Chapter 4: Disorders and Diseases of the Skin

Poikiloderma of Civatte

A skin condition caused by actinic bronzing (chronic sun exposure) to the sides of the face and neck. The skin turns a reddish-brown hue with a distinct white patch under the chin.

Melasma

A type of hormonal hyperpigmentation disorder that first appears during pregnancy or with the use of birth control pills; identifiable pattern of solid fairly symmetrical hyperpigmentation, often on the forehead, cheeks, upper lip, and chin.

Lentigo

A flat, pigmented area similar to a freckle; small, yellow-brown spots. Lentigles are multiple pigmented lesions.

Tinea Versicolor (pityriasis versicolor)

A fungal condition that inhibits melanin production; white, brown, or salmon-colored flaky patches.

Dermatitis

A generalized term to refer to an inflammatory condition of the skin; various forms include lesions such as eczema, vesicles, or papules.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

A hormonal condition that affects one in 20 women in their child bearing years. Symptoms include increased androgen production that causes ovarian cysts. These cysts create irregular menstrual cycles and difficulty with fertility. Insulin resistant and struggle with weight loss. Sleep apnea, acne, thinning hair in a male growth pattern of baldness, abnormal hair growth on the face, arms, thighs, neck, and breasts.

Leukoderma

A loss of pigmentation leading to light, abnormal patches of depigmented skin.

Nevus (birthmark)

A malformation of the skin from abnormal pigmentation or dilated capillaries that is present at birth or appears shortly after birth. A port wine stain is a vascular type of nevus.

Couperose

A matting of tiny telangiectasia that creates a ruddy complexion.

Comedo

A noninflamed buildup of cells, sebum, and other debris inside follicles.

Vitiligo

A pigmentation disease characterized by white irregular patches of skin that are totally lacking pigment. Autoimmune disorder causing an absence of melanocytes.

Mole

A pigmented nevus; a brownish spot ranging in color from tan to bluish black. Some are flat, resembling freckles; others are raised and darker.

body dysmorphic disorder

A psychological disorder in which the client has a preoccupation with their appearance. They do not have a realistic picture of what they look like. They tend to fixate on minor appearance imperfections and see them as disfiguring.

Perioral dermatitis

Acne-like condition around the mouth, consisting mainly of small clusters of papules.

Keratoma

Acquired, thickened patch of epidermis. Callus caused by pressure or friction is a keratoma. If the thickening also grows inward, it becomes a corn.

Keratosis

An abnormally thick buildup of skin cells.

Contact dermatitis

An inflammation of the skin caused by having contact with allergens and caustic chemicals or substances.

Rosacea

An inflammatory and vascular disorder with multiple causes that are not completely understood. It is a progressive disorder that starts with flushing and increase bouts of redness.

Hyperkeratosis

Thickening of the skin caused by a mass of keratinocytes.

stasis dermatitis

Caused by poor circulation in the lower les that can create a chronic inflammatory state. Legs may have ulcerations, along with scaly skin, itching, and hyperpigmentation.

Folliculitis

Hair grows under the surface instead of growing up and out of the follicle, causing a bacterial infection; these ingrown hairs are common in men, usually from shaving (also referred to as barbae folliculitis, folliculitis barbae, sycosis barbae, or barber's itch)

retention hyperkeratosis

Hereditary factor in which dead skin cells build up because they do not shed from the follicles as they do on normal skin.

secondary skin lesions

Characterized by piles of material on the skin surface, such as a crust or scab, or depressions in the skin surface, such as an ulcer.

Atopic dermatitis

Chronic, relapsing form of dermatitis. (Atopic means excess inflammation from allergies). Irritants and allergens trigger reactions that include itchy, dry cracked skin.

Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation

Darkened pigmentation due to an injury to the skin or the residual healing after an acne lesion has resolved; red, purple, or brown in appearance.

Pustules

Filled with fluid from the dead white blood cells that fought the infection.

Dermatillomania

Form of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in which the person picks at their skin to the point of injury, infection, or scarring. People with this find the picking stress relieving and painless.

Carbuncle

Group of boils.

Acne

Inflammatory skin disorder of the sebaceous glands, medically known as acne simplex or acne vulgaris.

Sebaceous hyperplasia

Involves benign lesions frequently seen in oilier areas of the face; white, yellow, or flesh-colored; doughnut-shaped with an indentation in the center. Sebaceous material may be found in the center.

