Dermatology Flashcards
dermatologic terminology
MAD:
Morphology - type of individual lesion
- primary lesion: macule, patch, papule, plaque, nodule, vesicle, bulla, pustule
- secondary lesion: crusts, erosions, ulcers, fissures, scars, scale
Arrangment - solitary, grouped, linear
Distribution - where located on body
skin cancer risk factors
fair complexion light hair/eyes hx of blistering sunburn (child) inc. sun exposure family hx
actinic keratosis (solar keratosis) - characteristics and tx
pre-malignent lesion
- can transition to squamous cell carcinoma
sun-exposed areas (ears, face)
small, lightly pigmented
rough to touch (scaly, flaky)
tx: cryosurgery (liquid nitrogen)
- 5-fluorouracil (Efudex)
- imiquimod (Aldara)
squamous cell carcinoma - characteristics
arises from actinic keratosis
varied appearance: usually sun-exposed areas; can slowly erode
- if lasting over 1 month, consider SCC until proven otherwise
cure rates high if treated
can have METS
Bowen’s disease
squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in situ - confined to original location (no METS)
squamous cell carcinoma - treatment
excision is best treatment
basal cell carcinoma - characteristics and tx
slowly enlarging nodule with central depression and pearly border
- 90% on head and neck (sun-exposed areas)
- telangiectasias (tiny blood vessels)
- bleeding common
- metastasis rare
tx: surgical excision
melanoma - characteristics
arises from pre-existing dysplastic nevi (mole)
- flat or raised
- vary in appearance
- vary in color (red, white, black, blue)
- can appear anywhere on body
prognosis: related to thickness (how deep it has penetrated skin)
- Breslow depth
Hutchinson’s sign: periungual pigmentation (around nails)
mole evaluation - ABCDEs
More likely melanoma (vs. nevi):
A: asymmetry B: border irregular C: color mottled (vs. consistent) D: diameter > 6mm E: evolving (changing)
melanoma - tx
surgical excision
seborrheic keratoses - characteristics and tx
benign age-related plaques (older population); common
beige-brown-black
“waxy, stuck-on lesion”; can have “rough” appearance
3-20mm diameter
tx: none needed
NOTE: sudden, acute eruption should alert you to internal malignency
atopic dermatitis - characteristics
pruritic (“itch that rashes”) - results in exudative to lichenified eruption
- face, neck, upper trunk, wrists, hands, flexural folds (elbows and knees)
- personal of family hx of allergic manifestations
- more common in kids
atopic dermatitis - treatment
therapeutic lifestyle (avoid itching, keep moisturized)
topical corticosteroids
systemic steroids only for extensive severe cases
contact dermatitis (irritant)
result of chemical exposure
- erythema, scaling, well-demarcated
- area affected: hands most common
- everyone will have a reaction with sufficient exposure
- can be acute or chronic
contact dermatitis (allergic)
develops after exposure to chemicals to which individual has been sensitized
- initially confirmed to area of contact, later spreads
- progression: erythema-papules-vesicles-erosions-crusts-scaling
- ex: poison ivy
- not everyone will have a reaction
contact dermatitis (allergic and irritant) - treatment
avoid irritants topic steroids: calm things down Burow's solution: helps to dry up lesion if wet oral antihistamines: for itching emollients: hydrate if dry
diaper dermatitis - characteristics and tx
type of contact dermatitis from prolonged exposure to urine/feces
- often get overlying candida infection (satellite lesions)
- erythematous patches with pustules
tx:
- nystatin (rx - mycostatin)
- clotrimazole (OTC)
- miconazol (OTC)
nummular eczema
“coin-shaped” plaques of papules/vesicles on erythematous base
- mild to severe pruritus
- on extremities
- adults (typical = older male, ETOH abuse)
tx:
- hydration and systemic antihistamines
- topical steroids
- phototherapy if resistant
perioral dermatitis (aka muzzle rash) - characteristics and tx
tender, small red papules, pustules
- spares vermillion border
- tingling, burning
- mainly adult females (age 16-45)
- tends to be chronic
tx:
- topical metronidazole (Flagyl), erythromycin
- NOTE: avoid steroids (will worsen)
seborrheic dermatitis - characteristics and tx
red, scaly rash (M>F), pruritus varies
- nasal folds, eyebrows, eyelids, postauricular, scalp
- seen w/ oily skin/hair
- common, recurs (chronic)
- may be fungal
tx:
- frequent cleansing of area
- shampoo w/ selenium sulfide (head and shoulders), ketoconazole
- mild topical steroid (1% hydrocortisone)
- ketoconazole cream (2%)
stasis dermatitis - characteristics and tx
vascular etiology: redness, scaling, ulcerations
- often in lower extremities
- large area of skin change
tx: geared to improving blood flow
- compression stockings
Weeping lesions: burow’s compresses, petroleum jelly, topical hydrocortisone, ABX if infected
dyshidrosis (pompholyx, dyshidrotic eczema) - characteristics and tx
disorder of hands and feet
- adults (30s)
pruritus w/ sudden onset of “tapioca-like” blisters; later scaling and fissures
tx:
- topical corticosteroids
- oral prednisone if severe
lichen simplex chronicus (circumscribed neurodermatitis) - characteristics and tx
intense itching causes self-perpetuating scratch-itch cycle
- circumscribed, lichenified lesions
- neck and extremities common
- see exaggerated skin lines
tx:
- patient education
- STOP scratching!!
- occlusion to prevent further trauma
- topical steroids
lichen planus (P’s) - characteristics and tx
lesions are plentiful, pruritic, purple, polygonal, papular, planar
- Wickham’s striae on surface (white, lacy pattern on skin)
- oral (erosions) and nail (splintering) manifestations
- Koebner’s phenomenon (new lesion develops in area of minor trauma)
- Note: can be associated with Hep C (test)
tx:
- topical steroids w/ occlusion
- oral steroids (severe)
- photo therapy (large areas)
Koebner’s phenomenon
new lesion develops in area of minor trauma
- see with lichen planus and psoriasis
pityriasis rosea - characteristics and tx
oval erythematous to fawn-colored discrete lesions w/ collarette scale
- Herald patch (days to wks prior) - annular lesion with central clearing
- mainly on chest, trunk along cleavage lines (“christmas tree pattern”)
- mainly seen in young females
completely BENIGN
tx:
- self-limiting
- resolves in 6 wks
drug eruptions -characteristics and tx
widely varying presentations
- days to wks into tx
- usually self-limiting (occasionally severe = skin peeling)
Penicillin and sulfa drugs most common
immune compromised at increased risk
tx:
- discontinue offending drug
- supportive care
erythema multiforme (EM) - characteristics and tx
symmetrical, target lesions (<2 cm)
- mainly children, young adults
- commonly spares trunk
- related to herpes simplex, but most idiopathic:
- NOTE: drugs are not often cause
tx:
- supportive (oral antihistamines, topical steroids)
Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) - characteristics and tx
fever, HA, cough, aches, EM-like rash
- asymmetric areas of dusky erythema with truncal involvement
- mucous membranes involved (oral, anus, genitals)
- skin blisters, epidermis shears off; susceptible to infection
- SJS: < 10% body SA affected
cause: almost always drugs (ABX, anticonvulsants, NSAIDs)
tx: life-threatening (requires specialized managment in burn unit)