Instructions:
This week we have explored Disorders of the Integumentary System. Review the material covered and provide a minimum of five key points about one of the key content areas covered that are listed below. You may include sign/symptoms, diagnostic tools, and/or treatments.
• Skin Lesions, & Cancer
• Inflammatory & Infectious Disorders of the Skin
• Trauma & Pigmentation Disorders
• Diagnostic Testing & Treatments for Skin
Please be sure to validate your opinions and ideas with citations and references.
Estimated time to complete: 2 hours
The disorder of the Integumentary System that I choose to look into is skin lesions and cancer. There are many different kinds of skin lesions that can be malignant or benign and affect the skin. Benign skin lesions tend to look like birthmarks, moles, skin tags, and freckles. Malignant skin lesions are a wound that won’t heal, new growth on the skin, change of the skin lesion, pain, and lumps. The most common type of skin lesions are macule, papules, nodules, pustules, vesicles, and plaques.
The way to tell if someone has cancerous or noncancerous skin lesions is by going to a doctor. A healthcare provider diagnoses skin lesions by physically examining your skin. They will look at your skin with their eyes but may also use a magnifying glass or another tool to better see your skin. They’re looking specifically at the characteristics of the lesion, including size, shape and color. A medical provider will also want to know your medical history, including allergies, current medications, chronic diseases or health conditions, recent exposures and family history (Cleveland Clinic, 2024). Some of the tests they may run are blood work, allergy tests, and a biopsy. From there the provider will come up with a treatment.
If the skin lesions are benign they can be treated with topical lotions, creams, ointments or medications that you take orally that target the specific type of lesion. Surgical removal is also an option that the patient may choose. If the skin lesions are found to be cancerous depending how big and where they have spread surgically removing is the best treatment. In same cases chemotherapy and other medications may be needed as well.
There are many different precautions people my take to help prevent skin lesions. People should avoid skin care products that will clog pores, avoid allergens, practice good hygiene, wear sunscreen, limit sun exposure, and avoid using tanning beds.
Reference:
Cleveland Clinic. 2024. Skin Lesions: What Are Skins Lesions? to an external site..
Allergic reactions such as a direct chemical or mechanical skin irritation, allergen exposure is a possible cause of contact dermatitis. It can be any number of things, such as metals, cosmetics, soaps, chemicals, and plants, can cause allergic dermatitis. Following the initial exposure, sensitization that take place with in few hours after the allergen is exposed. Symptoms such a pruritic rash appear at the location. Lesion location typically provide information about the allergen. Ankle lesions, for instance, are frequently linear and might result from poison ivy. These are three ways in which contact dermatitis might occur as well as contact dermatitis brought on by sticky tape. Take note of the shape of the rashes and location which will reveal the cause. Numerous substances, including plants like poison ivy, oak, or sumac, can cause contact dermatitis. Burning plants can release airborne irritants, such as poison ivy. Additional irritants may include dyes found in toilet paper, soaps, latex, furs, preservatives, medications, detergents, cleaning agents, cosmetics, chemicals, acids, and specific metals (such as nickel) used in jewelry.
Dermatitis can result from exposure to radiation from the sun or other sources, such as tanning beds. Dermatitis spreads when an irritant comes into regular contact with the skin. It can occur because of chemical or mechanical irritation, such as that are caused by wool fibers and latex gloves. A single exposure to a potent irritant may result in a significant inflammatory response. The quantity of skin affected and the possibility that the causing substance can be eliminated both affect the prognosis. When the offending substance is removed together with pharmacological therapy, the reaction is typically a good one. The first step in stopping recurrences is identifying the drug that is causing the offense. Contact must be avoided once the drug has been detected. If unintentional contact occurs, the severity of the disease may be lessened with quick action by eliminating the source and pursuing medication therapy. Urge patients to stay away from things or circumstances that can cause contact dermatitis. Give directions on how to cleanse the skin, affected clothing, and bedding after encountering substances that are causing the problem. Advise patients not to scrape the afflicted area in order to avoid further tearing or infection of the skin.
References:
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Multiple pages reviewed for this article ( Accessed 12/21/2022.
Kattan JD, Cocco RR, Järvinen KM. Milk and Soy Allergy ( Pediatr Clin North Am. 2011;58(2):407-26, x. Accessed 12/21/2022.
