What is the function of skin? ANS: Protection from the environment, Regulation of body temperature,
Regulation of salt and water balance
Lanugo ANS: fine downy hair of newborn infant
vernix caseosa ANS: cheesy substance covering the skin of the fetus
linea nigra ANS: dark line of pigmentation from the umbilicus extending to the pubic area
Chloasma/Melasma ANS: pregnancy mask
Striae ANS: stretch marks
The Aging Adult and Skin ANS: -skin loses elasticity
-thin, dry
-sweat/oil glands change
Keloid Scar ANS: scar that turns raised, dark, purplish, pulls together, painful
Alopecia ANS: hair loss
hirsutism ANS: hair where it doesn't belong
Pruritis ANS: itching
,Albinism ANS: Absence of pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes
Vitiligo ANS: loss of pigment in areas of the skin
ABCDE ANS: asymmetry, border, color, diameter, evolution or elevation
malignant melanoma ANS: most deadly form of skin cancer
pallor ANS: paleness caused by loss of red-pink tones by oxygenated hemoglobin in blood
Where to check for pallor? ANS: mucus membranes, conjunctiva, nail beds
Erythema ANS: redness of the skin
Cyanosis ANS: bluish discoloration of the skin caused by not enough oxygenated blood flow. Seen in
lips, nose, ears, cheeks
Jaundice ANS: yellowing of the skin and in sclera of eye
Diaphoresis ANS: profuse sweating
Dehydration ANS: not enough fluid
How to check for dehydration? ANS: - check for tenting in the skin for skin turgor
,Tenting ANS: Slow return of the skin to its normal position after being pinched, a sign of either
dehydration or aging, or both
Skin turgor ANS: Measure of hydration, which tests how quickly the skin returns to its normal position
after being pinched
Best place to test for tenting? ANS: clavicle
Primary Lesion ANS: lesions arising from previously normal skin
ex: chicken pox or pimple
Secondary Lesion ANS: skin lesion that evolves from a primary lesion or that is caused by external
forces, such as infection, scratching, trauma, or the healing process
Head lice (pediculosis) ANS: looks like dandruff, but if you tap the white spots they do not fall off. These
are nits
Schamroth test ANS: put 2 fingers together, see if you can see any light come through. If you can't you
have clubbing.
Clubbing of Nails ANS: finding in the nails that indicates chronic hypoxia >6 months
Splinter hemorrhages ANS: can be a sign of endocarditis, result of strep throat
Spooning in Nails ANS: iron deficiency
Capillary Refill Test ANS: Pressure is applied to the nail bed until it turns white, this indicates that the
blood has been forced from the tissue (called blanching) and once the tissue has blanched, pressure is
, removed. While the patient holds their hand above their heart, the health care provider measures the
time it takes for blood to return to the tissue. Return of blood is indicated by the nail turning back to a
pink color. Should be less than 3 seconds
Mongolian Spots ANS: bluish purple spots of hyperpigmentation
Cafe au lait spots ANS: Birth marks
Linear Lesion ANS: a scratch, streak, line, or stripe
Zosteriform lesion ANS: linear arrangement along a unilateral nerve route (herpes zoster)
Macule Lesion ANS: flat lesion measuring less than 1 cm in diameter EX. freckles, petechiae, measles
Papule Lesion ANS: something you can feel (i.e solid, elevated, circumscribed, less than 1cm diameter)
caused by superficial thickening in epidermis ex: mole or wart
Tumor Lesion ANS: larger than a few centimeters in diameter, firm or soft, deeper into dermis ex:
lipoma, hemangioma
Vesicle Lesion ANS: elevated cavity containing free fluid, up to 1 cm (blister). Ex: herpes simplex, early
varicella, herpes zoster, contact dermatitis
Cyst Lesion ANS: encapsulated fluid-filled cavity in dermis or subcutaneous layer, tensely elevating skin
(sebaceous cyst)
Pustule lesion ANS: pus-filled (acne)