HPD Skin History
1. What questions to ask for skin exam?: Have you noticed any changes in your hair? in your nails?
Have you noticed any changes in your skin?
Have you noticed any rashes? itching?
Have you noticed any moles that have changed size, shape, color, or sensation?
Have you noticed any new moles?
Have you noticed any sores that aren't healing?
2. What are some common or concerning symptoms for a skin exam?: -hair loss or
nail changes
-rashes or itching
-moles or growths
-sores that are not healing
3. How to inspect the skin and what do you note?: Inspect all areas and palpate ONLY
sun-exposed areas, noting:
- Color
- Moisture
,- Temperature
- Texture
- Mobility and turgor
- Lesions
4. What do you describe lesions?: - Type: (flat) macule vs (raised) papule, plaque, or nodule
-Number: solitary, exact number, multiple, or diffuse
-Size: measure in mm, long axis
-Shape: ovoid (oval), annular (round with extending border), nummular (round), polygonal (polygon), crescentic
(crescent)
-Color: red, brown, tan, light brown, dark brown
-Texture: smooth, verrucous (wart like, cauliflower), dry, moist, waxy, greasy
- Location (use surface anatomy and landmarks)
- Appearance: "stuck on", pedunculated, blanching, erythematous
, - Configuration and distribution: grouped, scattered, symmetrical, sparing palms and soles, sun-exposed areas,
dermatomal, satellite
- Surface Change: striae, atrophy, crust, excoriation, fissure, scale, ulcerated
5. What to consider when checking for color of skin?: - Ask if the patient has noticed any color
changes in their skin
- Look for increase or loss of pigmentation
- Look for normal perfusion ("pink") vs. pallor, cyanosis, or yellowing (best at fingertips, lips, mucuous membranes) (in
palms and soles for darker people)
-for central cyanosis, check lips, oral mucosa, and tongue
6. How to assess mobility and turgor of skin?: - lift fold of skin
- note ease with which it lifts (mobility) and speed with which it returns (turgor), increased, decreased, and nor-
mal/good
7. Reminders about conducting a skin exam?: - check scalp, ears, eyelids, gluteal crease, web
spaces, palms and soles
- check mucosa including mouth, genitalia, and anus
- palpate all sun exposed areas for actinic keratoses: face, scalp, ears, chest, arms , legs
8. What are the functions of the skin?: -homeostasis
-provides boundaries for body fluid
-protects underlying tissues from microorganisms, toxins, radiation, injury
1. What questions to ask for skin exam?: Have you noticed any changes in your hair? in your nails?
Have you noticed any changes in your skin?
Have you noticed any rashes? itching?
Have you noticed any moles that have changed size, shape, color, or sensation?
Have you noticed any new moles?
Have you noticed any sores that aren't healing?
2. What are some common or concerning symptoms for a skin exam?: -hair loss or
nail changes
-rashes or itching
-moles or growths
-sores that are not healing
3. How to inspect the skin and what do you note?: Inspect all areas and palpate ONLY
sun-exposed areas, noting:
- Color
- Moisture
,- Temperature
- Texture
- Mobility and turgor
- Lesions
4. What do you describe lesions?: - Type: (flat) macule vs (raised) papule, plaque, or nodule
-Number: solitary, exact number, multiple, or diffuse
-Size: measure in mm, long axis
-Shape: ovoid (oval), annular (round with extending border), nummular (round), polygonal (polygon), crescentic
(crescent)
-Color: red, brown, tan, light brown, dark brown
-Texture: smooth, verrucous (wart like, cauliflower), dry, moist, waxy, greasy
- Location (use surface anatomy and landmarks)
- Appearance: "stuck on", pedunculated, blanching, erythematous
, - Configuration and distribution: grouped, scattered, symmetrical, sparing palms and soles, sun-exposed areas,
dermatomal, satellite
- Surface Change: striae, atrophy, crust, excoriation, fissure, scale, ulcerated
5. What to consider when checking for color of skin?: - Ask if the patient has noticed any color
changes in their skin
- Look for increase or loss of pigmentation
- Look for normal perfusion ("pink") vs. pallor, cyanosis, or yellowing (best at fingertips, lips, mucuous membranes) (in
palms and soles for darker people)
-for central cyanosis, check lips, oral mucosa, and tongue
6. How to assess mobility and turgor of skin?: - lift fold of skin
- note ease with which it lifts (mobility) and speed with which it returns (turgor), increased, decreased, and nor-
mal/good
7. Reminders about conducting a skin exam?: - check scalp, ears, eyelids, gluteal crease, web
spaces, palms and soles
- check mucosa including mouth, genitalia, and anus
- palpate all sun exposed areas for actinic keratoses: face, scalp, ears, chest, arms , legs
8. What are the functions of the skin?: -homeostasis
-provides boundaries for body fluid
-protects underlying tissues from microorganisms, toxins, radiation, injury
