Neonatal Skin Flashcards
What are the functions of the skin?
- physiologic and immunologic protection
- heat regulation
- sense perception
- self cleaning
What is the top layer of skin?
epidermis
Describe the epidermis.
comprised of 5 layers; stratum corneum is the top layer; made up of dead cells, constantly being replaced
lower layers are comprised of keratin- forming cells and melanocytes
Where is the dermis located and what elements does it contain?
directly under the epidermis; contains fibrous tissue, elastic tissue, sweat glands, sebacceous glands and hair shafts
What is the fx of subcutaneous fat?
- insulation
- protection for internal organs
- calorie storage
How does neonatal skin differ from adult skin?
- less mature = less mature function
- immature infant = thinner, more permeable
- fibrils more fragile
- stratum corneum is thinner
- sweat glands- adult fx by 2-3mo of life
Describe the sweating function in neonates.
limited < 36 week GA, ability increases with postnatal age; sweating on forehead- check for hyperthermia, CHD
What is vernix caseosa?
sebacceous gland secretions and exfoliated skin cells; coats skin until 37-38th wk
What is the differential dx of yellow vernix?
- passage of mec
- hgb break down r/t chronic abruption
- hgb break down r/t hemolytic disease
- chorio
When does lanugo appear and disappear?
starts @ 20 weeks- gone by 40
What might a sacral hair tuft indicate?
a tethered cord
What is a lesion?
area of altered tissue
What is a macule?
discolored, flat spot < 1cm in diameter that is not palpable
What is a patch?
a macule > 1cm in diameter
What is a papule?
an elevated, palpable lesion, solid and circumscribed,
< 1cm in diameter
What is a plaque?
an elevated, palpable lesion with circumscribed borders
> 1 cm or a fusion of several papules
What is a vesicle?
an elevation of the skin filled with serous fluid & < 1cm in diameter; ex: blister
What is a bulla?
vesicle > 1cm in diameter
What are petechiae?
small, purplish hemorrhagic, pin point size point
What are purpura?
small hemorrhagic spot larger than petechiae, 1-3cm in size
What is ecchymosis?
large area of subepidermal hemorrhage- does not blanch; a mogolian spot doesn’t blanch but is differentiated from a bruise because it does not change color over time
What is a pustule?
an elevation of the skin filled with cloudy or purulent fluid
What is a cyst?
raised palpable lesion with fluid or semi soft filled sac; can be drained
What is a nodule?
an elevated palpable lesion with indistinct borders- can palpate below the skin; can NOT be drained; mobile lesion
What is a crust?
a lesion of dried serous exudate, blood or pus
What is a wheal?
a collection of fluid in dermis that appears as a reddened, solid elevation; ex: allergic reaction
What can account for petichae on the neck?
nuchal cord
What factors can influence the findings of a thorough skin exam?
- approach (organized and consistent)
- history
- L&D experience ( forceps, vacuum, nuchal cord, etc)
- environment ( lighting, temp of room, heat source)
How should skin be examined?
1) undress the infant
2) use same pattern of examination
3) start at head and progress downward
4) turn infant to examine the back
5) inspect all skin folds, including axillae & groin
6) inspect color, moisture, thickness & opacity of skin
7) turgor- hydration and nutrition
8) note size, color and placement of any lesions
9) note hair distribution
How should skin be described?
elastic, fragile, good recoil, etcc
What can palpation of the skin reveal?
- examine the underlying dermis
- determine thickness of the skin
- subcutaneous fat
- presence of edema
- irregularities in texture and consistency
- helps to determine skize or configuration of lesions
- blanching- take away coloring by hgb and can observe whats underneath (ex petichae or jaundice)
How should most neonatal lesions be interpreted?
most lesions are benign and transient
Why does harlequin color change appear?
due to immature autonomic nervous system
What is erythema neonatorum?
- generalized hyperemia
- occurs in the first few hours post birth
- resolves in minutes up to one hour
- indicates successful completion of fetal to neonatal circultion
What accounts for an infant with plethora coloring?
- check hematocrit (>65% = polycythemia)
- monitor hypoglycemia and RDS
Why is plethora a risk factor for hypoglycemia?
only fuel for RBCs is glucose; polycythemia monopolizes glucose in the serum
What accounts for an infant with acrocyanotic coloring?
bluish discoloration of hands and feet, present at birth; persists up to 48h of life and is exacerbated by low environmental temp; mucous membranes are pink
What accounts for an infant with circumoral cyanosis coloring?
more pronounced in the first 12-24h after birth; also seen with feeding which resolves after feeding; can be a normal finding in fair infants and is simply the blue color of the veins below the skin in this area
At what level of hgb desaturation for cyanosis to be present?
3-5gm/dL (~ sats of 70%)
What is the correlation between hypoxia and cyanosis?
terms aren’t mutually exclusive; what is important is the concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin
What is jaundice?
yellow coloring of the skin & sclera; deposits of bile pigment in the skin r/t hyperbilirubinemia; pay attention to age of infant & degree of jaundice present
*Always pathologic if seen in 1st 24h
How does jaundice progress in the infant?
general rule: first appears on the face, then progresses to the toes as levels rise; cephalocaudal progression
What is the risk for sick babies and hyperbili?
sick babies permit bili to cross the blood brain barrier much more readily
What does yellow jaundice indicate?
jaundice due to indirect or unconjugated hyperbili
How does the amount of subQ fat influence the presentation of jaundice?
amount of subQ fat influences progression in color; chubby babies don’t appear as jaundiced
What does the appearance of jaundice in the sclera indicate?
deposition in sclera indicates a bili level >10mg/dL
What is the relative serum bili level when an infant’s face is jaundiced?
4.8-8 mg/dL
What is the relative serum bili level when an infant’s chest to the umbilicus are jaundiced?
5.5-12 mg/dL
What is the relative serum bili level when an infant’s groin and thighs are jaundiced?
8-16.5 mg/dL
What is the relative serum bili level when an infant’s legs are jaundiced?
11-18 mg/dL
What is the relative serum bili level when an infant’s palms and soles are jaundiced?
> 15 mg/dL
Why is skin color assessment s/p phototherapy an unreliable assessment?
after being on bili lights, it’s impossible to determine jaundice based on skin color & lights bleach the skin
How does jaundice d/y direct or conjugated hyperbilirubinemia present?
green/ brown; direct bili babies take much longer to correct
What is cutis marmorata?
bluish mottling or marbling of skin
When is cutis marmorata present?
seen in response to chilling, stress or overstimulation caused by dilation of capillaries & vessels; should disappear when infant is warmed; persistent in trisomy 21 & 18
What is the most common newborn benign rash?
erythema toxicum; 30-70% of term infants; rarely seen in preterms