Diseases & Disorders of the Integumentary System

Objective• Explain the different diseases and disorders of the integumentary system, their symptoms, & possible treatment

Skin Cancers• There are several types of malignancies of varying

severity that affect the skin

• Most are associated with prolonged exposure to the harmful radiation in sunlight

• Three main types to focus on:• Basal cell carcinoma• Squamous cell carcinoma• Malignant melanoma

Basal Cell Carcinoma• BCC is the most frequently occurring form of all cancers

• In 2010, an estimated 2.8 million cases of BCC were diagnosed in the US

• Usually develops slowly and is unlikely to spread (metastasize)

• UV exposure causes the cells at the base of the epidermis to be damage and divide out of control

• It begins as a small, smooth, painless lump pink or brownish gray, with a pearly or wax-like border

• As is widens it may form a central depression with rolled edges

• , Treatments

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Squamous Cell Carcinoma• Due to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays over your lifetime or carcinogens, such as tar & oil chemicals

• An estimated 700,000 cases of SCC are diagnosed each year in the US, and between 3,900 and 8,800 people died from the disease in the US in 2012

• It begins as a red or red-brown lump with an irregular edge that is hard and painless

• It may later weep and become ulcer-like

• Treatments

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Malignant Melanoma

• Melanoma kills an estimated 9,940 people in the US annually

• Develops from an existing mole, or a fast growing, dark-colored, asymmetrical spot

• Features include: increasing in size, an irregular border, itching, bleeding, and crusting

• Cause by damage done to pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) which leads to out of control cell division and spreading throughout the body

• Warnings Signs: ABCDE & Ugly Duckling

• Treatments

ABCDE’s of Melanoma• Asymmetry: lack of symmetry

• Border: uneven, scalloped or notched

• Color: variety of colors

• Diameter: larger than the diameter of the eraser on a pencil

• Evolving: mole changes in size, shape, color, elevation or any other trait or new symptoms appear

The Ugly Duckling

• Squares A, B, & C represent a body area

• In A, the patient has one dominant mole pattern with slight variation in size. The outlier lesion is clearly darker and larger than all other moles

• In B, the patient has two predominant nevus patterns. The outlier is small but lacks pigmentation

• In C, the patient shows only one lesion. If this lesion is changing, symptomatic, or atypical, it should be removed

Rashes• Most rashes are areas of skin inflammation, while others are

conditions of the skin itself

• Some are localized while others are more widespread

• Localized rashes can occur on parts of the body exposed to sunlight, frictions, or an irritant chemical

• Some rashes are also inherited

Psoriasis• Is a chronic widespread condition that causes skin cells to grow too quickly, resulting in thick, white, silvery, or red patches of skin

• Normally, skin cells grow gradually and flake off about every 4 weeks. But in psoriasis, this happens in days

• Experts believe that psoriasis occurs when the immune system overreacts, causing inflammation and flaking of skin.

• In some cases, psoriasis runs in families

• Episodes my be triggered by infections, injury, stress, or as a side effect of medication

• There is no cure, but many types of treatment are available, including topical products, phototherapy, and oral medicines

Psoriasis

Eczema• Also known a dermatitis

• Is a common skin condition in babies and children, but may flare up during adolescence and adulthood

• It is often linked to allergic tendencies such as asthma and perennial, or seasonal, rhinitis (hay fever)

• The rash is red, inflamed, and itchy with small fluid-filled blisters or episodes of dry, scaly, thickened and cracked skin

• Treated with oral medications, steroid creams and light therapy

Eczema

Impetigo• Is a blistering of the skin caused by bacterial infection that originates from a cut, cold sore or scratched weeping eczema

• Is one of the most common skin infections among kids and usually appears on the face, neck, hands, and diaper area

• This contagious skin infection is generally caused by one of two bacteria:• Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes, also

called group A streptococcus, (causes strep throat)

• Treated with antibiotics

Impetigo

Vitiligo

• Is an autoimmune condition, where the body makes antibodies that attack the skin’s melanocytes

