PHYSICAL EXAM Flashcards
Derm Specific History
(1) Onset: Abrupt or gradual onset.
(2) Location: Where lesions first noted and where they are now.
(3) Duration: Recurrences, remissions, exacerbations.
(4 ) Evolution: Has it spread? Gotten itchier? More painful?***
(5) Character: Pruritus/pain, bleeding, non-healing wounds
(6) Aggravating/Alleviating: UVR exposure, heat/cold, exposures (chemicals, medications,cosmetics, perfumes, plants, metals)
(7) Temporal: Constant, intermittent, worse at night, climate change
(8) Severity: Severity of pain or pruritus (0/10 works for both)
(9 )Pertinent Derm Questions: Previous occurrence(s), any close contacts with similar symptoms, new/change in hygiene products
Skin Specific Social History
(1) Medication History: Prescriptions, nonprescription medications, vitamins, dietary supplements, herbal remedies started recently.
(2) Allergies: Medications, foods, environmental antigens, and contactants
(3) Social History: Occupation, hobbies/leisure activities, diet, bathing habits, pets, living conditions.
(4) Family History: Of skin disease, atopy or skin cancer.
(5) Travel History: Deployments, training missions, PCS
(6) Prior Medical History: Blistering sunburns or chronic UVR exposure during youth and adolescence.
Exaggerated IgE-mediated immune response triggering a histamine response.
Atopy
Any exaggerated immune response to a foreign antigen regardless of mechanism
Allergy
(a) Atopic dermatitis, allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, latex and some food allergies
(b) Anaphylaxis, some cases of angioedema, urticaria
Atopic disorders
Is atopy hereditatry
yes.
family history may reveal other manifestations of atopy in close family members.
the most common disorders among people.
Atopic/Allergic disorders
Hair and Nail Specific History
(1) Hair:
(a) Changes in hair patterns: Hair loss or growth, distribution, texture, color
(b) Treatment: Perms, coloring, weaves, commercial hair products or chemicals
(2) Nails:
(a) Change in nails: Thickening, thinning, brittleness, color changes
(b) Treatment: Nail salons, nail clipping habits
(3) Both Hair and Nails:
(a) Occurrence/recurrence: sudden or gradual onset, symmetric or asymmetric, recurrence.
(b) Exposure: drugs, environmental or occupational toxins or chemicals
History Essentials:
(1) Customize the history depending on the chief complaint and capture the pertinent information.
(2) Adjust the patient encounter methodology (examination) to capture pertinent exam findings in an efficient manner.
(1) A complete skin examination includes:
(a) Entire skin surface
(b) Hair and Nails
(c) Mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth, genitals, anus)
(2) Highly focused Derm complaints do not typically require a complete skin examination
(a) A focused clinical examination includes:
1) Evaluation of the specific dermatologic complaint
2) Cursory examination of the hair and nails
(a) Rated as I – VI on the scale
(b) Quasi-objective metric of amount of melanin pigment in the skin
Fitzpatrick Skin type (AKA pigmentary photo-type)
(a) UVR resistance is largely determined by ___ and melanocytic pigmentation of the skin.
(b) UVA induces oxidative damage to DNA in the presence of melanin and UV causes damage directly to DNA
(c) Accumulation of unrepaired DNA/UVR damage increases the risk of skin cancer
melanocyte activity
___ is an umbrella term used in dermatology
(a) Any observed skin changes or findings
(b) Can be normal or pathologic
Lesion
Ring shape with central clearing
Annular
a) Coin-shaped; solid circle or oval
b) Uniform appearance from the edges to the center
Round (nummular)
Often results from incomplete formation of an annular lesion
Arcuate (arc-shaped)
Multiple different shapes located closely together (grab-bag)
Multiform:
Formed from coalescing circles, rings, or incomplete rings
Polycyclic:
Target-like, with a center darker than the periphery.
Targetoid:
Dot-like; typically around 1mm
Punctate:
a) With a central depression of the surface.
b) Also known as “delled”
Umbilicated:
a) Resembling a straight line
Ex: Poison Ivy or scratch marks
Linear:
a) Serpentine or snake-like
Ex: Lymphadenitis
Serpiginous:
Most important additional feature of a lesion other than primary morphology.
Lesion Color
The most common types of color on the skin are:
1) Variations in brown
2) Hyperpigmentation
3) Hypopigmentation
4) Variations in red (erythema)
1) Borders are clearly defined and have a definitive ‘stop’ point
2) AKA ‘Discrete’ or ‘well defined’
Demarcation (Borders)
1) Tight borders on a round lesion
2) Clear “beginning & end”
Circumscribed
1) Borders are indistinct and lack a definitive start/stop point
2) AKA ‘indistinct’ or ‘confluent’
Not well-demarcated
1) Expanding at margins
Ex: Cellulitis, erysipelas, necrotizing fasciitis, etc.
Advancing
1) AKA ‘central clearing
2) Similar to annular or arcuate except the border is being considered vice theshape.
Border raised above center
Protein-rich fluid containing cellular elements extruded from blood vessels secondary to inflammation or injury
Exudate:
Thin, pink-colored discharge associated with normal wound healing.
Serosanguinous:
Mild, yellow and cloudy discharge associated with mild infections.
Seropurulent:
Thick, yellow to green discharge typically associated with infection.
Purulent:
Thin, clear discharge associated with and expected in inflammatory stage of wound healing.
Serous: