NUR 370 SKIN Flashcards
Functions of the skin
- immunity
- temperature regulation
- water balance
- excretory organ (urea, water, salt)
Epidermis layer
- outermost layer of skin
- squamous epithelia
- flat sheets of cells
- outer layer contains 25 sheets of dead cells continuously shed
- melanin and keratin production
Dermis layer
- middle layer
- dense, irregular connective tissue
- nerves
- hair follicles
- smooth muscle
- glands
- blood vessels
- lymphatic vessels
Subcutaneous layer
- innermost layer of skin
- soft, fatty tissue
- immune cells
Cause of pressure ulcers
- pressure
- shear
- friction
- moisture
Prevention of pressure ulcers
- identify at risk persons
- improve tissue tolerance
- linens dry
- skin dry
- stop chafing
- protect against external mechanical forces
- reduce incidence through education
Stage I pressure ulcer
- persistent red
- no broken skin
Stage II pressure ulcer
- partial thickness loss in epidermis/dermis or both
- peri-wound involvement
Stage III pressure ulcer
- full thickness skin loss
- damage to subcutaneous tissue
- peri-wound involvement
Stage IV pressure ulcer
- damage to subcutaneous tissue involving muscles, tendon, and bone
Unstageable pressure ulcer
- necrotic tissue and slough
Treatment of pressure ulcers
- barrier creams: moisture to maintain skin flexibility
- wound vac
- antibiotic solutions
- heat/cold
- oxygen
- specialized beds
- silver oxide dressings
- surgical debridement
- “black box”: honey, albumin
Topical agents for pressure sores
- emollients (aquaphor)
- lotions
- antiseptics
- antibiotics
- side effects: local irritation, stinging, burning
Birthmarks
- skin anomalies present at birth or shortly after
- vascular or pigmented
Vascular birthmark
- arise from blood vessels that have not formed correctly
- generally red color
- types: macular stains, hemangioma, port-wine stains
Macular stain vascular birthmark
- “stork bites”
- most common type of vascular birth-mark
- flat
Hemangiomas vascular birthmark
- “strawberries”
- bright red patch or nodule
- superficial or deep
Port-wine stains vascular birthmark
- discolorations that look like wine was spilled
- face, neck, arms, legs
Pigmented birthmarks
- made of a cluster of pigment cells, causing color in the skin
- cafe au lait spots
- mongolian spots
- mole
Cafe au lait pigmented birthmark
- color of coffee with milk
- anywhere in the body
- if child has > 6 at birth, evaluated for signs of neurofibromatosis
Mongolian spots pigmented birthmark
- flat, bluish-gray patches often found on lower back or buttocks
- ALWAYS DOCUMENT THESE! if not, can look like child abuse
Albinism
- recessive condition that results in little or no melanin production
- lack of pigment in skin, hair, and iris of eye
Vitiligo
- small patchy areas of hypo pigmentation
- cells that produce melanin die or no longer form melanin, causing slowly enlarging white patches of irregular shapes on the skin
- one part of skin or spreading
Pharmacotherapy of vitiligo
- topical corticosteroid agents
- topical repigmenting agents
- skin graft
- sun safeguards
Lentigo
- large pigmented spots
- aka age spots
Skin tags
- benign, soft brown or flesh colored masses that usually occur on the neck, armpit or groin
- more common in persons who are obese or have diabetes
Contact dermatitis
- acute inflammation reaction from exposure to irritant or allergen-producing substance
Common causes of contact dermatitis
- latex
- poison oak
- laundry detergent
- soap
- nickel
- jewelry
Treatment for contact dermatitis
- wet compresses
- avoid soaps (use dove unscented)
- antihistamine to stop itching
- anti-inflammatory creams
Atopic eczema
- chronic inflammation perhaps due to hypersensitivity of immune system
- may be accompanied by asthma and allergic rhinitis
Signs/symptoms of atopic eczema
- red to brownish-gray colored skin patches
- pruritus at night
- vesicles
- thickened, cracked, or scaly skin
- irritated, sensitive skin from scratching
- rash will bleed if scratched