Skin Disorders Flashcards
What is psoriasis?
chronic, immune-mediated disorder
What causes psoriasis?
polygenic predisposition + environmental triggers e.g., trauma, infections, or medications
What characterises psoriasis?
Sharply demarcated, scaly, erythematous plaques characterise the most common form of psoriasis
Common sites of involvement are scalp, elbows and knees, followed by nails, hands, feet and trunk (including intergluteal fold)
What is the most common systemic manifestation of psoriasis?
psoriatic arthritis
What is the pathophysiology of psoriasis?
● Stressed keratinocytes release DNA / RNA
→ form complex with antimicrobial peptides
→ induce cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1 and IFN-α) production
→ activate dermal dendritic cells (dDCs)
● dDCs migrate to lymph nodes → promote Th1, Th17, Th22 cells
→ chemokine release – migration of inflammatory cells into dermis
→ cytokine release
→ keratinocyte proliferation
→ psoriatic plaque
What can psoriasis look like in more pigmented people?
more brown
What are the methods of management of psoriasis?
Lifestyle
therapeutic ladder
phototherapy
medicine
systemic immunosuppression
advanced therapies
What do we mean by lifestyle for management of psoriasis?
Alcohol and smoking
co-morbidities
What is meant by therapeutic ladder for management of psoriasis?
● Topical therapies
➢ Vitamin D analogues
➢ Topical corticosteroids
➢ Retinoids
➢ Topical tacrolimus / pimecrolimus
What is phototherapy?
intentional daily exposure to direct sunlight or similar-intensity artificial light in order to treat medical disorders.
Narrowband UVB
PUVA (psoralen + UVA)
What is narrowband UVB?
A specific wavelength of UVB (311 to 312 nanometers) is thought to be the most useful range for treating skin conditions.
What is PUVA?
PUVA is an ultraviolet light therapy treatment for skin diseases
What medication can be used to treat psoriasis?
Acitretin (retinoid)
What are retinoids?
chemicals derived from vitamin A
What systemic immunosuppression can be used to manage psoriasis?
Methotrexate
Ciclosporin
What advanced therapies can be used to manage psoriasis?
PDE4 inhibitors (Apremilast)
Biologics (anti-TNF-α, anti-IL-17, anti-IL-23)
JAK inhibitors
What else do JAK inhibitors treat?
arthritis
What is atopic eczema?
Intensely pruritic chronic inflammatory condition
Complex genetic disease with environmental influences
When does atopic eczema typically begin?
Typically begins during infancy or early childhood
What is atopic eczema often associated with?
other ‘atopic’ disorders e.g., asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis
What are characteristics of atopic eczema?
Acute inflammation of cheeks, scalp, and extensors in infants
Flexural inflammation and lichenification in children and adults