Dermatology: Inflammatory Immunomodulation Flashcards
(32 cards)
Name 3 examples of imflammatory skin disease?
- eczema
- occupational dermatitis
- psoriasis
What are the 2 main types of eczema
- atopic
- contact
What surfaces of the skin does eczema usually affect?
FLEXOR surfaces of skin or trunk
What is eczema and how does it present?
- inflammation of the skin
-becomes itchy, dry and flakey
occasionally weeps
What is the most common form of eczema?
atopic eczema
Describe atopic eczema?
- develops in childhood
- usually improves with age
- tends to run in families
- associated with other ‘atopic’ conditions (hay fever, asthma)
Who is contact eczema most likely to affect and why?
- most likely for adult onset
- contact with allergen (perfumes, detergents and soaps)
Where does seborrhoeic eczema usually occur? and how does this usually appear
- scalp and eye lashes
- appears as severe form of dandruff
How does Discoid eczema present?
circular patches on the body
cause of gravitational eczema
poor circulation in the legs
What are some of the key triggers of eczema?
- stress
- menstruation
- illness
- changes in the weather
Name 4 ways which eczema is traditionally managed?
- cotton clothing
- emollients
- soap substitutes
- corticosteroids (usually topical)
How do emoillents work to manage eczema>
- they are oils and prevent drying of the irritated skin
- (apply after bathing to trap moisture)
How to corticosteroids work to manage eczema?
- remove inflammation and allow skin to return to normal
(occupational (contact) dermatitis)
- what is it
- how may it present
- timings
- reaction to an environmental agent
- usually results in a rash (may blister or get urticarial swelling)
- usually and INTENSE itch
- rash can present immediately or up to 72 hours after exposure
How can contact dermatitis be treated?
- remove source
you must identify the source
- topical steroid can help
What percentage of the population does psoriasis affect?
2%
What is psoriasis?
- inflammatory skin disease of unknown origin
- dysregulated epidermal proliferation, new cells are produced quicker than old cells lost
- results in surface build up and thickening
- typically affects extensor surfaces of limbs and trunk
- can be associated with severe arthritis (psoriatic arthropathy)
- presents with red scaly patches that itch
- can run in families
What is the treatment of psoriasis ?
- not one clear treatment (initially topical)
- emollients
- topical steroids
- tar
- dithranol
- vitamin a derivatives
- PUVA- psoralen uv light A
(topical drug, activated by UV light)
What is the systemic treatment of psoriasis?
- drugs to reduce cell turnover
methotrexate
ciclosporin
aitretin
infliximab
etanercept
name some immunological skin diseases?
- blisterning conditions (pemphigoid, pemphigus, epidermolysis bullosa)
- lichen planus
- connective tissue diseases (scleroderma, dermatomyositis, raynauds)
What is an immunological skin disease?
- auto-antibody attack on skin components causing loss of cell-cell adhesion
- split forms within skin which fills with inflammatory exudate and forms vesicle or blister
What is pemphigoid?
- sub epithelial antibody attack
- blistering condition
- thick walled blister (epidermis is intact) filled with clear liquid or blood
- different presentations include bullous, mucous membrane and cicatrital
How does pemphigoid affect the mouth?
- mucous membrane pemphigoid is most common in the mouth
