Dermatology Exam Flashcards
8 Steps in The Skin Exam:
- Preparation - pt gowned, lighting adequate
- Examination - carefully examine entire skin surface
- Palpate - palpate lesions to determine elevation
- Texture - Determine texture of lesions
- Scale - Scalpel blade used to check for scale; can be examined microscopically if fungal infection is suspected
- Size - measure/record measurements of lesions
- Diascopy - Differentiate between blanching erythema and non-blanching purpura by pressing with a glass slide
Flat lesions:
Macule, Patch
Smooth, raised lesions:
Cyst, Nodule, Papule, Plaque
Surface change lesions:
Crust, Scale
Fluid-filled lesions:
Bullae, Pustule, Vesicle
Red blanchable lesions:
Erythema, Erythroderma, Telangiectasia
Purpuric lesions:
Ecchymosis, Petechiae, Palpable Purpura
Sunken lesions:
Atrophy, Erosion, Ulcer
Necrotic lesions:
Eschar, Gangrene
Ddx for lesions on the head:
Syringoma: tiny bumps around lower eyes
Alopecia areata: balding
Dermatomyositis: Erythema on upper eyelid
Herpes simplex virus: cold sores on mouth
Ddx for lesions on the neck:
Cutis rhomboidalis nuchae - “quilt-looking” neck
Acne keloidalis nuchae - acne at base of skull/upper neck
Poikiloderma of civatte - red/brown rash on anteromedial neck
Acanthosis nigricans - Dark, velvety patches in the folds of the neck.
Ddx for lesions on the chest:
Steroid acne - pimples diffusely covering the chest
Nipple dermatitis - scaly, erythematous nipple
Darier’s disease - erythematous crusting of the chest
Drug-induced photosensitive reaction - diffuse erythema across the sternum
Ddx for lesions on the abdomen:
Morphea - red plaque scattered across the abdomen
Striae - stretch marks
Pityriasis rosea - diffuse pustules across the abdomen (usually starts with one large lesion)
Atopic dermatitis - eczema
Ddx for lesions on the arms:
Lichen planus - autoimmune disease where skin immune system attacks skin/ mucous membranes and creates purple, itchy, flat-topped bumps.
Keratosis pilaris - small acne-like bumps on the skin
Actinic keratosis - rough scaly patch, caused by sun exposure
Prurigo nodularis - Large, itchy, symmetrically distributed lesions that cause pain and discomfort
Ddx for anogenital lesions:
Condyloma acuminatum - genital warts (HPV)
Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus - thin, white patches of skin in genital area
Herpes simplex virus - pustulous lesions on genitals
Tinea cruris - fungal infection (jock itch)
Ddx for hand lesions:
Psoriasis - severely peeling fingernails
Scabies - Contagious, caused by burrowing skin mite
Secondary syphilis - rash on palms/soles
Dyshidrotic dermatitis - tiny, fluid-filled blisters on palms/fingers
Ddx for leg lesions:
Henoch-Schonlein Purpura (HSP) - diffuse petechiae; usually seen in children < 7
Livedo reticularis - Purple, net-like pattern of skin discoloration on the legs
Erythema induratum - nodular vasculitis (tuberculid skin erruption)
Stasis dermatitis - skin inflammation caused by fluid build up
Ddx for foot lesions:
Cutaneous larva migrans - parasitic “hookworm” infection; red, twisting lesions
Tinea pedis - “athlete’s foot” fungal infection
Plantar wart
Pitted keratolysis - patchy erosion of the bottom of the foot
Define acral distribution of skin lesions:
Involves the distal aspects of the head (ears, nose) and the extremities (hands, fingers, feet, toes).
Define dermatomal distribution of skin lesions:
Involves the area of skin supplied with sensory innervation by a particular nerve root. These do not cross the midline of the body.
Define intertriginous distribution of skin lesions:
Involves skin creases and folds. Includes involvement of the axillae, crural fold, gluteal crease, and possibly the inframammary fold.
Define lymphangitic distribution of skin lesions:
Appears along the path of lymph channels of the leg or arm.
Define photodistributed distribution of skin lesions:
Follows sun-exposed skin. Areas of involvement include forehead, upper ears, nose, cheeks, upper lip, neck, forearms, and dorsum of the hands.
Define scattered distribution of skin lesions:
Skin lesions occurring across many body locations; can appear to be distributed randomly or haphazardly.