Skin Color Variations - Class 2 Flashcards
Fitzpatrick scale
describes a way to classify the skin by its rxn to exposure to sunlight
determined by amount of melanin in the skin
what can the Fitzpatrick predict
skin cancer risks
scarring dysfunctions
fitzpatrick scale types
type 1-6
FP scale –> type 1
light
pale white
always burns and never tans
FP scale –> type 2
white
fair
usually burns
tans w/ difficulty
FP scale –> type 3
medium
white to olive
sometimes mild burns
gradually tans to olive
FP scale –> type 4
olive
moderate brown
rarely burns
tans w/ ease to a moderate brown
FP scale –> type 5
brown
dark brown
very rarely burns
tans very easily
FP scale –> type 6
black
very dark
brown to black
never burns
tans very easily
deeply pigmented
trauma with skin of color
people w/ different skin colors heal differently
POC –> types 4-6
post inflammatory hyper/hypopigmentation
after an injury
–> the skin becomes too light (hypo) or too dark (hyper) around the injury
dark skin may respond to trauma or inflammation…
either an increase or decrease in pigmentation (dyschromia)
dyschromia –> dark skin
melanocytes respond in exaggerated way
marked change in pigment
dyschromia
following an inflammatory event
post-inflammatory hyper pigmentation
post-inflammatory hypo pigmentation
special considerations with skin of color
dyschromia
stage 1 pressure ulcer looks purple
keloid scarring
mycosis fungoides or lymphoma of the skin
stage 1 pressure ulcer looks purple
not red
difficult to see blanching –> difficult seeing blood come back into an area –> may not see reddening)