Albinism

Rare genetic condition characterized by the lack of melanin pigment in the body including the skin, hair, and eyes. At risk for skin cancer, sensitive to light, and ages early without normal melanin protection. Technical term: congenital leukoderma or congenital hypopigmentation.

Papules

Red, inflamed lesions that may become more infected and develop pus.

Psoriasis

Itchy skin disease characterized by red patches covered with white-silver scales; caused by an overproliferation of skin cells that replicate too fast. Patches are usually found on the scalp, elbows, knees, chest, and lower back. If patches are irritated, bleeding can occur.

Primary lesions

Lesions in the early stages of development or change. Characterized by flat, nonpalpable changes in skin color, or by elevations formed by fluid in a cavity, such as vesicles or pustules.

Cysts

Nodules made up of deep pockets of infection. Skin forms hardened tissue around the infection to stop the spread of bacteria, which can lead to both depressed and raised scars from damage to the dermal tissue.

Keratosis pilaris

Redness and bumpiness in the cheeks or upper arms; caused by blocked follicles; has the appearance of "chicken skin"

Erythema

Redness caused by inflammation.

actinic keratosis

Pink or flesh-colored precancerous lesions that feel sharp or rough; resulting from sun damage.

Pseudolliculitis (razor bumps)

Resembles folliculitis without the pus or infection.

Tan

Results from sun exposure; a change in pigmentation due to melanin production as a defense against UV radiation that damages the skin; visible skin and cell damage.

Steatoma

Sebaceous cyst or subcutaneous tumor filled with sebum; ranges in size from a pea to an orange. It usually appears on the scalp, neck, and back; also called a wen.

Sebaceous filaments

Similar to open comedones, are mainly solidified impactions of oil without the cell matter.

Milia

Small epidermal cysts that appear as firm white papules; are whitish, pearl-like masses of sebum and dead cells under the skin with no visible opening, and are often mistakenly called whiteheads (whiteheads look similar but are soft).

Skin tag

Small outgrowth or extension of the skin that looks like a flap; they are benign and are common under the arms, on the neck, or breast area caused by friction.

Furuncle (boil)

Subcutaneous abscess filled with pus, caused by bacteria in glands or hair follicles.

Edema

Swelling from a fluid imbalance in the cells or from a response to injury, infection, or medication.

Comedogenic

Tendency for an ingredient to clog follicles and cause a buildup of dead skin cells, resulting in comedones (blackheads).

pilosebaceous unit

Term for the entire follicle that includes hair shaft, sebaceous gland, and the sebaceous duct or canal to the surface.

dermatology

The branch of medical science that studies and treats the skin and its disorders and diseases.

Sensitization

The development of hypersensitivity is the result of repeated exposure to an allergen that can take months or years to develop due to the allergen and intensity of exposure.

Pruritus

The medical term for itching; persistent itching.

Ephelids (freckles)

Tiny round or oval pigmented areas of skin on areas exposed to the sun. Also referred to as macules, they are small flat colored spots on the skin.

Vasodialation

Vascular dilation of the blood vessels.

Telangiectasia

Visible capillaries, .5 to 1.0 mm in diameter, that are commonly found on the face, particularly around the nose, cheeks, and chin. They can appear due to an injury, heredity, rosacea, hormonal changes, or exposure to extreme cold or heat. A cosmetic irregularity, not a medical condition.

Varicose veins

Visible vascularity that are abnormally dilated and twisted veins that can occur anywhere in the body; often on the legs.

dermatologist

a physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders of the skin.

hypertrophy

an abnormal growth; many are benign, or harmless; however, some growths are premalignat or malignant and can be dangerous or cancerous.

Eczema

an inflammatory, painful itching disease of the skin; acute or chronic in nature; and has dry or moist lesions.

seborrheic dermatitis

form of eczema characterized by inflammation, dry or oily scaling or crusting, and/or itchiness. Red, flaky skin appears in the eyebrows, on the scalp and along the hairline, middle of forehead, and along the sides of the nose.

Hypopigmentation

lack of pigment.

Hyperpigmentation

overproduction of pigment

Seborrhea

severe oiliness of the skin; an abnormal secretion from the sebaceous glands. When it is in the scalp it is called dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis, but it can also occur around the eyebrows, behind the ears, and around the nose or other areas of the face.

Lesions

structural changes in tissues caused by damage or injury; any mark, wound, or abnormality.