Skin, Hair, Nails

NURS 314 exam 2

Function of the skin

protection, sensation, temperature regulation, excretion, Vitamin D snthesis, immune defense

Skin turgor

skin’s elasticity

assess: lightly pinch skin on forearm or clavicle

abnormal = tenting

ABCDE

Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, Evolving

Asymmetry

One half doesn’t match the other

Border

irregular, scalloped, poorly defined edges

Color

varies in different areas of mole (shades of tan, brown, black, etc)

Diameter

> 6mm (pencil eraser), but can be smaller

Evolving

changes in size, shape, symptoms, surface, or color

Melanoma

Early signs: change in size/shape/color, itching, tenderness

Late signs: ulceration, satellite lesions

Eczematous dermatitis

Inflammatory skin disorder (irritant/allergic contact dermatitis and atopic dermatitis)

Atopic dermatitis

during childhood, lesions involve flexures, nape, dorsal aspects of limbs

in adolescence/adulthood, lichenified plaques affect the head, neck, and flexures

Folliculitis

inflammation and infection of the hair follicle and surrounding dermis

Furuncle (boil)

deep-seated infection of the pilosebaceous unit

Cellulitis

Diffuse, acute, infection of the skin and subQ tissue

Tinea (dermatophytosis aka ringworm)

noncandidal fungal infection that involve stratum corneoum (outermost layer of skin), nails, or hair

Psoriasis

chronic and recurrent disease of keratinocyte proliferation

Rosacea

Chronic inflammatory skin disorder

Herpes zoster (shingles)

varicella-zoster viral infection

Koilonychia (spoon nails)

concave nails (iron deficiency or anemia)

Beau’s lines

transverse depressions; growth interruption (illness, chemo)

Onychomycosis

Fungal infection causing thickened, discolored nails

Paronychia

infection of nail folds; acute (bacterial) or chronic (fungal)

Nail clubbing

Bulbous enlargement of fingernails (> 180 degrees) (chronic hypoxia, COPD, lung cancer, etc)

Capillary refill

Normal: < 2 sec

Abnormal: > 2 sec (circulatory issue or hypoperfusion)

Alopecia areata

sudden, rapid, coin-shaped loss of hair from scalp or face

Scarring alopecia

replacement of hair follicles with scar tissue

Traction alopecia

hair loss as a result of prolonged, tightly pulled hairstyles

Hirsutism

growth of terminal hair in women in a male distribution pattern on face, body, pubic areas

Subungual hematoma

trauma to nail plate severe enough to cause immediate bleeding and pain (basically a bruised nail)

Macule

flat, circumscribed area (freckles, flat nevi)

Papule

elevated, firm, circumscribed area (wart)

Patch

flat, nonpalpable, irregularly shaped macule > 1cm (vitiligo, port wine stain)

Plaque

elevated, firm, and rough lesion (psoriasis, atopic dermatitis)

Wheal

elevated, irregular shape, cutaneous edema (insect bite)

Nodule

elevated, firm, circumscribed lesion (erythema nodosum)

Tumor

elevated, solid lesion (benign tumors, lipoma)

Vesicle

elevated, circumscribed, superficial (varicella, herpes zoster)

Bulla

vesicle greater than 1cm (blister)

Pustule

elevated, superficial lesion filled with purulent fluid (acne, impetigo)

Cyst

elevated, circumscribed, encapsulated lesion (cystic acne)

Telangiectasia

fine, irregular, red lines produced by capillary dilation (rosacea)

Ingrown nail

nail pierces the lateral nail fold and grows into the dermis

Impetigo

common, contagious skin infection