Skin Flashcards
Layers of the skin
Epidermis: outer layer- horny; dead keratin
inner layer-cellular, melatonin and keratin formed
inner layer migrates to outer layer in a month
superficial thin layer, no blood vessles
Dermis: nourish epidermis, connective tissue, sweat glands, sebaceous glands, hair follicles
Subcutaneous: adipose tissue/fat
Skin pigmentation
Melanin- brownish
Carotene- golden yellow
Oxyhemoglobin- bright red
Deoxyhemoglobin- dark blue pigment
Cyanosis
depends on oxygen concentration
Central; low O2 level in blood
Advanced lung disease, congenital HD, hemoglobinopathys
Peripheral; occurs when cutaneous blood flow decreased and slow- may be normal
CHF, reflects low blood flow, venous obstruction
PEdema can e both
Tissues extract more oxygen than usual from the blood
Can be normal response to anxiety or cold
Hair
Vellus: short, fine, inconspicuous, relatively unpigmented
Terminal: coarser, thicker, more conspicuous, usually pigmented, scalp hair and eyebrows
Changes with hair distribution d/t systemic effects from Thyroid gland
Nails
protect distal ends of fingers and toes
fingernails grow 0.1mm daily
toenails grow slower
angle between nail fold and plate <180degrees
Glands
Sebaceous: produce fatty substance screened onto the skin surface through the hair follicles. Absent from palms and soles
Sweat :
Eccrine: widely distributed, open directly onto skin, sweat production helps control body temp.
Apocrine: Axillary & genital regions, usually opens into hair follicle, stimulated by emotional stress, bacterial decomposition of apocrine sweat is responsible for adult body odor
Health History
Changes with hair, nails, skin??
Noticed: rash, sores, lumps, itching
Family Hx of skin CA
Personal Hx of skin Bx
Seen Dermatologist
Any special skin products
Pruritis
causes: dry skin, aging, pregnancy, uremia, jaundice, lymphoma, leukemia, lice, drugs
Moles
Concerning moles?
Changes with size, shape, color, sensation, new moles?
A- asymmetry
B-borders
C-color change
D-diameter >/= 6mm
E-elevation/evolving
Skin Cancer
Basal Cell: 80%- basal level of epidermis, pearly white, head and neck, slow growth, no mets
Squamos Cell: 16%- upper layer, crusted, red, ulcerated, mets
Melanoma: 4% Lethal, mets to lymph, int organs. Half detected by patient
Skin 4 letter words
skin
itch
burn
peel
rash
ROS
onset pruritis, repsonse to Tx
Associated constitution or systemic Sx
home/OTC Tx/response
skin lesions: change in size/color
Bleeding
Unusual dryness/ Increased sweating
painful lesions
hair changes
nail changes
Dyshydrotic
related to water or sweat
Hyperhydrosis
excessive/profuse sweating
Xerosis
excessive dryness
Induration
process of becoming firm or hard
Usual Suspects
Contact Dermatitis
Pyodermas- Bacterial Infection
Viral infection
fungal infection
candida/monolial overgrowth
BCC/SCC potential for overlap
Medication effects
Derm Principles
Be alert and integrate exams
keep a good derm text near
Find out what pt has beend oing, treating with, what they think, their Dx
Maintain low threshold for Bx for any lesions that don’t respond to Tx- esp ulcers and nodules
Speak and write language fluently
ID by location, distribution, morphology, pregression, symptomatology- can always reference treatment
ABCDE of moles
Physical Exam
General Survey:
Closely inspect hair, nail, skin. Palms, soles, web spaces, mucous membranes
Bedridden patient: sacrum, coccyx, buttock, greater trocanter, knees, heels
Skin
Color- cyanosis, pallor
Moisture
Temperature- warm=Hyperthroid, fever: cool= hypothyroid: local warmth=inflammation/cellulitis
Texture: rough=hypothyroid: velvety=hyperthyroid
Mobilty/Turgor: decr mobility with edema & scleroderma, decr turgor=dehyration
Lesions
Alopecia
Hair loss
Causes: genetic, local inflammatory process, systemic disease
diffuse patchy or total
Hypothyroid=sparse
Hyperthyroid=fine/silky
Distribution
Acne: face chest, back
psoriasis: knees, elbows
Candida: intertriginous
Herpes Zoster: unilateral dermatomal pattern
Skin Lesions
location: general/local
distribution
blanchable?
pattern/shape: linear, clustered, annular, arciform, geographical, serpiginous
size
shape
type- macule,papule, vesicle, nevi
color
Scabies
Mites can be loosened with scapel blade
Derm Colors
Flesh
Erythematous- red
Violaceous- blue
brawny- brown
jaundice- yellow- seen in sclera
hyperpigmented- dark
hypopigmented- light
vitiligo- absense of melanin
heliotropic- changing
Cafe Au Lait Spots
uniformly pigmented spots, macule/papule (0.5-1.5 cm diameter). Benign. 6 or more with diameter > 1.5cm c/w neurofibrmatosis