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Dermatology > Terminology > Flashcards

Terminology Flashcards

(47 cards)

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1
Q

What are the principles of examining the skin?

A

Inspect
Describe (SCAM, ABCD)
Palpate (surface, consistency, mobility, tenderness, temperature)
Systematic check (nails, scalp, hair, mucous membranes)

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2
Q

What is pruritic?

A

Itching

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3
Q

What is a lesion?

A

Area of altered skin

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4
Q

What is a rash?

A

An eruption

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5
Q

What is a naevus?

A

Localised malformation of tissue structures e.g. pigmented melanocytic naevus (mole)

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6
Q

What is a comedone?

A

Plug in sebaceous follicle containing altered sebum, bacteria and cellular debris
May present as open (blackheads) or closed (whiteheads)

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7
Q

Regarding distribution (pattern of spread of lesions), what is meant by

a) generalised?
b) widespread?
c) localised?
d) flexural?
e) extensor?
f) pressure areas?
g) dermatome?
h) photosensitive?

A

a) all over body
b) extensive
c) restricted to one area of skin only
d) body folds (groin, neck, behind ears, popliteal and antecubital fossa)
e) knees, elbows, shins
f) sacrum, buttocks, ankles, heels
g) area of skin supplied by a single spinal nerve
h) affects sun-exposed areas (face, neck, back of hands)

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8
Q

What is the Koebner phenomenon?

A

Linear eruption arising at site of trauma e.g. excoriation in psoriasis

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9
Q

Regarding configuration (pattern/shape of grouped lesions), what is meant by

a) discrete?
b) confluent?
c) linear?
d) target?
e) annular?
f) discoid/nummular?

A

a) individual lesions separated from one another
b) lesions merging together
c) in a line
d) concentric rings (like dartboard) e.g. erythema multiforme
e) like a circle/ring e.g. tinea corporis (ringworm)
f) coin-shaped/round lesion e.g. discoid eczema

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10
Q

What is erythema?

A

Redness (due to inflammation and vasodilation) blanching on pressure e.g. palmar erythema

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11
Q

What is purpura?

A

Red/purple colour (bleeding into skin/mucous membrane) that does not blanch on pressure
-Petechiae (small pinpoint macules)
-Ecchymoses (large bruise like patches)
E.g. Henoch-Schonlein pupura (palpable small vessel vasculitis)

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12
Q

What is hypopigmentation?

A

Area(s) of paler skin e.g. pityriasis versicolour (superficial fungal infection)

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13
Q

What is depigmentation?

A

White skin due to absence of melanin
Larger patches vs hypopigmentation
e.g. vitiligo

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14
Q

What is hyperpigmentation?

A

Darker skin that may be due to various pathology e.g. post inflammatory
Examples include Melasma (increased melatonin pigmentation)

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15
Q

What is a macule?

A

Flat area of altered colour e.g. freckles

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16
Q

What is a patch?

A

Larger flat area of altered colour or texture e.g. vascular malformation (naevus flammeus/port wine stain)

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17
Q

What is a papule?

A

Solid raised lesion <0.5cm diameter e.g. xanthomata

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18
Q

What is a nodule?

A

Solid raised lesion >0.5cm diameter with a deeper component e.g. pyogenic granuloma (granuloma telangiectaticum)

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19
Q

What is a plaque?

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A

Palpable scaling raised lesion >0.5cm diameter e.g. psoriasis

20
Q

What is a vesicle?

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A

Small blister

Raised, clear, fluid-filled lesion <0.5cm diameter e.g. acute hand eczema (pompholyx)

21
Q

What is a bulla?

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A

Large blister

Raised clear fluid-filled lesion >0.5cm diameter e.g. reaction to insect bites

22
Q

What is a pustule?

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A

Pus-containing lesion <0.5cm diameter e.g. acne

23
Q

What is an abscess?

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A

Localised accumulation of pus in dermis or subcutaneous tissues e.g. periungual abscess (acute paronychia)

24
Q

What is a wheale?

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A

Transient raised lesion due to dermal oedema e.g. urticaria

25
What is a boil/furuncle?
Staph infection around/within hair follicle
26
What is a carbuncle?
Staph infection of adjacent hair follicle (multiple boils/furuncle)
27
What is a secondary (S) lesion?
Lesion evolving from primary lesion
28
What is excoriation (S)?
Loss of epidermis following trauma e.g. excoriation in eczema
29
What is lichenification (S)?
Well defined roughening of skin with accentuation of skin markings e.g. lichenification from chronic rubbing in eczema
30
What are scales (S)?
Flakes of stratum corneum e.g. silvery scales in psoriasis
31
What is a crust (S)?
Rough surface of dried serum, blood, bacteria and cellular debris exuded through eroded epidermis (e.g. impetigo secondary to a burst blister)
32
What is a scar (S)?
New fibrous tissue occurring during post-wound healing May be atrophic (thinning), hypertrophic (hyperproliferation within wound boundary) or keloidal (hyperproliferation beyond wound boundary) e.g. keloid scars
33
What is an ulcer (S)?
Loss of epidermis and dermis (heals with scarring)
34
What is a fissure (S)?
Epidermal crack often due to excess dryness e.g. eczema
35
What are striae (S)?
Linear areas progressing from purple/pink/white, with histopathological appearance of scar (associated with excessive steroid use and glucocorticoid production, growth spurt, pregnancy)
36
What is alopecia?
Loss of hair e.g. alopecia areata (well defined patch of complete hair loss)
37
What is hirsutism?
Androgen-dependent hair growth in female
38
What is hypertrichosis?
Non-androgen dependent pattern of excessive hair growth e.g. in pigmented naevi
39
What is clubbing?
``` Loss of angle between posterior nail fold and nail plate Associated with -suppurative lung disease -cyanotic heart disease -IBD -idiopathic ```
40
What is koilonychia?
``` Spoon shaped depression of nail plate Associated with -iron deficiency anaemia -congenital -idiopathic ```
41
What is onycholysis?
``` Separation of distal end of nail plate from nail bed Associations -trauma -psoriasis -fungal nail infection -hyperthyroidism ```
42
What is nail pitting?
``` Punctate depressions of nail plate Associations -psoriasis -eczema -alopecia areata ```
43
How should emollients be applied?
Liberally and regularly
44
How should topical corticosteroids be applied?
Thinly, short term use only (1-2w normally) | Only use 1% hydrocortisone/equivalent strength on face
45
How can pressure sores be prevented?
Frequent repositioning Nutritional support Use of pressure relieving devices e.g. special beds
46
How can skin cancer be avoided?
Avoid exposure to UV rays (think SMART) - Spend time in shade between 11-3 - Make sure you never burn - Aim to cover up (t-shirt, wide brim hat, sunglasses) - Remember take extra care with children - Then use SPF 30+
47
What are the types of skin?
I - always burns, never tans II - always burns, sometimes tans III - sometimes burns always tans IV - never burns, always tans I and II at higher risk of skin cancer

Dermatology (9 decks)

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