Skin Disorders and Diseases Flashcards
Dermatology
the branch of medical science that studies and treats the skin and its disorders and diseases
Lesions
are structural changes in the skin tissues caused by damaged or injury. Any abnormality, such as a mark or wounds are considered lesions.
3 types: primary, secondary, and tertiary
Primary: lessions are flat discoloured changes in the skin, such as macules or fluid filled elevations, such as papule.
Secondary: skin damage, developed in the later stages of disease, that changes the structure of tissues
Primary:
Bulla
- large blister, watery fluid
- requires medical referral
- contact dermatitis, second degree burns, impetigo
Primary:
Cyst/tubercle
- abnormal development, closed sac containing pus, fluid, or matter
- deep, dermis
- a cyst can be drained, tubercle cannot
- medical referral
Primary:
macule
- flat spot or discolouration on the skin
- freckle or age spot
Primary:
nodule
- a solid mass larger than 1 cm
- medical referral
- swollen lymph nodes, rheumatoid nodules
Primary:
papule
- a small elevation, contains no fluid, but may develop pus
- acne, warts, nevi
Primary:
Pustule
- inflamed and infected papule, contains pus, a white or yellow center
- acne, impetigo folliculitis (ingrown hair)
Primary:
Tumor
- abnormal mass varying in size, colour, shape
- not always cancer but best example
- medical referral
Primary:
Vesicle
- small blister or sac containing fluid, within or just beneath the epidermis
- poison ivy, poison oak
Primary:
Wheal
- itchy, swollen session caused by a blow, starch, insect bite, or urticaria (skin allergy), or the sting of a nettle.
- typically resolves on its own, but medical referral if condition lasts more than 3 days
- hives, mosquito bite
Secondary:
Crust
- dead cells that form over a wound or blemish while healing
- sometimes accumulates sebum or pus
- scab, sore
Secondary:
Excoriation
-sore or abrasion cause by a scratch or scrape
Secondary:
Fissure
- crack in the skin that penetrates the dermis, from severe dryness
- chapped lips, hands, or feet
Secondary:
Keloid
- a thick scar from excessive growth of fibrous tissue (usually collagen)
- will form with scars
Secondary:
Scale
- hyperkeratinization, accumulation of dead skin cells in patches
- thin, dry or oily
- excessive dandruff, psoriasis
Secondary:
Scar or cicatrix
- slightly raised or depressed lesion a result of the healing process related to an injury
- post-operative repair
Secondary:
Ulcer
- open lession, loss of skin depth, weeping fluid or pus
- herpes, diabetic ulcer
albinism
absence of melanin pigment
Carbuncle
cluster of boils
contact dermatitis
inflammatory skin condition caused by contact with a substance or chemical, exposure to irritants, allergic reaction
eczema
- inflammatory, painful itchy disease of the skin, mainly affecting oily areas
- dry or moist lessions
- seborrheic dermatitis
edema
swelling caused by fluid imbalance in cells or a response to injury or infection
erythema
redness caused by inflammation
hyperhidrosis
excessive perspiration not related to exercise or heat
hyperkeratosis
thickening of the skin caused by a mass of keratinized cells (keratinocytes)
hyperpigmentation
overproduction of pigment
hypo pigmentation
absence of pigment, light or white splotches
impetigo
- a contagious skin infection caused by staphylococcal or streptococcal bacteria
- characterized by clusters of blisters or crusty lesions
milia
- can be described as closed comedones
- whitish, pearl like masses of sebum and dead cells under the skin
- more common in dry skin types
nevus
birthmark, abnormal pigmentation or dilated capillaries
sebaceous hyperplasia
-in oilier areas of the face, overgrowth of the sebaceous gland, doughnut shaped
seborrhea
severe oiliness of the skin causing irritation
sensitization
the development of hypersensitivity due to repeated exposure to an allergen
vitiligo
pigmentation disease characterized by white patches and the skin from lack of pigment cells, worsens with sunlight
