Hair, Skin, and Nail Disorders

Hair, Skin, and Nail Disorders

• Focus Areas: Normal integumentary functions, common skin/hair/nail disorders, risk factors, diagnostics, treatment, complications, conditions leading to death.
• Module Terminology: Terms like pruritus, cyanosis, jaundice, erythema, excoriation, alopecia, urticaria, and nevi are crucial to memorize.
• Integumentary System: The skin is the body's largest organ, acting as a physical barrier to protect underlying tissues from microorganisms, trauma, UV radiation, and dehydration.
• Vital Roles: Temperature regulation, fluid/electrolyte balance, absorption/excretion, sensation, immunity, and vitamin D synthesis.
• Nail Structure and Function: Nails protect fingers/toes, enhance dexterity, formed by dead matrix cells, and continuously grow. Nails can indicate systemic disorders.
• Hair Structure and Function: Filamentous, keratinized structures from hair follicles in the dermis. Associated with sebaceous glands and the arrector pili muscles (related to thermoregulation and "goose bumps"). Hair has growth and resting cycles.
• Sweat Glands: Two types: Eccrine (all over skin, regulate temperature) and apocrine (axilla and groin, oily secretions).
• Think-Pair-Share (likely related to discussion, not study notes): Skin maintains temperature through mechanisms like shivering and sweating, provides a barrier, excretes/absorbs substances, and plays a role in immunity and vitamin D creation.
• Skin as a Mirror: Medical conditions in other systems often have skin manifestations (e.g., immunological disorders). Skin changes like color or texture can signal other health problems.

Diagnostic Tools

• Skin scraping: Used to diagnose skin conditions.
• Patch testing: Identifies skin allergies.
• Biopsy: Tissue sample for analysis.
• Wood's UV Light: Helps visually identify skin conditions.

Common Skin Changes with Aging

• Skin becomes thinner, loses elasticity, and has decreased ability to bounce back.
• Skin lesions, dryness, and less turgor occur.
• Hair becomes thinner, nails thicken and yellow/brittle.

Skin Lesions (Primary and Secondary)

• Primary: Macule, patch, papule, plaque, nodule, tumor, vesicle, bulla, wheal, pustule, cyst.
• Secondary: Erosion, ulcer, scar, fissure.

Skin Disorders (Examples)

• Vitiligo, albinism, melasma, cellulitis, pressure ulcers, psoriasis, skin cancers, shingles.
• Cultural Variations: Skin cancer susceptibility varies across different ethnicities.

Hair Disorders

• Pattern baldness (male and female).
• Alopecia (sudden hair loss).

Nail Disorders

• Paronychia (inflammation of nail folds).
• Onychomycosis (fungal infection of nail).

Risk Factors for Skin Cancers

• Sun exposure (including tanning beds), non-solar UV radiation, medical therapies, family/genetic history, moles, pigmentation irregularities, fair skin, age, male gender.

Risk Reduction Strategies for Skin Cancer

• Reduce sun exposure, use sunscreen (SPF 15 minimum daily, higher for sun exposure), wear protective clothing (long sleeves, wide-brimmed hats), avoid sunburns, protect eyes, and get regular skin checks.

Skin Cancer Types

• Malignant melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. (Important to note differences in these types)

Cellulitis and MRSA Infections

• Common cause of skin infections (often via direct contact). Risk factors include recent hospitalization/care or contact sports. Characterized by a bump, redness, swelling, warmth, pus/drainage.

Skin Injury/Pressure Ulcers

• Referred to as pressure injuries. Found on bony prominences due to prolonged pressure reducing blood flow. Staging system (1-4) to classify severity.

Cultural Variations in Skin Cancer

• Some cultures (Asians) have lower skin cancer rates compared to others. Presentation may differ.