integumentary Flashcards
congenital integument disorders
-birthmarks (vascular birthmarks and pigmented birthmarks)
-skin anomalies that present at birth or shortly thereafter
-most are harmless and shrink w age
-can sometimes be treated w laser therapy or surgery (moles)
-may be flat or raised, have regular or irregular borders, and are of diff colors
what are the 2 types of congenital integument disorders?
vascular birthmarks and pigmented birthmarks
macular stains (vascular)
-consist of blood vessels that have not formed correctly
-macular stains: also called salmon patches, angel kisses, and stork bites
-most common
-faint red marks often occurring on the forehead, eyelids, posterior neck, nose, upper lip, or posterior head
-most fade on their own by 2 years of age, although they may last into adulthood
hemanigiomas (vascular)
-“strawberries”
-bright red patch of extra blood vessels in the skin
-may be superficial or deep
-deep hemangioma may be bluish bc they involve deeper blood vessels
-grow during the first year of life and then usually recede
-most are benign, but can cause complications if they interfere w sight, feeding, breathing, or other bodily functions
port wine stain (vascular)
-discolorations that look like wine was spilled on the skin
-most often occur on face, neck, arms, and legs
-can be any size, but they grow only as the child grows
-tend to darken and thicken over time (bruise looking)
-will not resolve spontaneously
-those occurring near the eye should be assessed for possible complications
café au lait spots (pigmented)
-very common
-color of coffee w milk
-can be anywhere on the body and sometimes increase in number w age
-one spot alone is not usually a concern, but several spots larger than a quarter can be neurofibromatosis
mongolian spots (pigmented)
-flat, bluish-gray patches
-often found on the lower back or buttocks
-more common on those w darker skin tones
-usually fade, often completely, by school age w out treatment
albinism (disorders of melanin)
-recessive condition that results in little or no melanin production
-melanin deficits cause a lack of pigment in the skin, hair, and iris
-skin changes: color ranges from white to nearly the same as relatives
-hair changes: color can range from very white to brown; ppl of African or Asian descent may have hair color that is yellow, reddish, or brown
-eye changes: color ranges from light blue to brown; irises are semitranslucent; some eyes appear red
melanin
-pigment that provides color and protection
-plays a role in the development of the retina
what forms cause problems w eye development and function in melanin
-nystagmus
-near/farsighted
-photophobia
vitiligo (disorders of melanin)
-rare condition characterized by small patchy area of hypopigmentation
-occurs when the cells that produce melanin die or no longer form melanin, causing slowly enlarging, irregularly shaped white patches on the skin
-affects ppl of all races but may be more noticeable in those w dark skin tones
-may affect any area, but usually develops on sun-exposed areas first
-can start at any age, but often first appears btwn 10-30 yrs of age
cause of vitiligo
-the exact cause is unknown; causes may include autoimmune melanocyte destruction, reduced melanocyte survival , and primary melanocyte defects
skin changes w aging
-decreased sensations of pain. vibration, cold, heat, pressure, and touch
-increase the risk of injury including falls, decubitus ulcers, burns and hypothermia
-decreased elasticity, integrity, and moisture
-environmental factors, genetic makeup, and nutrition contribute to these changes, especially sun exposure
-blue-eyed, fair-skinned ppl show more of these changes
-sebaceous glands produce less sebum
-difficult to maintain skin moisture
skin changes w aging in the epidermis
-appears thin, pale, and translucent
-epidermis thins even though the number of cell layers remains unchanged
-melanocyte numbers decrease but increase in size
skin changes w aging in the dermis
-changes in the connective tissue reduce the skin’s strength and elasticity
-blood vessels become fragile, leading to bruising
skin changes w aging in the subcutaneous
-the subcutaneous fat layer thins
-increases risk of skin injury and reduces the ability to maintain body temp
dark spots/sun spots (skin changes w age)
-large pigmented spots (lentigos) may appear in sun-exposed areas
skin tags (skin changes w age)
-benign, flesh-colored masses
-usually occur on the neck
-most are painless, but can become inflamed in the presence of constant friction
-can be removed w surgery, cryotherapy, and cautery
repairs itself more slowly
-wound healing may be up to four times longer
-contributes to decubitus ulcer formation and infections
inflammatory integument disorders
-contact dermatitis
-atopic dermatitis
-urticaria-hives
-psoriasis
contact dermatitis
-acute inflammatory reaction triggered by direct exposure to an irritant to allergen-producing substance
-not contagious or life threatening
-varies in severity depending on the substance, area affected, exposure extent, and individual sensitivity
-usually resolves in 2-4 weeks
irritant contact dermatitis
-causes: chemicals, plants, body fluids, rubber gloves, and soaps
-does not involve the immune system, but triggers the inflammatory response
-produces a reaction similar to a burn
-manifestations: erythema, edema, pain, pruritus, and vesicles