Integumentary: Acute and Concerning Skin Conditions

Flashcards covering acute integumentary conditions including SJS, Shingles, Cellulitis, Skin Cancer types, and Frostbite management.

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS)

A life-threatening skin reaction to medications characterized by widespread destruction and detachment of $<30\%$ of skin and mucous membranes.

Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN)

A classification of a severe skin reaction to medications where $\ge 30\%$ of the body's skin and mucous membranes are affected.

3 A's of SJS causative medications

Antibiotics (sulfa drugs like sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim), Anticonvulsants (lamotrigine), and Allopurinol.

Shingles (Herpes Zoster)

The reactivation of the latent varicella-zoster virus (chickenpox), resulting in a painful, vesicular rash in a linear pattern along a dermatome.

Shingles Isolation Precautions

Initiate contact and airborne isolation precautions until the lesions have crusted.

Zoster Vaccine

A vaccine recommended for individuals $\ge 50$ years to prevent the recurrence of shingles.

Cellulitis

An acute bacterial infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, commonly caused by Streptococcus or Staphylococcus (including MRSA).

Cellulitis intervention for spread monitoring

Mark the borders of redness using a marker to monitor for spread of the infection.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)

A slow-growing skin malignancy featuring a lesion with pearly, rolled borders and a central crater.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)

A skin malignancy characterized by a firm, red lesion with a central crust.

Melanoma

An irregular, multicolored skin malignancy that is highly metastatic.

Actinic keratoses

Premalignant skin lesions consisting of irregularly shaped, rough, scaly patches.

ABCDEs of melanomas

A: Asymmetry; B: Border irregularity; C: Color variation (blue, red, white); D: Diameter $>6\,mm$ ($\frac{1}{4}\,in$); E: Evolving appearance.

Cryotherapy

A medical intervention involving the freezing of lesions to destroy abnormal cells.

Mohs surgery

A surgical excision technique where skin is removed in microscopic layers.

Frostbite

Freezing of the skin and underlying tissues from prolonged cold exposure, resulting in tissue damage.

Frostbite rewarming protocol

Thaw the frozen part using a warm water bath; do not use massage or dry heat as this can cause further tissue damage.

Priority Action For SJS

The priority for managing SJS is to discontinue the trigger

medication immediately. Apply moist dressings to promote healing and administer IV fluids to

prevent dehydration.