Chapter 052. Approach to the Patient with a Skin Disorder (Part 2) potx

Approach to the Patient with a Skin Disorder Part 2 Table 52-2 Description of Secondary Skin Lesions Lichenification: A distinctive thickening of the skin that is characterized by ac

Chapter 052 Approach to the Patient

with a Skin Disorder

(Part 2)

Table 52-2 Description of Secondary Skin Lesions

Lichenification: A distinctive thickening of the skin that is characterized

by accentuated skin-fold markings

Scale: Excessive accumulation of stratum corneum

Crust: Dried exudate of body fluids that may be either yellow (i.e., serous

crust) or red (i.e., hemorrhagic crust)

Erosion: Loss of epidermis without an associated loss of dermis.

Ulcer: Loss of epidermis and at least a portion of the underlying dermis

Excoriation: Linear, angular erosions that may be covered by crust and are

caused by scratching

Atrophy: An acquired loss of substance In the skin, this may appear as a

depression with intact epidermis (i.e., loss of dermal or subcutaneous tissue) or as sites of shiny, delicate, wrinkled lesions (i.e., epidermal atrophy)

Scar: A change in the skin secondary to trauma or inflammation Sites may

be erythematous, hypopigmented, or hyperpigmented depending on their age or character Sites on hair-bearing areas may be characterized by destruction of hair follicles

Table 52-3 Common Dermatologic Terms

Alopecia: Hair loss; it may be partial or complete

Annular: Ring-shaped lesions

Cyst: A soft, raised, encapsulated lesion filled with semisolid or liquid

contents

Herpetiform: Grouped lesions

Lichenoid: Violaceous to purple, polygonal lesions that resemble those

seen in lichen planus

Milia: Small, firm, white papules filled with keratin

Morbilliform: Generalized, small erythematous macules and/or papules

that resemble lesions seen in measles

Nummular: Coin-shaped lesions

Poikiloderma: Skin that displays variegated pigmentation, atrophy, and

telangiectases

Polycyclic: A configuration of skin lesions formed from coalescing rings or

incomplete rings

Pruritus: A sensation that elicits the desire to scratch Pruritus is often the

predominant symptom of inflammatory skin diseases (e.g., atopic dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis); it is also commonly associated with xerosis and aged skin Systemic conditions that can be associated with pruritus include chronic renal disease, cholestasis, pregnancy, malignancy, thyroid disease, polycythemia vera, and delusions of parasitosis

Figure 52-3

A schematic representation of several common primary skin lesions

(see Table 52-1)