Week 8: Integumentary System Flashcards
Skin and diseases
multiple systems can manifest disease through the skin ie) liver disease and jaundice
Immune system
What does the integumentary system include?
Skin, hair, nails, sweat glands
What affects the skin?
Hydration, nutrition, even emotional status
What does the skin do?
Defend the body against environmental threats
What are the risk factors pertaining to skin?
Nutrition status can contribute to disorders of the integument
- Vitamin/mineral deficiency
Immobility
- Pressure
- Shearing forces
- Friction
UV exposure – natural and artificial
Some infectious diseases
Health promotion for skin
Educate client on features of a benign mole, when to investigate
Emphasize steps in skin self-examination
UV exposure – “Seek, Slip, Slap, Slop”
Tanning beds
Vitamin D
Exploring other risk factors
Melanoma ABCDEs
Asymmetry Borders Colour Diameter Evolution
Subjective information important for skin assessments
Family history
Past history
Medications
Lifestyle, occupational
history, and personal
behaviors
Inspection skin
If performing a complete skin assessment, inspect all body areas
Note overall skin appearance – colour and pigmentation
Is colour consistent over all parts of the body? Note any abnormalities ie. cyanosis, pallor, jaundice, erythema, edema
Inspect individual lesions/moles
Note if non-elevated, elevated, solid, fluid-filled
Inspect nails and hair, including scalp
Configuration
skin assessment - configuration
Location of the lesion(s)
Distribution of the lesions as localized, regional, or generalized
Whether lesion is primary (appearing initially) or secondary (resulting from a change in a primary lesion)
The shape of the lesion
Margins (borders)
Morphology: papule, plaque, pustule, bulla, macule etc
Colour, pigmentation
Texture, consistency
Size
primary skin lesions
original wound
secondary skin lesion
resulting skin condition (like a scar) following a wound, or wounds that develop surrounding a wound
skin assessment palpation
Assess skin temperature, moisture and texture
Assess skin turgor (best place is below clavicle)
Palpate lesions for tenderness, mobility, and consistency.
Palpate hair and nails, note brittleness, for example
Depending on the condition of the skin (like drainage) or presence of infection, gloves may be needed
lifespan considerations - pregnant women skin
melasma
linea nigra
straiae
lifespan considerations - newborns skin
vernix
stork bites
mongolian spots
