Skin Conditions and Burns

Skin Disorders

  • Skin cancer - most skin tumors are benign (warts) however some can spread (cancerous)
    • Basal cell carcinoma
    • Squamous cell carcinoma
    • melanoma
  • Dermatitis - skin inflammation
  • Rosacea - persistent flushing of the skin
  • Acne - an active inflammation of the subcutaneous glands
  • ^^Psoriasis - a chronic, non-^^contagious autoimmune disease which affects the skin and joints
    • Commonly causes red scaly patches to appear on the skin (psoriatic plaques)
  • Burns - damage inflicted by intense heat, electricity, radiation or certain chemicals
    • First degree
    • Least serious burns
    • The outer layer of skin (epidermis) is burned
    • Symptoms
      • The skin is usually red and dry, with swelling
      • Some pain usually present
      • Treat a first-degree burn as a minor burn unless it involves substantial portions of the hands, feet, face, groin or buttocks, or a major joint
    • Second degree
    • If smaller than 2 to 3 inches in diameter, treat it as a minor burn
    • Get immediate medical help if:
      • The burn is larger than 2 to 3 inches
      • The burn is on the hands, feet, face, groin, or buttocks, or over a major joint
    • Cover the burn with a sterile gauze bandage
      • Wrap the gauze loosely to avoid putting pressure on burned skin
    • Third-degree
    • Extends through the dermis into the subcutaneous layer
    • May not be painful (because it burns through the nerve receptors)
    • White or black or leathery
    • Requires skin grafts

Rule of 9 -

  1. Check for
    • Airway
    • Breathing
    • Circulation

Other Injuries

  • Abrasions
    • The scraping of the skin
  • Contusions
    • a region of injured tissue or skin in which blood capillaries have been ruptured - a bruise
  • Hematoma
    • Blood blister - A pool of clotted or partially clotted blood in an organ, tissue, or body space, usually caused by a broken blood vessel
  • Lacerations
    • A deep cut or tear in the skin or flesh
  • Avulsions
    • Part of the skin is completely taken off and pulls/tears away from the rest
  • Bites
    • Animal bites - can be poisonous (snakes) and can cause diseases (ex.rabies)
  • Stings
    • Caused by animals and can either be very serious and dangerous or may be very small and almost undetectable depending on the animal
  • Pressure wound
    • injuries to the skin and underlying tissue, caused by pressure on the skin - can be very serious