Skin Flashcards

• Common form of cell-mediated or delayed hypersensitivity
• Various things can form the sensitizing antigen: microorganisms, chemicals, foreign proteins, latex, drugs, metals, poison ivy

• Erythema
• Swelling
• Itching with vesicular lesions in the area of allergen contact

topical or systemic steroids

• Nonimmunologically mediated inflammation of the skin that can cause systemic involvement
• Exposure to soaps, detergents, agents used in industries cause the lesions (which resemble allergic contact dermatitis)
• Remove source of irritation

• Usually occurs on the legs as a result of venous stasis and edema associated with varicosities, phlebitis, and vascular trauma
• Develop erythema and pruritis
• Then scaling, petechiae, and hyper pigmentation
• Progressive lesions become ulcerated, especially around ankles and tibia

• Elevate legs
• No tight clothing
• Do not stand for long periods of time
• Acute cases are treated with antibiotics
• Chronic lesions treated with wet dressings of Burow solution or silver nitrate

• Common, chronic inflammation of the skin: scalp, eyebrows, eyelids, ear canals, nasolabial folds, axillae, chest, back
• Have periods of exacerbation and remission
• Lesions are scaly, white or yellow plaques with mild pruritus

• Use shampoo with sulfur, salicylic acid, or tar
• Topicals include antifungals or low-dose steroids

• Self-limiting, inflammatory disorder that occurs more often in young adults, usually during the winter
• Cause is thought to be a herpes-like virus

• Starts as a single lesion called the herald patch
• This patch is circular, demarcated, salmon-pink, 3-4 cm in diameter, and usually found on the trunk
• Early lesions are macular and papular
• Secondary lesions develop within 14-21 days and extend over the trunk and upper part of the extremities
• Rarely on the face

• Can be confused with syphilis, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis
• Usually self-limiting and resolves in a few months with symptomatic treatment for pruritus; sunlight for resolution

• Benign autoimmune inflammatory disorder of the skin and mucous membranes
• Some develop after exposure to drugs or film-processing chemical

• Begins with nonscaling, violet-colored pruritic papules, 2-4 mm in size, usually on wrists, ankles, lower legs, genitalia
• Papules are flat-topped
• New lesions are pale pink and evolve into a dark violet color
• Persistent lesions become hypertrophic Itching is the most distressing symptom
• May last months to years: average duration is 6-18 months
• Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation is common

Antihistamines for itching and topical/systemic corticosteroids for inflammation

• Name means to blister or bubble
• Rare autoimmune blistering disease of the skin and oral mucous membranes caused by circulating autoantibodies
• Clinical course can be rapidly fatal to benign

• From manifestation and histologic exam of the skin
• Treatment is systemic corticosteroids in high doses
• Patient may be treated in a burn center

• Characterized by inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes, often associated with toxic reactions to a drug
• Lesions vary in presentation and may involve the skin or mucous membranes or both
• Characteristic “bull’s eye” or “target” lesions occur on the skin surface with a central erythematous region surrounded by concentric rings

• Acute superficial infection of the upper dermis
• Usually caused by group A beta hemolytic strep
• Face, ears, lower legs

• Chills, fever, malaise precede onset of lesions
• Initial lesions are firm, red spots that enlarge and coalesce
• Coalesce to form clearly circumscribed advancing, bright red, hot lesion with raised border
• Itching, burning, tenderness are present
• Use cold compresses and systemic ABT

• Benign proliferation of basal cells that produce elevated lesions that may be smooth or warty
• Usually seen in older people
• Multiple lesions on the chest, back and face
• Tan to waxy yellow, flesh colored, or dark brown-black
• Often greasy appearing

• Premalignant lesion found on skin exposed to sun
• Prevalence is highest in those with unprotected, light colored skin
• Rare in blacks
• Rough, poorly defined papules; may be felt more than seen
• Some areas may have telangiectasias
• Freeze with liquid nitrogen

• Most common human cancer
• Tumors grow upward and laterally or downward to the dermal/epidermal junction
• Usually have depressed centers and rolled borders
• Usually do not metastasize, but grow by direct extension to adjacent structures

• Face
• Neck
• Slow

• Tumor of the epidermis
• Two types: in situ and invasive
• Significantly more malignant if left untreated
• Areas affected are the head and neck
• Pre-malignant lesions are sun-damaged skin or actinic keratosis

Dysplastic epidermal lesion found on unexposed areas of the body such as the penis and demonstrated by flat, reddish, scaly patches; they rarely invade surrounding tissue and almost never metastasize

• Early recognition is key
• ABCDE rule: asymmetry, border irregularity, color variation, diameter larger than 6 mm, evolving or rapid enlargement
• Causes: genetic predisposition, solar radiation, steroid hormone activity
• Treatment is guided by size and depth of lesion
• Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, biologic response modifiers

• Acute or chronic infection of the cuticle Acute paronychia is the rapid onset of painful inflammation of the cuticle, usually after minor trauma
• An abscess may develop requiring I & D for relief of pain
• Most common causative organisms are staph and strep

• Is a fungal or dermatophyte infection of the nail plate
• Nail plate turns yellow or white and becomes elevated with the accumulation of hyperkeratotic debris
• Treatment is difficult as topical or systemic antifungals do not penetrate the nail bed very well