Exam 3: Skin, hair, nails Flashcards
Skin is like a
window for viewing changes that take place within the body
Inspect and palpate skin for
Color & presence of lesions Moisture Temperature Texture & thickness Turgor Vascularity Edema Pain response w/ palpation
Chloasma
- Darker pigmentation on forehead, nose, and cheeks “mask of pregnancy”
- Usually fades after birth
Linea Nigra
Darkened line from umbilicus to symphysis pubis
- Darkening of areola
- Usually fades after birth
Normal/benign pregnancy skin variations
Chloasma
Linea nigra
Normal or benign newborn skin markings
Milia
Mongolian spots
Erythema toxicum
Stork bike (nevus simplex)
Milia
Unopened/clogged sebaceous glands that usually appear on nose and cheeks
Mongolian spots
Normal in dark-skinned infants during 1st few years of life
Erthema toxicum
Transient maculopapular rash; may be due to increased eosinophil activity
Stork bite (nervous simplex)
Caused by dilation of small capillaries; regress spontaneously
Sebaceous Glands in elderly
Decrease in size, number, and output
Decreased output of the sweat glands cause
Senile Xerosis
Skin itches
Looks flaky and loose
Senile Xerosis
Age related dry skin
Age related skin changes
Paper-thin, transparent skin Wrinkles Actinic lentigo Cherry hemangiomas Skin tags
Wrinkles
Decrease elastin and subcutaneous tissue
Actinic lentigo: liver spots
Normal with aging
Cluster of melanocytes on dora of hands and forearms
Cherry hemangiomas
Common and arise in middle-ages to older adults
Cherry hemangioma is a
Vascular lesion
Cherry hemangiomas usually located on
the trunk
Cherry (senile) hemangiomas increase in what with age
Increase in size and number
Are Cherry (senile) hemangiomas a concern?
No, they are benign
Skin tags
Overgroths of normal skin that forms a stalk
skin tags are frequently on
eyelids
cheeks and neck
axillae and trunk
Skin tags are more common with
diabetes
Turgor indicates
Elasticity and overall hydration
turgor can be altered by
Water content
Aging
How to check turgor
Pinch skin and release
If skin has normal elasticity and hydration, it will
Immediately return to its original state after pinching
Poor skin turgor is
tenting of the skin with a slow return to the original
Skin/mucous membrane color comes from
melanin carotene oxyhemoglobin deoxyhemoglobin bilirubin
Pallor
Observed most readily in the palms, nail beds, face, and conjunctiva
Pallor is caused by
Lowered Hgb content fight or flight response Medications Cold Shock
Red/erythema increased visibility of
Hgb
red/erythemic skin cause what with hand pressure
Blanches
Red/erythema is often related to
inflammation
is red/erythmea skin the same as burns?
No!
Blue/cyanosis is increased
Geoxyhemoglobin (Hhb=hypoxia/hypoxemia)
Blue/cyanosis often related to
cardio/pulmonary diseases or end of life
Jaundice
Excess bilirubin
Carotenoderma / Carotenemia:
(blood levels 4X normal)
Eyes remain white!
Ephelides (freckles)
Small brown macule on sun exposed skin of fair skinned individuals
Cafe-au-lait
A light brown, oval macule (dark brown on brown or black skin) found anywhere on the body
Loss of pigmentation
Vitiligo
Vitiligo is
Congenital
Autoimmune
Assessment methods for dark skin: Pallor
Use good lighting
Mucous membranes ash-gray color: absence of underlying red tones that give skin a healthy glow
Assessment methods for dark skin: Cyanosis
Lips & tongue are grayish
Palms, soles, conjunctivae, & nail beds have a bluish tinge
Assessment methods for dark skin: Erythema
How to assess for inflammation in a dark-skinned patient?
- Compare palpation with other areas of the body.
- Ask about pain in the area
- Palpate for edema/induration
- Moisten skin to look for redness
Ski lesions are grouped according to
fluid-filled versus solid, diameter, compare scaling versus flat, etc.