Skin Exam (Exam 1) Flashcards
What does SOCRATES stand for?
S= site
O= onset
C= character
R= radiate/refer
A= associations
T= timing
E= exacerbating/relieving
S= severity
What is a common cause of decreased hematocrit and oxyhemoglobin resulting in pallor skin?
anemia
What are the common causes of vasoconstriction and decreased perfusion resulting in pallor skin?
shock, syncope (fainting), vitiligo
What is the common cause of inability to form melanin?
albinism (affects skin, hair, and eyes)
If someone has local artery insufficiency and pallor skin, what are the affected areas?
lower extremities
What are the common causes of non-inflammatory edema?
-congestive heart failure (CHF)
-liver failure
-nephrotic syndrome
define ischemia
low blood flow or no blood flow
ischemia will lead to what?
hypoxia
Which arteries should be checked if someone has local artery insufficiency?
dorsal pedis artery and posterior tibial artery
What may cause someone to have cyanotic skin?
-anxiety
-cold
-sickle cell anemia
-methemoglobinemia
-blue baby syndrome
-toxins like nitrates, aniline dyes, crayons, lunch meat
What may cause someone to have reddish blue skin?
polycythemia vera (primary or secondary)
What is polycythemia vera (true/primary PV)?
-myeloproliferative disorder (malignant or has potential to become malignant)
-affects all blood cells
-capillary stasis
-increases deoxyhemoglobin
-reddish blue skin in the face, conjunctiva, extremities, and oral mucosa
What is secondary/compensatory/physiological polycythemia?
-only RBCs increased (primary polycythemia would have all blood cells increased)
-erythropoietin gets stimulated due to hypoxia
-can be caused by heart disease or lung disease like COPD, or high altitudes
What may cause someone to have erythema on the skin?
-fever
-blushing
-alcohol intake
-inflammation
-urticaria (wheals/hives)
-skin diseases like acne or rosacea
Decreased RBCs would indicate what pathology?
anemia
Decreased WBCs would indicate what pathology?
immunocompromised
Decreased platelets would indicate what pathology?
thrombocytopenia (bleeding problems, bruise easily)
Increased deoxyhemoglobin may cause you to have yellow skin due to?
carotenemia or vitamin A overdose
Abnormal hemoglobin may cause you to have yellow skin due to?
uremia (kidney failure)
What may cause you to have yellow skin?
-increased deoxyhemoglobin
-abnormal hemoglobin
-all blood cells are increased
-dilation of superficial vessels
-increased serum bilirubin
-RBC hemolysis
-increased carotene
-retention of urinary chromagens
What may cause someone to have bronze (grayish tan) skin?
test q
-adrenal cortex hypofunction (addisons disease)
-deposition of melanin and iron (hemochromatosis or bronze diabetes)
What is addisons disease?
-adrenal cortex hypofunction
-bronze (grayish tan) skin in exposed areas, pressure sites, nipples, genitalia, and palmar creases
Hemochromatosis and bronze diabetes cause bronze skin due to….
deposition of melanin and iron
What would cause someone to have brown skin change?
-deposition of melanin during pregnancy or addisons disease (melasma is known as mask of pregnancy, cloasma, nipples, areola, linea nigra)
Oily skin may indicate….
acne
Dry skin may indicate….
hypothyroidism
Itchy skin may indicate….
-dry skin
-uremia (kidney failure)
-lymphoma
-leukemia
-lice
-aging
-pregnancy
-drug reactions
-biliary cirrhosis
-many carcinomas
Would hyperthyroidism have increased or decreased skin temp?
increased
Would hypothyroidism have increased or decreased skin temp?
decreased
Would hypothyroidism (Hashimotos thyroiditis) have smooth or rough skin?
rough
Would hyperthyroidism (graves disease) have smooth or rough skin?
smooth
What is mobility/turgor of skin?
shows elasticity of skin (normal skin is mobile and returns to normal placement if stretched)
What may decrease mobility of skin?
-edema
-scleroderma
What may decrease turgor of skin?
-dehydration
-extreme weight loss
