skin Flashcards
Name the layers of skin
How long does a superficial dermal burn take to heal?
Around 14 days leaving minimal scarring.
What is slough?
Slough refers to the yellow/white
material in the wound bed; it is usually
wet, but can be dry. It generally has a
soft texture. It can be thick and adhered
to the wound bed, present as a thin
coating, or patchy over the surface of
the wound (Figure 3). It consists of dead
cells that accumulate in the wound
exudate
Describe Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes flaky patches of skin which form scales.
On brown, black and white skin the patches can look pink or red, and the scales white or silvery. On brown and black skin the patches can also look purple or dark brown, and the scales may look grey.
These patches normally appear on your elbows, knees, scalp and lower back, but can appear anywhere on your body.
Most people are only affected with small patches. In some cases, the patches can be itchy or sore.
People with psoriasis have an increased production of skin cells.
Skin cells are normally made and replaced every 3 to 4 weeks, but in psoriasis this process only takes about 3 to 7 days.
What is a skin lesion?
Skin lesions are areas of your skin that are different from the skin around them. Skin lesions are common and may be the result of an injury or damage to your skin, like sunburn. Skin sores refer to a type of skin lesion, like ulcers. Commonly, the terms sore and lesion are used to refer to the same type of abnormal skin.
Difference between Petechiae and Purpura
Petechiae are non-blanching pinpoint spots which are less than 3mm in diameter.
Purpura are non-blanching, greater than 3mm in diameter, and are sometimes palpable.
Non-blanching rashes are rashes which do not disappear with pressure, particularly using the ‘glass test’.
Most children with a non-blanching rash who are well will not have a serious underlying cause. In many cases, a simple viral illness (often adenovirus) is the final diagnosis. Other differentials include Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP), immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) or mechanical causes including physical abuse.
However, for a small number of children, a non-blanching rash can indicate a more significant underlying cause such as meningococcal sepsis or haematological malignancy.
It therefore is important to assess all children with a non-blanching rash promptly to enable early diagnosis and treatment. All children with a non-blanching rash with or without fever require same-day assessment by the paediatric team in hospital unless there is a clear, accidental mechanical cause.
