ABNORMAL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF THE INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM

MEDICAL SPECIALISTS

Dermatologist

  • A Physician (Doctor) Specializing in diagnosing and treating disorders of the skin

Plastic Surgeon

  • Physician (Doctor) Specializing in the surgical restoration and reconstruction of body structures

Cosmetic Surgeons

  • Perform operations such as: breast augmentation, Liposuction, and Facelifts

  • For Aesthetic Rather than medical reasons

PATHOLOGY

Sebaceous Glands

Sweat Glands

Hair

Nails

Skin Pigmentation

Bleeding (Skin)

LESIONS

General Skin Conditions

Birthmarks

Dermatitis

Erythema

INFECTION

GROWTHS, CANCER, AND BURNS

DIAGNOSTIC

Biopsy

BIOPSY | Removal of a small piece of living tissue for examination to conform or establish a diagnosis (bi = Life, and -opsy = View of)

INCISIONAL BIOPSY

A Piece NOT ALL of the tumor or lesion is removed


EXCISIONAL BIOPSY

Removal of the ENTIRE tumor or lesion + Some of the surrounding tissue

NEEDLE BIOPSY

A hollow needle is used to remove a core of the tissue for examination

Punch Biopsy

Skin Scraping (Exfoliative Cytology)

A technique in which cells are scraped from the tissue and examined under a microscope.

TREATMENTS

Preventative

Burns

Skin Grafts (Dermatoplasty) | Replacement of damaged skin with healthy tissue Taken from a donor site on the patient’s body

Burn Units | Provides care for serious burns

  • Includes: pain relief, debridement and skin grafts, IV fluids and nutritional supplements, antibiotics, cosmetic reconstruction, and rehabilitation.

Tissue Removal

Cauterization | Destruction of tissue by burning

Chem-abrasion (Chem Peel) | Chemicals used to remove outer layer of skin

Treats acne scarring, Fine Wrinkles, and Keratoses

Cryosurgery | Freezing, using liquid nitrogen to target and eliminate warts or tumors.

Curettage | Removal of material from the surface by scraping

Debridement (I&D) | Removal of Dirt, Foreign Objects, Damaged tissue, etc. to promote healing (Irrigation and Debridement (I&D) = Flushing in addition to debridement to clean the area)

Dermabrasion | Using a Wire Brush or Sandpaper to remove scaring

Electrodesiccation | Electric Spark on skin and then scraping away the dead tisssue

Performed together with Curettage

Mohs Surgery

Individual layers removed and examined under a microscope

L.A.S.E.R and Light Source

LIGHT

AMPLIFICATION by

STIMULATED

EMISSION of

RADIATION

Laser tubes can be filled w/ a solid, liquid, or gas substance to emit light at a specific wavelength.

  • Note: Some wavelengths are capable of destroying all skin tissue; others target tissue of a particular color

Phototherapy

  • Use of Artificial or natural light to treat skin conditions

  • Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)

    • Blue-light therapy, treating damaged, cancerous, and precancerous skin with

    • A Photosensitizing drug is administered followed by exposure to a specific wavelength of light (This light can be administered internally or externally)

Medications

Fluorouracil

(Topical Chemotherapy Cream)

Retinoids

(Chemical compounds derived from Vitamin A, Promotes Epithelial Cell Growth)

Topical Steroids

Cosmetic Procedures

Blepharoplasty

  • Eyelid Lift, Surgical removal of sagging skin around the eyelid

Botox

  • Injection of Neurotoxin (Botulinum Toxin) in small doses to temporarily block nerve signals to reduce frown lines

  • Note: This neurotoxin causes food poisoning when ingested

Collagen Replacement Therapy

  • Injection of tiny quantities of collagen near a scar/blemish to stimulated the skin’s natural supply of collagen to allow for repair

Electrolysis

  • Permanent removal of unwanted hair through an electrical current

Lipectomy

  • Surgical removal of fat

  • Liposuction is a form of Lipectomy with the assistance/aid of suction to remove fat

Rhytidecctomy

  • “Face Lift” Surgical removal of excessive skin and fat to remove wrinkles

Sclerotherapy

  • Removal of “Spider-veins” through injection of sclerosing solution to collapse the veins.