The Integumentary System

5.4 Disorders of the Skin

Introduction to disorders of the Skin:

Athlete’s foot: fungal infection often involving the skin of the toes and soles

Impetigo: bacterial infection common in young children

Candidiasis: yeast infection mainly in moist areas

Eczema: inflammation of the skin

Dandruff: caused by a dry scalp producing flaking and itching

Urticaria: (hives) – allergic reaction causing reddish, elevated, and often itchy patches

Skin Cancer:

Skin cancer begins with a mutation of the skin cell DNA

o Nonmelanoma cancers – less likely to metastasize

o Basal cell carcinoma

o Squamous cell carcinoma

o Melanoma cancers

Basal cell carcinoma

o Most common type of skin cancer

o Ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes epidermal basal cells to form a tumor

o Signs are varied:

- An open sore that will not heal

- Recurring reddish patch

- Smooth, circular

Squamous cell carcinoma

 o Much less common than basal cell carcinoma

o More likely to spread than basal cell carcinoma; about %1

Melanoma

o More likely to be malignant

o Starts in the melanocytes; looks like an unusual mole

o Most common in fair-skinned persons who have experienced

Prevention of skin cancer:

o Use broad-spectrum sunscreens of at least

Kaposi’s sarcoma is an opportunistic skin cancer found in AIDS and other

immunocompromised patients.

Moles and warts are not usually cancerous; moles are overgrowth of melanocytes and warts are

caused by a virus.

Wound Healing:

Wound healing causes an inflammatory response: redness, swelling, heat, and pain.

Steps in wound healing:

o Blood fills the wound; a clot forms

o White blood cells and fibroblasts move to the injured area.

o Fibroblasts pull the margins of the wound together and promote tissue regeneration.

o The basal layer of the epidermis produces new cells.

o Proliferating fibroblasts form a scar.

Burns:

Burns are usually caused by heat, but also by radioactive, chemical, and electrical agents.
 o Two criteria are used to determine the severity of a burn: depth and the extent of the

burned area.

Four types of burns based on their depth:

First degree burn

o Only the epidermis is affected.

o Redness and pain

o No blister or swelling.

Third degree burns

o Also called full-thickness burns

o Destroys entire thickness of the skin

o Surface of wound is leathery and may be brown, tan, black, white, or red

o Patient feels not initial pain

Fourth degree burn

o Involve tissues down to the bone

Rule of Nines

Extent of burned area:

o “Rule of nines” is a technique used to

Burns are critical if:

5.5 Effects of Aging

Rate of cell mitosis decreases

Dermis becomes thinner and the dermal papillae flatten.

Adipose tissue in the hypodermis decreases

Collagen decreases
Wrinkles form because of