Transcript The Function of Skin

Integumentary System
Part 2: Skin Disorders
Unit 3: Integumentary System
A&P Chapter 5
Skin Disorders
1. Chronic Disorders
 2. Infectious Disorders
 3. Burns
 4. Skin Cancers
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I. Chronic Skin Disorders
 Urticaria
(Hives)
◦ Raised, often itchy, red
welts on skin surface
◦ Usually due to an
allergic reaction (to
animal dander, insect
bites, pollen, shellfish,
nuts, eggs, milk)
◦ Also caused by stress,
extreme cold or hot, or
illness
Eczema
Chronic skin disorder that involves
scaly and itchy rashes
 Dry, flaky, blistering skin appears red
and inflamed
 Intense itching and burning
sensations
 Can be triggered by allergic reactions
to chemicals, fabrics, heat, dryness

Dandruff (Seborrheic dermatitis)

Caused by a yeast
White, flaky, inflammatory skin
condition
 Often found on the scalp
 Not contagious
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Psoraiasis
Flaky, silver-white patches
called scales
 Redness and irritation
 Genetic
 The body produces too
many new skin cells.
 Normally skin cell turn
around is ~30 days, but
with psoraiasis, turn over
is around one week.

Albinism
Genetic disorder in which the body
cannot produce melanin
 Symptoms: absence of color in hair,
skin, or iris; light sensitivity; prone to
sunburn & skin cancer
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II. Infectious Skin Disorders
 Impetigo
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Bacterial infection
Highly contagious
Causes blisters or sores on face and hands
Common among kids
Acne
Caused by an
overproduction of sebum
and oil, leading to
clogging of the pores
 Clogged pores trap
bacteria, dead skin cells,
and pus (white blood
cells)
 Inflammation and
swelling form red bumps
 Pimples deep in the skin
can form painful cysts
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Normal hair follicle
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Acne
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Other causes of acne
 Genetics
 Hormonal changes due to menstrual
cycles (females) or stress
 Greasy or oily cosmetic and hair products
 Certain drugs (such as steroids,
testosterone, estrogen)
 High levels of humidity and sweating
 Diets high in refined sugars
Athlete’s Foot
Fungal infection
 Very common on foot or other moist,
warm areas of body
 Fungus infects the upper layers of the
skin, causing itching, cracking, and pain

Ringworm
Not a worm, caused by
fungus
 Occurs in warm, moist
areas with frequent
wetness (such as from
sweating) and minor
injuries to your skin
 Itchy, red, raised, scaly
patches that may blister
and ooze

Necrotizing Fasciitis
“Flesh-eating disease”
 Very rare bacterial infection
 Necrosis (death) of the
subcutaneous layer of skin

MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant
Staphylococcus aureus)
Staph infections are
caused by bacteria
 Staphylococcus bacteria
normally lives on the skin
with no problems
 MRSA is a strain that is
resistant to antibiotics
and therefore very
dangerous or deadly

Signs & Symptoms MRSA
People in hospitals are most likely to get
MRSA
 Staph skin infections start as small red
bumps that resemble pimples, boils or
spider bites
 Quickly turn into deep, painful abscesses
that must be surgically drained
 Sometimes the bacteria remain in the
skin, but if it penetrates into the body, it
can be life-threatening
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III. Skin Burns
A burn is tissue damage which
destroys cell proteins and cause cell
death in the affected areas
 Caused by:
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Heat
Radiation (sunlight, tanning beds)
Chemicals
Electricity
Degrees of Burns
 1st Degree Burn
◦ Burns only the epidermis (ex.
Sunburn)
◦ Redness & Pain, no blistering
Are Tanning Beds Safer?
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The salons say yes, but studies show
tanning beds still increase the risk of
cancer
2nd Degree Burn
Burns occur in the epidermis and
some of the dermis
 Redness, Pain, & blistering
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3rd Degree Burn
The epidermis, dermis, and
hypodermis are destroyed
 Damage to the nerve endings (ex.
Exposure to direct fire)
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http://video.about.com/firstaid/Burn
s
Extent of Burns
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“Rule of Nines”
◦ Body is divided into 11 regions (each
accounting for 9% of total body area)
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Critical Burns
◦ Cover more than10% of
the body’s surface area
◦ Burns on face, genitals,
or completely encircling
the hands or feet
Treatment of Critical Burns
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Complications:
◦ Infection, hypothermia, dehydration
Intense doses of intravenous fluids
to replace electrolyte imbalance
 Warm and isolated environment to
reduce risk of infection
 Skin graft can be done as soon as
patient is stable
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IV. Skin Cancer
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Risk Factors
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Age (Older people)
Light-skin
Excessive sun exposure
Genetics (family history)
Chemical exposure
When to see your doctor:
◦ If you have any of the warning signs, are
older, or have a family history of skin
cancer
Cancer Vocabulary
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Cancer – abnormal division of a cell
that has undergone a DNA
mutation
 Tumor
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– mass of mutated cells
Metastasis - the spread of cancer
cells from one part of the body to
another
 Two
Categories of Skin Cancer:
◦ 1) Non-Melanoma
 Includes Basal cell carcinoma
and Squamous cell carcinoma
◦ 2) Melanoma
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Most common skin cancer
 Occurs – in sun-exposed areas
 Appearance – pearly or waxy bump
or a flat, flesh-colored or brown scarlike legion
 Treatment – cryosurgery, surgical
removal
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◦ 95% of patients easily cured,
but it may come back
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Five times less common than basal
cell carcinoma, but more likely to
spread to nearby organs
 Occurs – on sun-exposed areas
 Appearance – firm, red nodule or a
flat lesion with a scaly, crusted
surface
 Treatment – cryosurgery,
surgical removal,
medication
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Melanoma
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Most dangerous skin cancer because it can
metastasize (spread) and lead to death
Occurs – anywhere on body’s skin
Appearance – large brownish spot with
darker speckles or a mole that changes in
color, size or bleeds
◦ Men – on trunk, head or neck
◦ Women – lower legs
Treatment – surgical removal, radiation,
chemotherapy