Speciality: Dermatology Flashcards
Patient - Itchy, red, scaly patches on the flexural surfaces. ACF, popliteal fossae.
Eczema
Eczema Aetiology
- Genetic FHx
- Atopy
- Hygiene hypothesis
- Climate - heat and cold causes flares.
- Food antigens.
Eczema Pathology
- Primary immune dysfunction - IgE sensitisation and allergic inflammation.
- Primary defect of the epithelial layer.
Eczema Presentation
- Itchy, red, scaly patches on the flexural surfaces.
- In infants, can start on the face.
- Acute lesion can weep.
- Can become super infected w/ staph aureus.
- Excoriations.
- Eczema herpeticum - super infection with HSV.
Eczema Ix
1) Clinical
2) Bloods; eosinophilia and high IgE
3) Skin swabs if super-infection (Black for bacteria and Green for virus)
Eczema Rx
1) Education of trigger avoidance
2) Emollients
3) Steroids - topical hydrocortisone.
4) Topical immunomodulators - tacrolimus
5) ABx for superinfection - often flucloxacillin
6) Sedating antihistamines for itch
7) Bandaging
8) Systemic immunosuppression - Ciclosporin
Patient - Red, scaly patches w/ silver scales. Extensor surfaces, lower back, scalp, ears.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis Aetiology
- Polygenic
- Environmental triggers - cold, stress, alcohol, drugs, infection
- TNF
Psoriasis Pathology
- Skin biopsy shows; epidermal acanthosis and parakeratosis.
- Increased skin turnover
- Polymorphonuclear cells present in upper epidermis.
Psoriasis Presentation
- Chronic plaque psoriasis
- Flexural psoriasis
- Guttate psoriasis - rain drop like pattern, explosive eruption of small circular/oval plaques on the trunk.
- Nail changes - pitting, separation from the nail bed, yellowing
- Arthropathy
Psoriasis Ix
1) Clinical
2) Bloods; CRP & RF (PSa is seronegative)
Psoriasis Rx
1) Education around triggers
2) Emollients + skin cleaning and bandaging
3) UV exposure
4) Topical steroids
5) Vitamin D analogues (calcipotriol)
6) Severe = immunomodulators such as MTX ow + folic acid. AZA.
7) Biologics - Etanercept, adalimumab, infliximab.
Patient - Teenager w/ blackheads and lots of spots
Acne
Acne Aetiology
- Multifactorial
- Follicular epidermal hyper-proliferation.
- Blockage of pilosebaceous units
- Increased sebum production
- Infections w/ Propionibacterium acnes.
Acne Presentation
- Infantile acne
- Steroid induced acne
- Oil acne (work)
- acne fulminans - young males, severe necrotic and crusted lesions w/ malaise, pyrexia and arthralgia –> Rx urgently w/ oral pred followed by isotretinoin.
- Presents on the face, back, sternum.
- Open comedones (black) or closed comedones (whiteheads)
- Papules/pustules
- Greasy skin
Acne Ix
1) Clinical Dx
2) Skin swab for super-infection.
Acne Rx
1) Regular face washing to reduce oils
2) topical agents (kerolytics - benzoyl peroxide) or topical retinoids (tretinoin or isotretinoin) + topical erythromycin or clindamycin.
3) Low dose oral oxytetracycline 500mg Bd
4) Oral isotretinoin (in those w/ scarrin)
Patient - facial malar type flushing w/ papules and pustules around the nose, forehead and cheeks. Telangiectasia
- Rosacea
Rosacea Aetiology
- UK
- Potential underlying vasomotor instability
- Skin mite demodex
- Associated w/ blepharitis, conjunctivitis and keratitis.
Rosacea Presentation
- Often middle aged females
- Facial flushing w/ inflammatory pustules and papules.
- Telangiectasia
- Enlarging of the nose
- Flushing exacerbated by alcohol, sun and heat
Rosacea Ix
1) Clinical
Rosacea Rx
1) Long term use of topical 0.075% metronidazole or topical azelaic acid
2) 3 month course of oral tetracycline 500mg BD
3) Laser for telangiectasia.
SCC Aetiology
- Pre-malignant form = Solar keratoses. Silver-scalp papules or patches w/ conical surface and red base.
- Bowen’s disease = Intraepidermal Carcinoma in situ. Looks like psoriasis.