Lecture 2 Flashcards
What are the 2 types of dermatitis?
- contact dermatiti
2. Atopic Eczema
What are the four things that may cause atopic eczema?
- seasonal
- pets
- drugs
- food
Explain the presentation of dermatitis?
- Pruritic rash, erythematous
- May become confluent to form a wide area of rash, - Urticaria
- Predominantly flexor surfaces
What are the common complications of eczema?
Scratching with leads to bleeding and therefore infection
Treatment of eczema?
- The cornerstone is keeping the skin and lesions
moisturised
- Oral antihistamines if severe pruritus - Topical ointments: corticosteroids
- Short doses of oral corticosteroids in severe cases– ——— Phototherapy (UVB)
- Antibiotics if infected
Phototherapy (UVB) as a form of treatment for eczema?
Not suitable for everybody, ultraviolet B is used
which decreases the inflammation and help skin to
created new cells and fight against bacteria. may
take a few months to resolve
What is psoriasis?
Common, chronic, scaly, non-contagious red plaques which also affects nails and joints. Psoriasis causes scaley white or silver patches of skin, specifically on extensor surfaces of the body. No allergic reaction
What are the causes of psoriasis?
- Not fully understood
- Not allergic - Primarily a disorder of excessive growth and reproduction of skin cells due to immune system over activation (increased turnover of the skin cells)
What is the skin presentation of psoriasis?
- Causes red, scaly patches to appear on the skin
- The scaly patches, called psoriatic plaques, are areas of inflammation and excessive skin production - Skin rapidly accumulates at these sites and takes on a silvery- white appearance
Most common sites that plaques appear in psoriasis?
- Plaques frequently occur on the elbows, knees (extensor surfaces) and scalp, but can affect any area including nails and genitals
What is the joint presentation of a patient with psoriasis?
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Joints (when involved) can be painful and appear swollen, hot, and red
- When swelling in the finger is severe, entire digits become swollen, and are often called “sausage digits” (dactylitis)
What is the cause of petechia, purpura and ecchymosis?
- occur due to extravascularisation = blood
under the skin, petechia less than 3mm, may
form bigger lesions called purpura less than 1 cm. - bleeding under the skin in large areas is
ecchymosis. Lupus, systemic infections can
cause these. - Ecchymosis is from coagulopathies
What is a naevus?
Very large or even small pigmented areas of the skin,
accumulation of melanocytes, usually benign
Spider angiomas (a form of naevus) occur due to what?
- abnormality of the vessels under the skin.
- can occur in any part of the body.
- consider systemic disease e.g. liver and thyroid disease
What is a Seborrheic Keratosis?
- Benign, non cancerous lesions, do not appear on palms or
soles. - usually symmetrical
