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)
mycosis fungoides or lymphoma of skin is more common w/
skin of color
mycosis fungoides or lymphoma of skin
thickening of the skin and early stage patches of a scaly rash
mycosis fungoides or lymphoma of skin –> rash
does not cause sxs
may go undetected for months or years
mycosis fungoides or lymphoma of skin –> appearance
yellow or gray instead of red
light skin –> melanosomes
primarily in basal layer of the epidermis
dark skin –> melanosomes
larger in people with darker skin
have greater total melanin
found throughout epidermis in skin of color
melanin fxns
to protect the skin from UV light
absorbs and defects rays
protects against photo damage
stratum corneum
same thickness in all individuals
stratum corneum –> black or darker skin
more compact with more layers
dark skin –> superior epidermal barrier
d/t compactness of the stratum corneum
takes greater amount of UV to affect the skin
recovers quicker after barrier damage
resists skin stripping and peeling
sun damage is
cumulative
builds up over time
sun damage appearance
freckles
age spots/pigmentation changes
wrinkles/decreased skin elasticity
rough, uneven skin textures
skin cancers
skin cancers
basal cell carcinoma
squamous cell carcinoma
merkel cell cancer
melanoma
most common form of skin cancer
basal cell carcinoma
2nd most common form of skin cancer
squamous cell carcinoma
rare and aggressive form of skin cancer
merkel cell carcinoma
most dangerous form of skin cancer
melanoma
but can be cured if caught and treated early
basal cell carcinoma is found
in epidermal basal cells
along face, ears, neck, scalp, shoulders and back
squamous cell carcinoma is found
epidermal squamous cells
along face, ears, scalp, neck, hands
merkel cell cancer is found
found on head, neck, and eyelids
associated w/ merkel cell polyomavirus
melanoma is developed from
melanocytes
what do melanomas resemble
a mole
where can melanomas occur
anywhere on body
sunscreen
minimizes photo aging in light and dark skin
