Pathology/Maladies
Diseases of the integumentary system can include acne, psoriasis, alopecia, dermatitis, and rosacea. These diseases have a wide window of variation. Some are more severe than others and some, such as skin cancer or burns, can be fatal. These diseases can be viral, fungal, bacterial, or congenital, and factors like stress, personal hygiene, and sun exposure can have an influence, as well. These diseases have a big impact on health and self-confidence/well-being. Skin irritations like dermatitis and psoriasis are some of the most common congenital diseases of this system.
1. Acne
What is acne? Acne is a skin condition that occurs when soil and dead skin cells plug up your hair follicles. Acne is most common on the face, neck, chest, back, and shoulders. Acne can be stressful and annoying. Acne heals slowly and just when it seems to be getting better, more zits pop up. It depends on the severity, but it can lead to scarring and can cause emotional distress. What are the symptoms? Acne takes a few forms. There are noninflammatory lesions and inflammatory lesions. Symptoms of noninflammatory lesions include whiteheads and blackheads. Symptoms of inflammatory lesions include:
What are the causes? Whiteheads and blackheads are created when oil secretions, dead skin cells, and sometimes bacteria clog the openings of hair follicles. Inflammatory lesions are all caused by the buildup of secretions within hair follicles. How is acne diagnosed? First, a dermatologist examines your skin to make sure you have acne since there are other skin conditions that can appear to be acne. The dermatologist then grades the acne on a scale of one to four and notes what type, or types, of acne appear on the skin, How is acne treated? There are seven different ways to treat acne:
The first three are the most common. These acne treatments work by reducing how much oil is produced, speeding up skin cell turnover, fighting bacterial infection, and reducing inflammation. |
2. Psoriasis
What is psoriasis? Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that changes the life cycle of skin cells. It causes cells to build up on the surface of the skin at a very rapid rate. These extra cells create thick scales and itchy, dry, red patches that are sometimes painful. What are the symptoms? Symptoms can vary from person to person, but symptoms usually include:
Most types of psoriasis go through cycles. Types include plaque, nail, scalp, guttate, inverse, pustular, erythrodermic, and psoriatic arthritis. What are the causes? The cause of psoriasis isn't completely known, but it's thought to be related to an immune system problem with the body's cells. Specifically, the white blood cell called the T cell. Instead of fighting off viruses and bacteria, the T cells in a person with psoriasis attack healthy cells by mistake. These overactive T cells also trigger other immune responses, including dilation of blood vessels in the skin and an increase in other white blood cells that can enter the outer layer of skin. These changes result in the increased production of healthy skin cells, T cells, and other white blood cells. This causes new skin cells to move to the top layer of skin too quickly, in days instead of weeks. Dead cells can't be removed quickly enough and build up into thick patches on the surface of the skin. The cause of this T cell malfunction isn't totally clear, though. How is psoriasis diagnosed? Diagnosis of psoriasis is pretty straightforward. A doctor performs a physical exam of the skin, scalp, and nails, and gets the medical history of the patient. How is psoriasis treated? Psoriasis treatments are supposed to stop the cells from reproducing so quickly and smoothing the skin. These treatments include: Topical treatments such as:
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3. Alopecia
What is alopecia? Alopecia, or alopecia areata, is a hair condition that involves irregular hair loss. What are the symptoms? Symptoms of alopecia include:
What are the causes? Alopecia occurs when the immune system begins to attack hair follicles by mistake. Hair follicles are where hair growth begins, hence the hair loss typical of alopecia. Experts don't know why the follicle is attacked, but they do know the damage to the follicle usually isn't permanent. Alopecia is most common in people under twenty but anyone can be affected. How is alopecia diagnosed? Alopecia is diagnosed through a physical exam and medical history. If the reason for a patient's hair loss isn't clear after this, then the doctor will perform a hair analysis and blood tests to see what is causing the hair loss. How is alopecia treated? For some types of hair loss, hair may start to grow again without medication or treatment. If medication is needed, the following medications are typically used: minoxidil and finasteride. Hair transplants and scalp reductions are surgical procedures for the most common type of permanent hair loss: scalp hair loss. Wigs and hair pieces are ways to hide alopecia without medication or surgery. |
4. Dermatitis
What is dermatitis? Dermatitis is a general term. It describes a skin inflammation and usually involves an itchy rash on swollen, red skin. Because it's a general term, it can have many causes and occur in many forms. Dermatitis isn't life-threatening or contagious, usually, but it can make a person feel uncomfortable and self-conscious. What are the symptoms? Symptoms vary according to type. These are the symptoms for the most common types of dermatitis.
What are the causes? Causes also vary by type.
How is dermatitis diagnosed? Dermatitis is diagnosed through a physical exam and medical history. If he/she suspects contact dermatitis, patch tests are made to see which substances are irritating the skin. How is dermatitis treated? Treatment varies depending on the cause of the dermatitis. Most dermatitis treatment plans include using corticosteroid creams, applying wet compresses, and avoiding irritants. Light therapy may also be used in some cases. |
5. Rosacea
What is rosacea? Rosacea is a skin condition that is fairly common. It causes redness in the face and often produces small, red, pus-filled bumps. It most commonly affects middle-aged women with fair skin, although it can affect anyone. What are the symptoms? Symptoms of rosacea include:
What are the causes? The cause of rosacea isn't known, but it's thought to be a combination of hereditary and environmental factors. Environmental factors trigger/aggravate rosacea by increasing blood flow to the surface of the skin. Some of those factors are listed below.
How is rosacea diagnosed? There are no tests involved in the diagnosis of rosacea. There is simply a physical exam and questioning about a patient's medical history. How is rocasea treated? There's no cure for rosacea, but there are treatments that can control and reduce the symptoms. Prescription drugs used to treat rosacea include:
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Skin Cancer
Most cases of skin cancer are caused by UV radiation from the sun and artificial rays, which damages DNA and disables protective tumor-suppresing genes in the epidermal cells.
There are three types of skin cancer. These types are named for the epidermal cells they originate in. They are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.
1. Basal cell carcinoma: This is the most common type of skin cancer. It rarely spreads to other parts of the body, but if it's neglected, it can disfigure the face. It arises from cells of the stratum basale, hence the name, and it then invades the dermis. At first, it appears as a small, shiny bump, and later, it grows.
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2. Squamous carcinoma: This type of skin cancer arises from the keratinocytes of the stratum spinosum. Lesions appear on the scalp, ears, lower lip, and back of head. These lesions have a raised, red, and scaly appearance, and they later form an ulcer with raised edges. If the cancer goes unnoticed, it tends to spread to the lymph nodes, and it then becomes fatal.
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3. Melanoma: This type of skin cancer arises from the melanocytes, and it is extremely aggressive and resistant to drugs. It can be treated surgically if it's caught early enough, but if it isn't and it gets the chance to spread, it's unresponsive to chemotherapy and is usually fatal. The greatest risk factor melanoma is a family history of the disease.
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Burns
Burns are the leading cause of accidental death. Burn deaths mostly result from fluid-loss, infection, and the toxic effects of burned, dead tissue.
Burns are classified by degree.
Burns are classified by degree.
3. Third-degree burns: Full thickness burns. These burns involve the epidermis, all of the dermis, and often some deeper tissues such as muscle and bone. Everything is destroyed in a third-degree burn. Skin regenerates only from the edges of the wound. Third-degree burns often require skin transplants, and if they're left to themselves to heal, this can result in severe disfiguration.
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