Derm Terms Chapter 1 - Fitzpatrick Clinical Derm

Front 1

Generalized red rash with fever

Back 1

Viral exanthems, Rickettsial exanthems, drug eruptions, bacterial infections with toxin production genere

Front 2

Generalized red rash with blisters and prominent mouth lesions

Back 2

Erythema multiforme, toxic epidermal necrolysis, pemphigus, bullous pemphigoid, drug eruptions

Front 3

Generalized red rash with oustules

Back 3

Pustular psoriasis, drug eruptions

Front 4

macule

Back 4

circumscribed area of change in skin color without elevation or depression. Not palpable.

Front 5

blanching vs non-blanching

Back 5

blanching - redness fades with pressure

non-blanching - redness does not fade. Ex are petechiae and purpura (purpuric lesions)

Front 6

rash consisting of macules is called?

Back 6

macular exanthem

Front 7

papules

Back 7

superficial elevated solid lesion <0.5cm in diameter. Palpable.

Front 8

rash consisting of papules is called?

Back 8

papular exanthem. May be grouped or disseminated.

Confluence of papules leads to larger, flat topped circumscribed plateau like elevations called 'plaques'

Front 9

plaque

Back 9

well defined elevation, usually formed by confluence of papules (like in psoriasis)

Front 10

lichenification

Back 10

less well-defined large plaque where skin is thickened and skin markings are accentuated

If only minimally elevated, it is known as a patch (barely elevated plaque)

Front 11

nodule

Back 11

'small knot' -- palpable, solid, round or ellipsoidal lesion that is larger than a papule. Depth of involvement is what differentiates a nodule from a papule

Front 12

wheal

Back 12

rounded or flat topped pale red or white papule or plaque that is evanescent, disappearing within 24-48 hours. Due to edema in papillary body of dermis.

If rash consisting of wheals, called urticarial exanthem

Front 13

vesicle-bulla?

Back 13

vesicle is <0.5 cm, and bulla is >0.5 cm. Circumscribed elevated superficial cavity (clear in appearance) containing fluid.

Ex. contact dermatitis, herpes simplex, pemphigus.

Front 14

pustule ?

Back 14

circumscribed superficial cavity that contains purulent exudate. Not clear, pustules contain turbid content.

Front 15

crusts?

Back 15

form when blood, serum, or purulent exudate dries on the skin surface.

Front 16

scales?

Back 16

flakes of stratum corneum. If rash with scales, will be papulosquamous exanthem

Front 17

erosion

Back 17

defect only in the epidermis, not involving dermis. Will heal without a scar. Unless physical abrasion, will always be result of vesicle or bullae

Front 18

ulcer

Back 18

skin defect that extends into dermis or deeper into the subcutis, and will always cause scar formation. Look at edges to help determine causes.

Front 19

scar

Back 19

fibrous tissue replacement of tissue defect by previous ulcer or a wound. Can be hypertrophic and hard, or atrophic and soft

Front 20

atrophy

Back 20

diminution of some or all layers of the skin.

Front 21

cyst

Back 21

cavity containing liquid or solid or semisolid materials and may be superfical or deep. Often has fibrous capsule.

Front 22

purpuric lesion

Back 22

do not blanche with pressure

Front 23

margination types

Back 23

well defined (can be traced with tip of pencil) and ill defined

Front 24

shape of lesions?

Back 24

round, oval, polygonal, polycyclic, annular (ring shaped), iris, serpiginous, umbilicated

Front 25

palpation of lesions

Back 25

1. consistency -- soft, firm, hard, fluctuant, boardlike.

2. deviation in temperature - hot, cold

3. mobility

note also presence of tenderness, and estimate the depth of the lesion (dermal or subcutaneous)

Front 26

history of skin lesions, what to document?

Back 26

when (onset), where (site of onset), does it itch or hurt, how has it spread (pattern of spread), how have individual lesions changed, any provaocative factors (sun, head, cold, exercise, travel hx, drug ingestion, pregnancy, season), and previous tx (topical and systemic)