Terminology Flashcards
What are the principles of examining the skin?
Inspect
Describe (SCAM, ABCD)
Palpate (surface, consistency, mobility, tenderness, temperature)
Systematic check (nails, scalp, hair, mucous membranes)
What is pruritic?
Itching
What is a lesion?
Area of altered skin
What is a rash?
An eruption
What is a naevus?
Localised malformation of tissue structures e.g. pigmented melanocytic naevus (mole)
What is a comedone?
Plug in sebaceous follicle containing altered sebum, bacteria and cellular debris
May present as open (blackheads) or closed (whiteheads)
Regarding distribution (pattern of spread of lesions), what is meant by
a) generalised?
b) widespread?
c) localised?
d) flexural?
e) extensor?
f) pressure areas?
g) dermatome?
h) photosensitive?
a) all over body
b) extensive
c) restricted to one area of skin only
d) body folds (groin, neck, behind ears, popliteal and antecubital fossa)
e) knees, elbows, shins
f) sacrum, buttocks, ankles, heels
g) area of skin supplied by a single spinal nerve
h) affects sun-exposed areas (face, neck, back of hands)
What is the Koebner phenomenon?
Linear eruption arising at site of trauma e.g. excoriation in psoriasis
Regarding configuration (pattern/shape of grouped lesions), what is meant by
a) discrete?
b) confluent?
c) linear?
d) target?
e) annular?
f) discoid/nummular?
a) individual lesions separated from one another
b) lesions merging together
c) in a line
d) concentric rings (like dartboard) e.g. erythema multiforme
e) like a circle/ring e.g. tinea corporis (ringworm)
f) coin-shaped/round lesion e.g. discoid eczema
What is erythema?
Redness (due to inflammation and vasodilation) blanching on pressure e.g. palmar erythema
What is purpura?
Red/purple colour (bleeding into skin/mucous membrane) that does not blanch on pressure
-Petechiae (small pinpoint macules)
-Ecchymoses (large bruise like patches)
E.g. Henoch-Schonlein pupura (palpable small vessel vasculitis)
What is hypopigmentation?
Area(s) of paler skin e.g. pityriasis versicolour (superficial fungal infection)
What is depigmentation?
White skin due to absence of melanin
Larger patches vs hypopigmentation
e.g. vitiligo
What is hyperpigmentation?
Darker skin that may be due to various pathology e.g. post inflammatory
Examples include Melasma (increased melatonin pigmentation)
What is a macule?
Flat area of altered colour e.g. freckles
What is a patch?
Larger flat area of altered colour or texture e.g. vascular malformation (naevus flammeus/port wine stain)
What is a papule?
Solid raised lesion <0.5cm diameter e.g. xanthomata
What is a nodule?
Solid raised lesion >0.5cm diameter with a deeper component e.g. pyogenic granuloma (granuloma telangiectaticum)