Dermatology Flashcards part 1

Flashcards for reviewing basic dermatology terminology and common skin conditions.

Macule

Small, typically less than one centimeter, nonpalpable or flat on the skin lesion that varies in color from the surrounding tissue like a freckle.

Patch

Flat on the skin, but a different color than the surrounding area, larger than one centimeter. Example: large port wine stain.

Papule

A palpable lesion less than one centimeter in size. It can be solid or cystic. Example: mole or acne lesion.

Plaque

Larger than one centimeter, like seen in psoriasis.

Vesicle

Papule filled with fluid, less than one centimeter in size. Example: Herpes zoster (shingles).

Bulla

Fluid-filled lesion, larger than one centimeter. Example: bullous impetigo or a burn that produces large blisters.

Pustule

Raised papule filled with pus. Example: Acne lesions or folliculitis.

Nevi

Moles; proliferation of melanocytes.

Exanthem

A widespread rash that erupts suddenly, often associated with viral infections.

Annular

Ring-shaped lesion with a texture or color shift on the edge compared to the center (e.g., tineas).

Nummular/Discoid

Round or coin-shaped lesion with the same shape and texture across the lesion.

Erythematous

Red and inflamed.

Morbilliform

A rash that looks like measles.

Maculopapular

Reddened rash that includes both flat (macule) and palpable (papule) areas.

Erythema migrans

Bull's eye or target shaped lesion rash characteristic of Lyme disease.

Lyme disease treatment

First line treatment regardless of age is doxycycline or vivomycin, but the CDC still recommends using amoxicillin in pregnancy.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever treatment

Doxycycline, regardless of age, benefits outweigh the risks.

Red, white, and blue sign

Deep purplish blue centrally with a white halo surrounding that area, followed by an erythematous red ring enclosing that area which indicates a brown recluse spider bite.

Dog bite treatment

Treat with Augmentin (amoxicillin-clavulanate).

Pasteurella multocida

Common bacteria implicated in infections related to cat and dog bites.

Cutaneous anthrax

Disease resulting from contact with sheep, goats, cattle, horses, and pigs, characterized by a painless, ulcerated, black lesion.

Cutaneous anthrax treatment

A fluoroquinolone such as ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin or a tetracycline such as doxycycline.

Atopic Dermatitis

Intensely pruritic, scaly, xerotic (dry), and often lichenified (thickened, leathery) skin, commonly found on flexor surfaces.

Atopic triad

Genetic tendency for atopic dermatitis, asthma, and allergic rhinitis to appear together.

Plaque Psoriasis

Well-defined red plaques covered with silvery scale, pruritic, commonly occurs in elbows, knees, and scalp.

Auspitz sign

Pinpoint bleeding that occurs when plaques are scratched or removed in plaque psoriasis.

Koebner phenomenon

Trauma to the skin leads to plaque formation in plaque psoriasis.

Contact Dermatitis

Reaction in the shape of the irritant distribution.

Allergic Contact Dermatitis

A type of contact dermatitis which is immune mediated, and the reaction won't happen with the first exposure to the substance, but after the second exposure.

Shingles

Reactivation of the varicella zoster virus, characterized by unilateral burning, stabbing, or throbbing pain prior to a vesicular rash appearing across a dermatome.

Herpes zoster treatment

Antivirals such as acyclovir initiate within seventy two hours of symptom onset.

Shingrix

Current CDC recommended vaccine is given in a two dose series to adults over the age of 50 or adults 18 and over with immunocompromising conditions for prevention of shingles.

Urticaria

Hives; erythematous pruritic wheels in various shapes and sizes, typically caused by allergens or physical triggers, treated with antihistamines.

Anaphylaxis and Angioedema

Swelling similar to urticaria, but it involves deeper tissues and can potentially block the patient's airway.