Integumentary Flashcards
Functions of the Skin
- Barrier to injury/infection
- Temperature regulation
- Nerves - sensation of touch/pain
- Insulation with adipose tissue
- Fat storage
* * Largest organ in the body
Burow’s Solution
Been around since the 19th century - may see a prescription for use with skin conditions
It is: Acetic Acid
1. Antibacterial
2. Antifungal
How does aluminum acetate help with skin conditions?
- Astringent
- Treats inflammation
- Relief of itching
- Decreases stinging
Anatomical differences of the skin of children versus adults
- Epidermis is thinner
- Blood vessels are closer to the surface
- Decreased subQ fat
- Loses heat quicker
- Higher water content
- Less pigmented
The effects of the anatomical skin variations of children versus adults
- Lose heat faster
- Substances/bacteria absorb quicker
- More easily affected by friction
- More affected by UV radiation
Differences in dark-skinned versus light-skinned children
- More pronounced cutaneous reactions compared to children with lighter skin
- Hypo or Hyperpigmentation in the affected area following healing of a dermatologic condition is common
- Tend to have more prominent papules, follicular responses, lichenification, and vesicular or bullous reactions than lighter-skinned children with the same disorder
- Hypertrophic scarring and keloid formation occur more often
Macule
- Flat/non-palpable area of change in skin color
- Less than 1 cm across
- Examples: freckles, scarlet fever rash, flat moles
Patch
- Flat/non-palpable change in skin color
- Similar to macule but larger than 1 cm
- Examples: port wine stain, Mongolian spot
Papule
- Solid elevation of epidermis less than 0.5 cm across
- Palpable
- Examples: warts, early varicella lesions, raised nevi
Nodule
- Solid lesion
- 0.5 - 1 cm across (if larger, tumor)
- Can be raised, level with, or below skin
- Examples: lipoma, warts
Plaque
- Elevated
- Flat top
- Larger than 1 cm
- Firm and rough
- Psoriasis, seborrheic and actinic keratoses
Vesicle
- Superficial fluid filled elevation
- Less than 1 cm across
- Palpable
- Examples: late varicella lesions, poison ivy, herpes simplex and zoster
Bulla
- Similar to vesicle
- Larger than 1 cm
- Examples: blisters, burn lesions
Pustule
- Similar to vesicle but contains purulent material
2. Examples: acne, impetigo, boils (furnucles)
Wheal
- Circumscribed elevation of skin
- Caused by fluid or serum in dermis
- Examples: urticaria, insect bites, intradermal TB test
Signs of Infection on the Skin
- Redness
- Streaking
- Purulent drainage
Impetigo
- Two types
- Contagious until the child has been on antibiotics for 24 hours
- Incubation 1-2 days
- Common sites are nose and mouth
- Causative organism carried in mares and attacks breaks in skin integrity
- Spread with scratching and may show linear pattern with scratching
What are the 2 types of impetigo?
- Nonbullous
2. Bullous
Nonbullous Impetigo
Papules progress to vesicles then painless pustules, pruritis
- Honey colored crust forms when pustules/vesicles rupture
- Staph aureus or Group A hemolytic strep
- develops where skin trauma or another skin disorder is present
Bullous Impetigo
- Red macules and bullous eruptions on a red base
- Could be mm to several cm in size
- Staph aureus may develop on intact skin
How is impetigo diagnosed?
Cultures
General impetigo treatment
Usually self-limiting, although can be severe which will require PO antibiotics, and extensive will require IV antibiotics
Nonbullous impetigo treatment
- Topical antibiotics - mupirocin (bactroban) ointment
- PO antibiotics - first generation cephalosporin
- IV - clindamycin (MRSA)
Bullous impetigo treatment
PO - first generation cephalosporin