Unit 14: The Skin Flashcards
What can cause skin colour, condition and temperature to change?
Drop in blood pressure, blood vessels near the skin contracting, heat, cold, drugs and disease
Skin Colour: Normal:
Pink (IN LIGHT SKINNED PEOPLE) In darker skinned people, check lips, nail beds, palms, under eyelids
Skin Colour: Abnormal: Pale
Colour is a result of constricted blood vessels, caused by shock, hypertension, cancer, frostbite, heart disease or diabetes
Skin Colour: Abnormal: Cyanotic
Blue-gray colour, possibly caused by lung disease, asthma, heart disease, drug overdose, shock, hypothermia
Skin Colour: Abnormal: Flushed
Red colouration can be caused by exposure to heat, fever, allergic reaction, emotional excitement or carbon monoxide posioning.
Skin Colour: Abnormal: Jaundiced
Yellow colouration can be caused by liver disease and alcohol abuse
Skin Colour: Abnormal: Mottled:
Blotchy skin colouration can be caused by bleeding, bruising or severe infections
Skin Temperature/condition: Cool and Clammy:
caused by shock, heart attack, low blood sugar, anxiety
Skin Temperature/condition: Cold and Dry
caused by exposure to cold temperatures
Skin Temperature/condition: Hot and dry:
caused by fever, heat exposure, burns
Skin Temperature/condition: Hot and moist
caused by fever, infection and burns
What are two ways to take a temperature?
Take forehead temperature using the back of your hand, or using a thermometre
What is a normal body temperature range?
36.5 - 37.2 Celsius
When does a body temperature become a fever?
38 Celsius and higher
How do you document your findings?
Note your findings on the 24hr clock, note skin colour/condition and temperature
ex: 0845hrs - pink, warm and dry, 37.0 celsius
