Bea Ysabelle O.

Rubiato
BS Nursing 1 - NA

LABORATORY ASSIGNMENT 3

1. Explain why we become tanned after sitting in the sun.

When ultraviolet radiation from the sun penetrates the epidermis, the cells,
which are the melanocytes, are stimulated and triggered to increase melanin
production, which then causes suntan. Melanin is a brown pigment that causes
tanning and its production is a response to the impact of ultraviolet radiation to
protect the skin from burning. The darkening of the skin is a sign that it is actively
trying to protect itself from further damage. It may also occur for several hours or
even a few days since melanocytes take time to produce and distribute the
melanin evenly throughout the body.

2. Why does hair turn gray?

Hair turns gray as a result of melanin decrease over time, caused by
factors such as age. As human beings age, a genetically controlled
“delayed-action” gene takes effect. As a result, the amount of melanin produced
and distributed in the hair decreases, causing the hair color to fade. In some
instances, hair melanin would disappear, making the hair appear white.

3. Is a bald man hairless? Explain.

A bald man is not necessarily hairless. Bald people have hair that appears
colorless and thin since their hair has a degenerated follicle, which does not
emerge from the follicle. This is termed as villus hair. Many hair follicles are lost,
but some remain and produce a very short, transparent hair, which is practically
invisible to the naked eye. These changes occur when sex hormones act on the
hair follicles of individuals who have genetic predisposition for pattern baldness.

4. A 40-year-old beach boy is complaining to you that his suntan made him
popular when he was young - but now his face is all wrinkled, and has
several darkly pigmented moles that are growing rapidly and are as big as
large coins. He shows you the moles, and immediately think “ABCD.” What
does this mean, and why should he be concerned?
The dark pigmented moles that are growing rapidly are caused by rapid
production of melanin, as a result of the beach boy’s frequent sun exposure.
However, too much sun exposure caused malignant cells to form in the
melanocytes, which later on developed into skin cancer. The ABCD rule is used
 to identify the tangible signs of skin cancer. These factors determine malignant
melanoma, which stands for: asymmetry, border, color, diameter, and sometimes
evolving. The A stands for asymmetry, wherein it can be seen that one half of a
mole is unlike the other half, a usual characteristic for cancerous moles. B is for
borders, which may appear irregular, scalloped, and poorly defined. A
noncancerous spot is more likely to demonstrate well-defined borders. The C
stands for color, which in cancerous spots, appears to have varying colors from
one area to the next, ranging from tan, brown, black, white, red, or blue.
However, signs for amelanotic melanoma may be harder to detect since it
doesn’t change melanin and blends in with the skin. The D is for diameter,
especially when its size is larger than 6 millimeters. The spot may also be
evolving, such that it may look different than the rest and grow or change shape.
With the visible presence of these signs on his skin, the beach boy should be
concerned because these signs imply he has melanoma.

5. A mother of a 13-month-old infant brings her child to the clinic because his
skin has turned orange. Why does the pediatrician inquire about the child’s
diet?
The pediatrician inquires about the infant’s diet because orange skin in
babies is developed when they eat a lot of baby foods high in carotene, such as
carrots, squash, sweet potato, corn, yams, pumpkin, egg yolks, spinach, and
beans. With this intake, a baby may acquire carotenemia, as shown in their skin
discoloration. Vegetables and fruits with a deep green or yellow color may also
contain high carotene levels. Even a breastfed baby can develop carotenemia if
the mother frequently eats food high in carotene. Although carotenemia is
typically harmless, the pediatrician may suggest changing the infant’s diet, so as
to prevent too much consumption of high-carotene foods. Carotenemia is usually
temporary and does not inflict major harm and as a result, the baby's skin color
should return to normal in a few months as more foods are introduced to their
diet.
Sources:

Pietrangelo, A. (2022, February 10). ABCDE rule for skin cancer: What it means and
how to use it. Healthline.
https://www.healthline.com/health/skin-cancer/abcd-rule-for-skin-cancer

Vanputte, C., Regan, J., & Russo, A. (2021). Seeley’s Essentials of Anatomy and
Physiology (11th ed.). MCGRAW-HILL US HIGHER ED.

Vincent, I. (2022, April 24). Carotenemia and Yellow Skin in Babies. Verywell Family.
https://www.verywellfamily.com/carotenemia-and-yellow-colored-skin-2634477