Integumentary assessment Flashcards
What consists of the integumentary system?
Skin, hair, nails, sweat glands
What vitamin does the skin help synthesize?
Vitamin D
The thickness of the epidermis remains ________. Which layer does not.
constant
Subcutaneous get thinner with age
What does the dermis do?
Provides support to the epidermis and has our nerves and blood supply to support the nutritional demands of the epidermis.
What is the purpose of the SC layer?
Contains fat and is an insulation/caloric storage layer
What are some risk factors for the integumentary system?
Nutrition status
Immobility
Infectious diseases
UV exposure - natural or artificial
How is immobility relevant to the integumentary system?
Pressure wounds can develop in minutes in immobile people due to pressure or friction on bed or bony prominences
What are some areas for help promotion regarding the skin?
Tanning beds/UV exposure
Self-examination
Which persons do we emphasize self-examination?
Those who are high risk:
- burn easily, fair skin, lots of nevi, family history, atypical nevi
What is the acronym ABCDE for? What does it stand for?
Melanoma A - Assymetry B - Border C - Colour D - Diameter E - evolution/elevation
More agressive benign tumour that generally appears in non sun-exposed areas.
Squamous cell carcinoma
Usually a more cosmetic, non-malignant tumour
basal cell carcinoma
What are some risk factors for integumentary disease?
Family history
Past history
Medications
Lifestyle, occupational, personal behaviours
The integumentary system is one of the only systems in which you can ________ before you ask anything else.
Inspect
What is important when performing an inspection for the integumentary system?
Inspect all areas, and make sure clothes are off
Where is the best place to assess skin turgor?
Below the clavicle
Why is mobility important?
If something is not mobile, more likely to be a mass or tumour
How does the thyroid affect hair?
Thyroid disorder will cause hair to be brittle or dry.
Hyperthyroidism will make it very oily
What is the difference between a primary and secondary lesion?
Primary appears initially. Secondary results from a change in the primary lesion
Lesion over 1cm
Plaque
Pus-filled papule
Pustule
Fluid-filled burn
Bulla
Flat, circumscribed, less than 1cm in diameter
macule
Tends to be raised, less than 1cm.
papule
Raised, flesh-coloured or red plaque of various sizes and shapes. Common for allergies
Wheal
Fluid-filled, erythematous base.
Chicken pox is an example.
Vesicle
Mobile and fluid filled, distinct.
Cyst
Overhealing of skin, most often seen in African Americans.
keloid
What is used to treat keloids?
Inject steroids
Evidence of scratching. Place where the skin is scraped or abraded
excoriation
Eczema tends to happen in what areas?
Areas of flexion - antecubital fossa and popliteal fossa
What is the typical rash of lime disease/
Bulls eye
What is the characteristic colour of psoriasis and what happens if you take off a plaque?
Silvery,
bleeds if take plaque off
What is characteristic of ringworm?
Erythematous around it, well, circumscribed with central clearing.
Melasma and linea nigra most often occur to what people?
Pregnant women
PCOS will cause a higher incidence of what kind of skin disorder?
Acne
What are some cultural considerations to keep in mind when performing an integumentary assessment?
Some people will need a clinician of the same sex for exposing skin, etc.
Some conditions are more common for certain ethnicities.
What are some common laboratory and diagnostic testing done for the skin?
Scraping
Biopsy
Culture and sensitivity or viral swab
What disease, manifested on the skin, does not pass the midline and follows a dermatomal pattern?
Shingles
