Dermatitis Flashcards
what is atopic dermatitis
aka eczema or atopic skin
- chronic inflammatory dermatiits that affects 17% of canadians
- patients experience disease flares alternative w/ periods of remission
what age groups are primarily affects by atopic dermatitis
primarily a childhood condition,
80% of patients developing AD within first year of life and severity dec with age
what is the allergic triad
asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivities and atropic dermatitis
called allergic or atopic triad
what is contact dermitits
- includes both allergic and irritant subtypes
- almost eveyrone expeirnces onec ase in their lifetime, most cases (80%) are irritant driven

what age group is CD most common in
occurs in any age group
- the allergic version of contact dermititis may be less common in children due to limited allergen expsorue and opportunity for sensitization
what is stasis dermatitis
aka stasis eczema
- inflammation of skin of lower legs caused by chornic venous insufficiency
- approx 6% of patients over 65 report haivng SD
-
what skin changes are related to CVI
*CVI = chronic venous insufficiency
- skin hcanges related to CVI = edema, hyperpigmentation, atrophy or ulceration
*up to 20% of women and 17% of men reporting these changes
who does stasis dermatits most commonly affect
most prevalent in middle aged or older adults
more common in women than men
etiology of atopic dermatitis
- exact etiology is not known, ubt liekly multifactorial
- hysfunction of epidermal barrier allows for allergens, irritants and microbes to enter skin more easily
- allergens stimulate Th2 cells to produce interlukins, including IL-4, -5 and -13 which increase immunoglobulin E synthesis.
but role of IgE in pathogenesis of AD is not currently well known
what factors can contribute for to epidermal barrier dysfunction
Pruritus, scratching, and inflammation
what is that itch-scratch cycle
- caused by pruritus, scratching and inflammatoin
- get more dysfunction of epidermal barrier, allows allergens, irritants and microbes to enter skin more easily

how does ACD occur
- T cell mediated delayed hypersensitivity type reaction (need to be prev exposed)
- hapetens penetrate stratum corneum, form hapten-protein complexes and are processed by antigen presenting cells then presented to T calls to form memory cells
- antigen presenting cells stim natural killer cells to produce IL4 -> activates B cells
- B cells produce IgM and stimulate activation of complment immune system with subsequent exposure
- CD8 cells are primary effector cells in ACD causing apoptosis of keratinocytes
- accompanied by rapid vleavage of intercellular adhesion molecules -> get edema and the formation of vesicles
in ACD when does inflammatory reaction occur
48 to 72 hours after allergen exposure
what are common causes of contact dermatitis
benzocaine, lanolin, latex, nickel, the Rhus genus (e.g., poison ivy, poison oak), and topical antihistamines.
what is stasis dermatitis
result of CVI
- normally movement of contraction of skeletal muscles cause venous blood to return to heart with help of competent venous valves
- if you impaire venous valves get limit blood return resulting in backward venous flow, venous hypertension and venous stasis
what causes the hyperpigmentation in SD
proteolytic enzymes produced by macrophages, other forms of inflamation and deposition of iron storage complexes (hemosiderin)

characteristics of
acute atopic dermatitis
contact derm
stasis derm
- Atopic
- pruritus
- xerosis
- erythema, edema
- blistering, oozing and crusting
- scratching
- Contract
- allergic
- intensely pruritic
- pain with scratching or infection
- signs ranging from transient erythema to severe swelling with bullae and/or ulceration
- irritant:
- more painful than pruritic
- signs range from mild erythema to crusting pustules, bullae, hemorrhage and erosions
- allergic
- Stasis dermatitis
- inflammation
- erythema
- edema
- pigmentation,
- ulceration
characterisitcs of chronic
atropic derm, contact derm and stasis derm
- Atopic derm
- thickening
- linchenification
- scratching
- Contact derm
- thickening
- xerosis
- discolouration
- Stasis derm
- scaling
- linchification
- edema
- discolouration
location of atropic derm, contract derm and stasis derm
- Atopic
- varies w/ age but face and flexural areas often affected
- infants and younger children: face and extensor areas
- older children: flexural areas
- Adults: face and hands
- Contact
- areas in contact with allergent or irritant
- in some cases can be generalized
- areas in contact with allergent or irritant
- Stasis dermatitis
- any part of lower leg but proximal to medial malleols in most cases
what are the risk factors for atopic dermatitis
- family history or AD, asthma or allergic rhinitis -> risk 2-3x greater for children with one parent affects be atopic condition and 3-5x greater for children with two parents affected
- more common in developed cuntries, perhpas due to higher levels of pollution
- being female
higher socioeconomic status
- exposure to cold dry climates
risk factors for contact dermatitis
- patients with AD or ipmaired cell mediated immunity bc increases susceptibilty to allergen and irritants
- being caucasion bc looser packing of skin layers and fewer intracellular lipids (allows irritants to penetrate more easily)
- females due to inc exposure to domestic and occipational detergents and “wet work” rather than a biological difference
- expsoure on face or back of hands where skin is thinner
- occupation like machinist or hair dresser
- old age (for ACD) or younger age (ICD)
- exposure to cold, dry climates
what are the risk factors for stasis dermatitis
- same as CVI
- being older age
- female
- BMI >30
- family history of venous disease or personal histroy of deep bein thrombosis
- having a standing occupation
- being in hot, humid environemnt
- heart failure and hypertension can aggrevate it
- chronic edema of lower extremitis due to certain meds can dontribute to developemnt
what drugs can cuase periheral edema
* inc risk of stasis dermatitis
- antihypertensives
- beta blockers
- calcium channle blockers
- clonidine
- hydrazine
- Hormones
- corticosteroids
- estogren
- progesterone
- testosterone
- Other
- acyclovir
- traxodone
- pramipexole
- quinolone antibiotics
