Chapter 56
Management of Patients with Dermatologic Problems
Primary Skin Lesions
- Macule, Patch: Flat, nonpalpable skin color change (color may be brown, white, tan,
purple, red)
- Macule: <1 cm, circumscribed border
- Patch: >1 cm, may have irregular border
- Papule, Plaque: Elevated, palpable, solid mass Circumscribed border
- Papule: <0.5 cm
- Plaque: >0.5 cm
- Nodule, Tumor: Elevated, palpable, solid mass. Extends deeper into the dermis than
a papule
- Nodule: 0.5–2 cm; circumscribed
- Tumor: >1–2 cm; tumors do not always have sharp borders
- Vesicle, Bulla: Circumscribed, elevated, palpable mass containing serous fluid
- Vesicle: <0.5 cm
- Bulla: >0.5 cm
- Pustule: Pus-filled vesicle or bulla
Bacterial Skin Infections/Impetigo
- Caused by staphylococci, streptococci, or multiple bacteria.
- Face, hands, neck, and extremities are most frequently involved
- It is contagious and may spread to other parts of the patient's skin or to other members
of the family who touch the patient or use towels or combs that are soiled with the
exudate of the lesions.
- Starts as red macules, changed to thin-walled vesicles that rupture and become
covered with a loosely adherent honey-yellow crust