skin conditions Flashcards
infections
=occur when bacteria infect the skin and sometimes the deep tissue beneath the skin
Cellulitis is a common type of skin infection that causes redness, swelling, and pain in the infected area of the skin.
Another type of skin infection is skin abscess, which is a collection of pus under the skin.
causes: a cut or a break in the skin that allows bacteria to enter and cause an infection
risks: Injury to the skin, Skin conditions, such as athlete’s foot or eczema, Chronic swelling of the legs or arms, Obesity, Diabetes
symptoms: Skin redness, Pain, tenderness, or warmth when the affected skin is touched, Swelling of the affected area
patho: bacteria enters skin through a breach. The microbes begin to multiply. In response the immune system released white blood cells, antibodies and try to attack. Pathogenic microbes try to kill cells/ disrupt function- body responds with fever to inactivate and secretes interferon to block virus reproducing
Most common conditions that can predispose an individual to bacterial skin infections involve cases when the integrity of the skin barrier is breached; therefore, trauma such as abrasion, excoriation, laceration, or ulceration may result in vulnerable skin.
malignant
=the abnormal growth of skin cells — most often develops on skin exposed to the sun. But this common form of cancer can also occur on areas of your skin not ordinarily exposed to sunlight.
There are three major types of skin cancer — basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.
causes: Skin cancer occurs when errors (mutations) occur in the DNA of skin cells. The mutations cause the cells to grow out of control and form a mass of cancer cells.
risk factors: fair skin, excessive sun exposure, sunny climates, moles, precancerous skin lesions, family/ personal history, weak immune system, radiation exposure, substance exposure
patho: out-of-control growth of abnormal cells in the epidermis, the outermost skin layer, caused by unrepaired DNA damage that triggers mutations. These mutations lead the skin cells to multiply rapidly and form malignant tumors.
symptoms: Basal cell carcinoma may appear as:
A pearly or waxy bump A flat, flesh-colored or brown scar-like lesion A bleeding or scabbing sore that heals and returns Squamous cell carcinoma may appear as: A firm, red nodule A flat lesion with a scaly, crusted surface Melanoma signs include: A large brownish spot with darker speckles A mole that changes in color, size or feel or that bleeds A small lesion with an irregular border and portions that appear red, pink, white, blue or blue-black A painful lesion that itches or burns Dark lesions on your palms, soles, fingertips or toes, or on mucous membranes lining your mouth, nose, vagina or anus
