Hygiene And Skin Integrity Flashcards
What is the function of the skin?
Waterproof
Almost Indestructible covering that has protective and adaptive properties
How does the skin acts as a protector?
- Minimizes injury from physical, chemical, thermal and light waves sources
- Has a hard keratinized(protein) outer layer (it serves as an effective barrier to microorganisms)
- Produce sebum to lower pH level (being acidic makes it unsuitable for microorganisms)
- Prevents loss of water and electrolytes in body
- Sheds 1 LB/year to help removing harmful bacterials
- Perception: It is a vast sensory surface (touch, pain, temp, pressure)
- Temp regulation: allows heat dissipation (to keep you cool) through sweat glands and heat storage through subcutaneous insulation (to keep you hot)
- Wound repair: cell replacement of surface wounds
- Prod of vit D: UV lights convert into cholesterol into vit D (Responsible for enhancing intestinal absorption of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphate, and Zinc
What are mucous membranes?
- A layer of cells that surrounds body organs and body orifices
- Those membranes can contain or secrete mucus, which is a thick fluid that protects the inside of the body from dirt and pathogens such as viruses and bacteria.
What are situated the mucous membranes?
- In respiratory tract
- In mouth
- In urinary tract
- In gastrointestinal tract
- In vagina
How does the mucous works in the respiratory tract?
- It traps the microorganisms
- Cilia (hair) in nose and lungs, traps and propels
What does the mucous in the mouth do?
- The saliva washes away the residue
- It contains lysozyme which inhibits growth of microbacterias
What does the mucous in the urinary tract do?
- Urine is acidic
- Flow of urine cleanses the urethra
What does the mucous in the gastrointestinal do?
- It is very acidic
- It maintains appropriate levels of the normal flora in the intestinal tract
- It inhibits the proliferation of that microorganisms
What does the mucous in the vagina do?
- pH is low (acidic)
- inhibits bacterial growth
What do you need to be aware of when assessing for changes of skin and mucous membranes?
Cultural considerations; be aware of bio cultural differences
What is melanin?
Makes various colours/skin tone and protects skin against harmful UV rays (a genetic advantage against skin cancer)
Use ___________ when observing skin colour changes
Tips for assessing dark pigmented skin
Natural light
Where are the areas light in colour?
Tips for accessing dark pigmented skin
Palm,lips, etc and they are easier to assess
What is the best location to look for colour changes?
Tips for assessing dark pigmented skin
The conjunctiva of eyes because it is vascular and it will show signs of pallor
Slera (white) of eyes will show _____
Tips for assessing dark pigmented skin
Jaundice (yellow)
Can the family be useful when assessing the client?
Yes we can ask them about any colour changes
__________ surfaces for __________(redness)
Palpate
Erythema
What kind of normal variations to hyper pigmented skin do we need to be aware of?
Pigment on tongue Mongolian spots (like bruises on babies)
What are vitiligo and albinism?
Vitiligo is when you lose pigmentation in certain areas whether it’s naturally or stress
Albinism is when you have no pigmentation
When assessing the skin you need to inspect and palpate for?
Colour, texture, thickness, skin turgor, temp and hydration
What does pallor means?
White, there is no pink undertone
On dark skinned people it may look grey
What does erythema means?
Redness, sunburn or inflammation,
very difficult on dark skinned people
What does cyanosis means?
Blue, reduces hemoglobin in blood (indicates oxygen deficiency)
We can see it in nail beds, lips or mucous membranes
What is jaundice?
Yellow, yellowish staining of skin, slera (it’s due to increased bike pigment).
