable patch
Elevated, flat lesion = Plaque
Can also get an atrophic sunken/flat lesion = plaque
Other descriptive derm terms
Circumscription Colour Consistency (soft/hard/firm) Distribution = Localised vs generalised. Clustered (HSV) Dermatomal Peripheral vs centripetal Symmetrical? Flexor vs extensor surfaces Photodistribution Monomorphic/pleomorphic Annular --> Serpiginous Discoid (Solid) Koebnerisation - Psoriasis, LP, viral warts
Fluid filled lesions?
Small = Vesicle
Large = Blister
Pus filled = Pustule
Surface characteristics: Scale? Warty? Ulcerated? Crusty? Excoriated? Lichenification?
Scale = Keratotic surface
Warty = Rough/papillomatous surface
Ulcerated = Loss of epidermis (full thickness), partial thickness = erosion
Crusty = Dried Exudate
Excoriated = superficial ulceration secondary to scratching
Lichenification = Flat surfaced epidermal thickening secondary to rubbing
Post-inflam hyperpig.
Ulcer Description?
Size, Shape, Location
Edge:
1) Punched out
2) Raised & rolled
3) Sloped
4) Overhanging
Base: Clean, necrotic, sloughy, granulation tissue
Surrounding tissue eg. thick woody hard sclerotic skin = lipodermatosclerosis
Derm investigations?
Dermoscopy Mycology (scrapings) Swabs - Microbiology/viral Biopsy: - History - Stains - Immunofl. studies
3 layers of skin?
1) Epidermis: Keratinised stratified squamous epithelium
2) Dermis: collagenous connective tissue
3) Subcutis: Fat layer, nerve endings and blood vessels
Basal cell function?
Sit on basement memebrane and produce keratinocytes, which rise to the top as squamous cells. Also produce keratin
Causes of Non-Scarring Alopecia?
Male/Female Pattern alopecia Telogen Effluvium Low iron reserves Alopecia Areata (AI hairloss) Hyper/hypothyroid
–> follicles still there, so may regrow
Causes of Scarring Alopecia?
Lichen Planus Lupus Traction/Traumatic Folliculitis Other
Follicles destroyed, so chance of regrowth. Irreversible so need to manage pt expectation!
How to differentiate scarring from non-scarring alopecia?
Non Scarring:
- Speed of loss, stress, anaemia, Previous episodes, FH, other diseases
Scarring:
- Itch, redness/scale, previous sclap damage, pain, suppuration
Examination:
Pattern of hair loss
Scarring?
Visible active disease of scalp?
Alopecia Ix?
Blood tests - hair loss screen: biotin, ferritin levels etc
Skin biopsy: H&E & Immunoflorence. Biopsy - transverse and longitudinal
What is psoriaris?
A common, chronic hereditary condition where you get an inflammatory hyperproliferation of the epidermis. It is a pustular disease and in some forms may be life-threatening
Bimodal age of onset - youth/middle life
T-cell mediated
Psoriasis triggers?
Infection: Strep Psychological: Stress Drugs: Steroid withdrawal, B blockers, lithium, antimalarials (chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine), NSAIDs and Ace inhibitors Trauma : Koebnerisation Sunburn HIV
Psoriasis types?
1) Chronic plaque psoriasis (commonest)
2) Flexoral psoriasis
3) Psoriatic arthritis/ nail psoriasis (nail dystrophy)
4) Guttate
5) Erythrodermic
6) Pustular
7) Sebo-psoriasis
Chronic plaque psoriasis findings
Chronic, well demarcated (distinguishes from eczema) Red/pink plaques Silvery-white scale Extensor surfaces and scalp Accounts for 80-90%
Types of psoriatric arthropathy?
1) Asymmetric (60-70%)
2) Symmetrical polyarthtropathy (15%)
3) DIP (5%)
4) Destructive (5%) - arthritis mutilans
5) Axial arthritis (5%)
Guttate psoriasis?
Post-strep throat
young adults
Shower of scattered discrete lesions
3mm to 1cm lesions, round or slight oval