Skin conditions

Herpes Zoster (viral)

• Dermatomes- Herpes zoster (shingles) has initial symptoms of pain and paresthesia localized to the affected dermatome

• Presents as a painful rash with clusters of fluid-filled vesicles

• Mostly unilateral

• Raised to palpation (<2mm height)

• Pink with silvery white appearance

• CN 5 and 7 most affected

• Viral- contact precautions

  • airborne + contact precautions when condition becomes disseminated/ spread/ patients with weakened immune systems

Herpes Simplex

• HSV-1 (Type 1)- primarily causes oral lesions (cold sores, fever blisters)

  • Spread through saliva; lies dormant in the trigeminal ganglion

  • Recurs with stress, sunlight, or illness

• HSV-2 (Type 2)- Primarily causes genital herpes with more frequent recurrences

  • Spread through sexual contact; dormant in sacral ganglia

  • higher risk for neonatal transmission during childbirth

Kaposi’s Sarcoma

• Etiology: viral, caused by human herpes virus-8 (HHV-8)

• Common in: immunocompromised patients, especially those with HIV/ AIDS

• Appearance: Multiple red, purple, or brown macules, plaques or nodules often on skin, mucous membrane, or internal organs

• DOES NOT SPREAD THROUGH CONTACT

Cellulitis

• Bacterial skin infection of the dermis/ subcutaneous tissue (strep/staph)

• Presents with redness, warmth, swelling, tenderness

• often unilateral; associated with breaks in skin, edema, diabetes

• requires systemic antibiotics; elevate limb

• PT: no massage or compression during acute stage

• RED FLAGS: rapidly spreading redness, fever, systemic s/s

Skin Cancer ABC’s

• A- Asymmetry- one half is unlike the other

• B-Border- blurry and/or jagged edges

• C-Color- more than one shade or color

• D-Diameter- greater than 6mm

• E-Evolution- watch for changes over time. If your mole changes in size, shape or color it might be suspicious