Skin Injuries
What is the treatment of a pressure injury?
frequent repositioning; increased protein intake to rebuild tissue; and debridement of any necrotic tissues to promote healing. (page 81)
What causes cyanosis?
cardiac or respiratory disease or distress.
(page 77)
cyan/o- = blue
-osis = abnormal condition
Infection or inflammation of the skin.
dermatitis
der - mah - TY - tihs (page 75)
Causes the skin and internal organs to harden over time due to abnormal deposits of collagen.
scleroderma
sklair - oh - DER - mah (page 87)
scler/o- = hard; sclera
-derma = skin
Growth of adipose tissue in the subcutaneous layer. It makes a soft, rounded, fatty elevation in the skin.
lipoma
ly-POH-mah (page 85)
lip/o- = fat; lipid
-oma = mass; tumor
Linear penetrating wound. It can have clean-cut or torn, ragged skin edges. Can be closed with sutures.
laceration
las - er - AA - shun (page 81)
This disease is associated with liver disease. Yellow discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes as well as the whites of the eyes.
jaundice
JAWN - dihs (page 78)
jaund/o- = yellow
-ice = quality, state
Excessive amounts of fluid moves from the blood into the dermis or subcutaneous tissues and causes swelling.
edema
eh - DEE - mah (page 75)
Produces an excessive number of abnormal epidermal cells. The skin is itchy, red, and covered with silvery scales.
psoriasis
sor-EYE-ah-sihs (page 87)
psor/o- = itching
-iasis = abnormal condition; process
Medical term for skin tag.
papilloma
PAP-ih-LOH-mah (page 85)
papill/o- = elevated structure
-oma = mass; tumor
Fluid-filled sac with a thin, transparent covering of epidermal cells. It occurs when a repetitive rubbing separates the epidermis from the dermis, releasing tissue fluid and creating a fluid-filled sac.
blister
BLIS - ter (page 79)
Genetic mutation that causes a lack of pigment in the skin, hair, and iris of the eye. There is a normal number of melanocytes, but they produce insufficient or no melanin.
albinism
AL-by-NIZ-em (page 77)
ablin/o- = white
-ism = disease from a specific cause, process
An injury to the blood vessels that releases blood into the skin.
hemorrhage
HEM-oh-rij (page 75)
hem/o- = blood
-rrhage = excessive discharge; excessive flow
Collagen in the skin and connective tissue deteriorate. There is joint pain, sensitivity to sunlight, and fatigue.
systemic lupus erythematosus
LOO - puhs
AIR-eh-THEM-ah-TOH-suhs
(page 87)
The most common type of skin cancer.
basal cell carcinoma
(page 86)
Medical term for scratch on the skin.
excoriation
eks-KOR-ee-AA-shun (page 80)
excori/o- = take out skin
-ation = being; having; process
Gray-to-black discoloration of the skin in areas where the tissue has died.
necrosis
neh - KROH - sihs (page 78)
necr/o- = dead body; dead tissue
-osis = abnormal condition; process
The medical term for itching.
pruritus
proo-RY-tuhs (page 77)
Name one common treatment for autoimmune disorders of the skin?
corticosteroid drug
(page 87)
It grows quickly and can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.
malignant melanoma
(page 86)
malign/o- = cancer
-ant = pertaining to
melan/o- = black
-oma = mass; tumor
Name the three types of burn (1st, 2nd and 3rd degree)
superficial, partial-thickness, and full-thickness burn
(pages 79 & 80)
Reddish discoloration of the skin. It can be confined to a local area of infection or inflammation, or it can affect large areas of the skin, as in sunburn.
erythema
AIR-ih-THEE-mah (page 78)
Excessively dry skin can be caused by...
aging, cold weather with low humidity, Vitamin A deficiency, or dehydration (page 77).
Melanocytes are slowly destroyed. There are white patches of depigmentation interspersed with areas of normally pigmented skin. NOTE: this disease is not in the autoimmune section.
vitiligo
VIT-ih-LY-goh (page 79)
The American Cancer Society suggest using this rule during self-examination of the skin.
ABCDE
Asymmetry: one side has a different shape than the other side.
Border: irregular or ragged
Color: varies from black to brow with patches of pink, red, or white within the same lesion.
Diameter: greater than 6mm (1/4 inch)
Evolving: changing in size, shape, or color over time.
(page 87)