skin conditions

Question 1

what is cellulitis

Answer 1

• Bacterial infection of the dermis and subcutaneous tissues
• Potential to rapidly spread
• Most commonly on limbs, particularly the legs
• Unilateral

Question 2

what are signs and symptoms of cellulitis

Answer 2

• Swelling
• Redness
• Heat
• Pain
• Blistering (pus)
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Fever
• Can lead to sepsis

Question 3

what is treatment and preventative measures of cellulitis

Answer 3

treatment
- antibiotics to treat infection
- elevating the lower limbs (if affected)

preventative measures
- Appropriate wound care
- Treating other skin conditions
- Maintaining adequate moisture of the skin
- Regular checks of limbs and skin

Question 4

what is basal cell carcinoma (skin cancer)

Answer 4

• keratinocytes in basal layer of the epidermis
• Most commonly in areas exposed to the sun
• Slow growing, rarely metastasizes
• Varied appearance

Question 5

what is squamous cell carcinoma (skin cancer)

Answer 5

• keratinocytes in outer epidermal layers
• Most commonly in areas exposed to the sun
• Slow growing, but invasive (moves into deeper skin layers), increased risk of metastasis
• A nodule that ulcerates and bleeds
• can occur in other places with squamous cells, particularly keratinised cells

Question 6

what is melanoma (skin cancer)

Answer 6

• malignant melanocytes
• Rapid growth and proliferation
• High rate of metastasis
• More common in individuals who have experienced sunburn, particularly a blistering sunburn
• Can develop anywhere on the skin
• Various appearances: irregular bump, irregular colouration, irregular shape/ border, changes in shape/ size, 6mm diameter, itching, bleeding, oozing, ulceration, crusting over

Question 7

treatment options for skin cancer

Answer 7

• excision
• radiation
• chemotherapy as necessary

Question 8

what is a pressure injury

Answer 8

• Localised injury of skin resulting from sustained pressure on the skin
• Pressure leads to decreased blood flow (ischemia) which leads to death of the skin cells which creates ulceration (losing skin tissue)

Question 9

what are the stages of a pressure injury

Answer 9

1. Inflammatory response from ischemia in the outer layers of the skin, skin is intact, discolouration (non-blanchable)
2. Patrial thickness, Erosion of skin tissues, loss of skin cells and tissue, exposure of dermis, blister appearance
3. Full thickness, dermal tissue erodes away, exposing hypodermis, rolled edge, blisters
4. Full thickness, Exposes underlying tissues (bone, muscle, fascia)
5. Unstageable- ulcer filled with dead tissue so can not determine stage but it is between 3-4
6. Deep tissue injury- dead damaged tissue deep in the dermis, can appear at the surface by inflammation, blood-filled blister, deep red/ maroon discolouration at the skin surface

Question 10

what is prevention and treatment of pressure injuries

Answer 10

prevention
- do not remain in positions that will cause pressure injuries
- constant turning/ repositioning

treatment
- Cleaning of the wound
- Dressing the wound
- Removing dead tissue/ debris