Skin Intro Flashcards
What are the Fitzpatrick skin types?
Type 1 - pale white skin, blue/green eyes, blonde/red hair - doesn’t tan, always burns
Type 2 - fair skin, blue eyes - burns easily, tans poorly
Type 3 - darker white skin - tans after initial burn
Type 4 - light brown skin - burns minimally, tans easily
Type 5 - brown skin - rarely burns, tans dark easily
Type 6 - dark brown/black skin - never burns, always tans
What are the functions of the skin?
- Barrier to external injury
- Temperature control
- Fluid and electrolyte balance
- Produces vitamin D
- Cosmetic function
What is intrinsic aging?
Passage of time, skin becomes finely wrinkled, exaggeration of expression lines, laxity and pallor
What is photo aging?
Alterations in skin structure from chronic sun exposure in addition to passage of time
Causes xerosis, irregular pigmentation and more pronounced wrinkling
What is a nodule?
Solid raised lesion >3mm in diameter - contains no fluid
What is a papule?
A small solid raised lesion
What is a macule?
A flat coloured lesion - not raised
What is a patch?
A large flat coloured lesion
What is a vesicle?
A small fluid filled lesion <1cm
What is a bulla?
A larger fluid filled lesion >1cm
What is a cyst?
A soft raised encapsulated lesion filled with semi-solid or liquid contents
What is a pustule?
A vesicle filled with fluid and leukocytes
What is a plaque?
A large, flat-topped raised lesion
What is erythema?
Redness of the skin due to capillary dilation
What is a scale?
A collection of cells that have departed from the epidermis
What is excoriation?
Injury caused by scratching when the epidermis and dermis are removed
What is lichenification?
Thickening of the skin characterised by accentuated skin fold marking
What is a crust?
Dried exudate of body fluids that may be yellow or red
What is atrophy?
An acquired loss of substance