Skin, Hair, and Nails Flashcards
What are the 3 layers of skin?
- Epidermis (thin and tough
- Dermis (connective tissue (collagen and elastic)
- Subcutaneous layer (adipose tissue stores fats)
What is the function of the skin?
Protection
Prevents penetration
Perception
Temperature regulation
Identification
Communication
Wound repair
Absorption and excretion
Production of vitamin D
Developmental considerations
Infant and children-(newborn) thin skin an more permeable, greater risk of fluid loss, ineffective temp regulation
(Puberty) increased sweat gland secretions, more active sebaceous glands
Pregnant women-connective tissue becomes fragile and stretch marks
Older adults-slow atrophy of kin structures, loss of elasticity, thinning skin, decreased sweat, change in hair distribution
Subjective data
Previous history of skin disease
Change in pigmentation
Change in moles
Ecsessive bruising
Pruritus
Excessive dryness or moisture
Rash or lesion
Medications
Hair loss
Change in nails
Environmental hazards
Self care behaviours
Additional history questions
Infants and children-birthmarks, skin colour changes, allergic rash, diaper rash, burns or bruises, sun protection
Adolescents-skin problems
Older adults-skin changes, skin pain, delay in wound healing, falling, skin care
Inspection
Colour-general pigmentation (freckles, moles, birthmarks) and widespread colour change (pallor, erythyma, cyanosis, jaundice)
Temperature-hypothermia/hyperthermia
Moisture-diaphoresis/dehydration
Pinch around the clavicle and inspect and palpate
Texture, thickness, edema, mobility and turgor, vascularity, and then look at lesions (colour, elevation, size, pattern)
What is a pressure sore?
An area of skin over a bony prominence, and the circulation becomes compressed)
Inspect and palpate nails for…
shape and contour, consistency, colour (capillary refill)
Inspect and palpate hair for….
Colour, texture, distibution, lesions
Skin self-examination
A-asymmetry
B-border-irregularity
C-colour-varied
D-diameter-greater than 6mm
E-elevation and enlargement
Objective data considerations for older adults
Senile lentigenes (liver spots)
Keratosis
Skin tags
sebaceous hyperplasia
Thin-parchment skin
Decreased hair growth
Thickened or brittle yellow nails
Abnormal findings (lesions)
annular or circular
confluent
discrete
grouped
gyrate (swirly)
target
linear
polycyclic
zosteriform (nerve route)
Types of skin lesions
Primary- (occur on their own)macule, papule, plaque, nodule, wheal, tumour, uticaria (hives), vesicle, cyst, bulla, pustule
Secondary- (as a result of something) crust, scale, fissure, erosion, ulcer, excoriation, scar
Annular or circular
circles
Grouped
poison ivy
