Dermatitis Flashcards
what is hyperkeratosis?
increased thickness of the keratin layer
what is parakeratosis?
persistence of the nuclei in the keratin layer
what is acanthosis?
increased thickness of the epidermis
what is spongiosis?
oedema between keratinocytes
what is another name for dermatitis?
eczema
what are some possible causes of contact allergic dermatitis?
chemicals
topical treatments
nickel
plants
what immune cell is involved in contact allergic dermatitis?
T cells
how can substances causing contact allergic dermatitis be identified?
patch testing
what causes irritant contact dermatitis?
non specific physical irritation of the skin i.e. hand washing
how does atopic eczema present?
itch
erythema and scaling
what distribution are the lesions in atopic eczema arranged in?
a flexural distribution
what diseases are often found alongside atopic eczema?
atopic diseases - asthma, allergic rhinitis, food allergy
what are two chronic changes seen in atopic dermatitis?
lichenification
excoriation
what is a possible complication of atopic dermatitis?
secondary infection
what is the diagnostic criteria for eczema?
itching and 3+:
- visible flexural rash
- history of flexural rash
- history of atopy
- dry skin
- onset before 3
