Clinical Assessment Skin, Hair, Nails

- heaviest- accounts for 16% of body weight

- to keep the body in homeostasis

1) epidermis2) dermis3) subcutaneous tissue

- hair- nails- sebaceous glands- sweat glands

- vellus hair- short, fine, less pigmentation- terminal hair- coarser, pigmented

- present everywhere except palms/soles- produce fatty substance

- endocrine glands- help control body temp.- apocrine glands- found in axilla and groin, stimulated by emotional stress

- hair loss- rash- growths

- 80% of skin cancers- immature cells- resembles the basal layer of the epidermis- shiny pearly translucent papules/red macules

- 16% skin cancers- mature cells- resembles the spinous layer of the epidermis- crusted/scaly lesions with rough surface

- 4% skin cancers- arise from melanocytes in the epidermis- primarily found on trunk and thighs- spread rapidly (only kind that mestasticizes)

- History of previous melanoma- Age over 50- Regular dermatologist absent- Mole changing- Male gender

- 50 or more common moles- freckles- UV radiation- light eye or skin color- severe blistering sunburns in childhood- family history of melanoma

- people older than 50 years- people with multiple melanomas or dysplastic nervous syndrome

AssymetryBorders (irregular?)Color variation (especially blue and black mixed with white and red)Diameter (>6mm or different from others)Evolution (change in size, symptoms, morphology)