Other Skin Conditions

Question 1

What is Rosacea?

Answer 1

A common skin condition that causes flushing or long-term redness on your face.

Question 2

What causes Rosacea?

Answer 2

Aetiology
- Cause unknown
- Possible contributory factors include a genetic predisposition, hyperactivity of
the immune system and environmental factors

Question 3

What is the pathophysiology of Rosacea?

Answer 3

Pathophysiology
- Increased number of blood vessels with greater blood flow and exaggerated vasodilation with heat
- Potentially exposure to harsh climates and extremes of temperature cause damage to
cutaneous blood vessels and dermal connective tissue

Question 4

What are the signs and symptoms of Rosacea?

Answer 4

Signs and Symptoms
* Facial flushing accompanied by heat
and pain
* Possible burning on using water or
skincare
* Erythema (redness)
* Telangiectasia (spider veins)
* Coarseness of skin
* Inflammatory papulopustular acne-like rash

Question 5

What is Pityriasis (tinea) versicolor?

Answer 5

Pityriasis versicolor, also known as tinea versicolor, is a fungal infection that causes discolored patches on the skin.

Question 6

What causes Pityriasis (tinea) versicolor?

Answer 6

Aetiology. Risk factors include:
* Genetic predisposition
* Warm, humid environments
* Immunosuppression
* Malnutrition
* Corticosteroid usage
* Cushing’s disease

Question 7

What is the pathophysiology of Pityriasis (tinea) versicolor?

Answer 7

Pathophysiology
Malassezia yeast (of which there are fourteen species), a normal component of the cutaneous flora, converts from its commensal form to a parasitic pathogenic form due to the risk factors detailed above

Question 8

What are the signs and symptoms of Pityriasis (tinea) versicolor?

Answer 8

Signs and Symptoms
* Patches of skin discoloration, usually on the back, chest, neck and upper arms (these may be either darker or lighter discolouration)
* Mild itching
* Scaling of the skin

Question 9

What is Tinea (capitis, corporis and pedis)?

Answer 9

Fungal infection

Question 10

What causes Tinea (capitis, corporis and pedis)?

Answer 10

Aetiology
- Tinea capitis and tinea corporis – ringworm of
scalp and body respectively
- Tinea pedis – athletes foot
- Caused by dermatophytes
- Warm, humid conditions favour overgrowth

Question 11

What is the pathophysiology of Tinea (capitis, corporis and pedis)?

Answer 11

Pathophysiology
Dermatophyte fungi make use of
keratinase enzymes in the skin to invade
the superficial keratin layer (infection does not penetrate more deeply than this) or in the case of T. capitis the hair shaft

Question 12

What are the signs and symptoms of Tinea (capitis, corporis and pedis)?

Answer 12

Signs and Symptoms
* T. Capitis (scalp) – brittle, fragile hair; inflamed scaly patches and tender painful areas on the scalp
* T. Corporis (body) - scaly, ring-shaped areas on the skin, flat round patches of itchy skin
* T. Pedis (feet) – burning, itching, scaling. peeling between toes and on bottom of foot

Question 13

What is Melanoma?

Answer 13

Tumour arising from the melanocytes of
the skin

Question 14

What causes Melanoma?

Answer 14

Aetiology
- Damage to DNA of cell from various
risk factors may trigger neoplasia
(uncontrolled abnormal cell growth and division)

• Risk factors include:
• Fair skin/blue eyes/freckles
• Having sunburn in the past
• Immunosuppression
• Exposure to UV light e.g. sunbed use
• Family history
• Large numbers of moles

Question 15

What is the pathophysiology of Melanoma?

Answer 15

Pathophysiology
- Moles (benign melanocytic naevi) are possibly precursors of melanoma, degenerating over
time with exposure to environmental risk factors to become melanoma

Question 16

What are the signs and symptoms of Melanoma?

Answer 16

“Signs and Symptoms
* Mole with irregular borders/asymmetrical shape
* Mole changing size/shape over time
* Bleeding, crusting, swelling of mole
* Itching, soreness of mole

ABCDE – asymmetry, (irregular) border,
colour, diameter more than 6mm,
elevated lesion (rather than flat and smooth)