• It occurs in patchy areas, often symmetrically over the body

• In one-third of cases, the pigmentation spontaneously returns

• The extent and rate of color loss from vitiligo is unpredictable

• No treatments stop the condition, only help restore skin color or even out skin tone

• Michael Jackson had it

Vitiligo

Skin Marks & Blemishes• Marks, swellings, and blemishes on the skin include small,

pus-filled spots known as pustules, larger ones called boils and acne, which occur in teenage years

• Other marks are enlargements may be caused by a local increase in cell numbers, as in warts and moles

• Swellings may also be due to different types of cyst

• Some blemishes are caused by external factors, such as pressure and exposure to sunlight, or can result from viral infection

Acne• In acne vulgaris, the sebaceous glands produce an excessive

amount of sebum

• This reacts on contact with air and forms a plug in the skin pore, which may de dark with pigmentation as a blackhead or pale, as a whitehead

• A combination of trapped sebum, dead cells, and bacterial infection inflame the area, cause a pustule

• Most common in teenagers due to hormone surges at puberty

• Treatments include topical ointments & antibiotics, oral medications, and skin therapies such as chemical peels

Acne

Mole• A mole or nevus is a flat or raised mark that varies in shape,

color, and texture

• They may be singular or numerous and appear anywhere on the skin

• Moles are localized overproduction and aggregation of melanocytes with increased amounts of melanin pigment

• Most moles appear in early childhood and during the first 30 years of a person's life

• It is normal to have between 10-40 moles by adulthood.

Moles

Cyst• Is a harmless, saclike swelling under the skin that contains fluid or semisolid materials

• The most common type is a sebaceous cyst or wen that forms in a hair follicle

• Common sites include the scalp, face, trunk, and genitals

• Treatment may be needed if the cyst becomes enlarged, unsightly, painful or infected

• Most cysts do not disappear on their own without treatment.

• Some cysts may need to be drained to relieve symptoms. 

Sebaceous Cyst

Boil• Is a collection of pus inside a hair follicle or a sebaceous gland

• Usually caused by a bacterial infection from various types of Staphylococcus

• The pus accumulates into a white or yellow head at the boil’s center

• A cluster of boils may link to form a carbuncle

• The most common places for boils to appear are on the face, neck, armpits, shoulders, and buttocks

• When one forms on the eyelid, it is called a sty

• Recurrent boils may signify an underlying disorder

Boil Continued• These health problems make people more susceptible to boils:• Diabetes • Problems with the immune system• Poor nutrition• Poor hygiene• Exposure to harsh chemicals that irritate the skin

• Treatments for boils includes: warm compresses, draining the boil, topical antibiotics, or oral antibiotics

Boil

Wart• Is a small growth caused by an infection by the human papilloma virus (HPV)

• It may flat or raised and may be smooth or rough

• The virus invades the skin and cause a localized overgrowth of epidermal cells

• Three out of four people will develop a wart (verruca vulgaris) at some time in their lives.

• Warts are slightly contagious, and you can spread them to other parts of your body by touching them or shaving around infected areas.

• Warts typically disappear on their own with time, but it may take years.

• Warts respond variably to a variety of treatment measures.

• Over-the-counter treatments for warts include salicylic-acid preparations and freezing kits.

Warts Continued• Warts typically disappear on their own with time, but it may

take years

• Warts respond variably to a variety of treatment measures

• Over-the-counter treatments for warts include salicylic-acid preparations and freezing kits

Wart

Alopecia areata• Is a type of hair loss that occurs when your immune system mistakenly

attacks hair follicles

• The damage to the follicle is usually not permanent

• Experts do not know why the immune system attacks the follicles

• Alopecia areata is most common in people younger than 20, but children and adults of any age may be affected

• Usually begins when clumps of hair fall out, resulting in totally smooth, round hairless patches on the scalp

• The hair loss often comes and goes---hair will grow back over several months in one area but will fall out in another area

• Sometimes the hair loss is permanent

Alopecia Areata