Common Skin Conditions Flashcards
(91 cards)
Clinical features of atopic eczema/dermatitis
- Pruritus
- flexural
- can occur in response to triggers
What is atopic eczema/dermatitis?
Dry itchy inflammed skin
Erythema
Flaking
Common history of atopic eczema/dermaitis
- often begins in childhood
- atopy
- family history
- recent change in soaps, fabric softeners etc.
Presentation of eczema
- dry, red, itchy patches of skin
- often in flexor surfaces, face + neck
What could be a trigger for atopic eczema/dermatitis?
Smoke
Soap
Perfume
Excessively dry skin
Diagnosis of atopic eczema/dermatitis
Clinical diagnosis
Treatment of atopic eczema/dermatitis
- education + support
- avoidance of triggers
- systemic therapy
- topical: emollients, soap substitutes, steroids, phototherapy
Treatment of eczema flares
- thicker emollients
- topical steroids 1 finger tip uint for twice area of flat adult hand
- wet wraps
two types of emollients + examples
_Thin creams_
- E45
- cetraban cream
- aveeno cream
- eparderm cream
.
_Thick, greasy emollients_
- 50:50 ointment
- cetraban ointment
- epaderm ointment
- hydromol ointment
What advice should be given to a patient for emollient use?
- least to most effective: lotions > creams > ointments
- wash and dry hands thoroughly
- apply in the direction of hair growth
- if in a pot, do not use your fingers to remove - instead use a clean spoon or stick
- 250g a week
- use emollient first, wait 30 mins then apply steroid
Stepwise steroid ladder from weakest to most potent
- hydrocortisone 0.5%, 1%, 2.5%
- eumovate
- betnovate
- dermovate
What advice should be given to patients for topical steroid use?
- wash and dry hands thoroughly
- apply finger tip amount for area represented by both palms
- avoid using with emollients as it will dilute the steroid + reduce the effectiveness
- week on, week off schedule
What is eczema herpeticum?
viral skin infection in patients with eczema caused by herpes simplex virus 1/2 or varicella zoster virus
Presentation of eczema herpeticum
- rapidly progressive
- widespread, painful, vescicular rash - punched out erosions
- lethargy
- fever
- reduced oral intake
- lymphoadenopathy
Management of eczema herpeticum
viral swabs of vesicles
admit + IV aciclovir
Describe acne vulgaris
Formation of comedones, papules, pustules, nodules + cysts due to inflammation of pilosebaceous units
pathophysiology of acne vulgaris
- increased sebum production
- excessive deposition of keratin in pores/pilosebaceous unit
- overgrowth of cutibacterium acnes
- pro-inflammatory chemicals released in skin
Types of comodones + cause
- closed comedones - whitehead
- open comedones - blackhead
- due to dilated sebaceous follicle
Severity of acne vulgaris
- mild: open + closed comedones +/- sparse inflammatory lesions
- moderate: widespread non inflammatory lesions + numerous papules + pustules
- severe: extensive inflammatory lesions, which may include nodules, pitting + scarring*
Management of mild to moderate acne
topical benzoyl peroxide + clindamycin/adapalene or topical clindamycin + tretinoin for 12 weeks
Management of moderate to severe acne
12 week course of:
- topical benzoyl peroxide + adapalene +/- oral lymecylcine/doxycylcine
- topical tretinoin + clindamycin
- topical azeliac acid + oral lymecylcine/doxycyline
.
- COCP in women
- last line: oral retinoids e..g isotretinoin/roaccutate + contraception
general management of acne vulagris
- topical benzoyl peroxide
- topical retinoids
- topical antibiotics e.g. clindamycin
- oral antibioitcs e.g. lymecycline
- COCP
- oral retinoids as last line option e.g. isotretinoin/roaccunate - contraception needed in females
- consider psychological impact
When should dermatology referral be considered in acne vulgaris?
- mild-moderate not responded to 2 complete 12 week course treatment
- moderate-severe not responded to previous treatment incl oral abx
- acne with scarring
- acne with peristing pigmentary changes
- acne causing perisitent psychological distress
What contraceptive is needed in retinoid use?
two forms
e.g. condoms + COCP