A Summary of Common Skin Conditions

A Summary of Common Skin Conditions

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A Summary of Common Skin Conditions Penny F. Miller, BSc(Pharm), MA, BSc (Pharm) Date of Revision: February 2013

Table 1: Summary of Common Skin Conditions Condition

a,1,2,3,4,5

Signs and Symptoms

Location(s)

Management

Tinea capitis

Bald patch(es) with round, scaling lesions; itchy. May be inflamed boggy nodule

Scalp (usually in children)

Refer to physician

Head lice

White spots (nits) clinging to base of hair that are not easily removed; itchy

Scalp, especially sides and posterior aspects (commonly in children)

Recommend self-care

Psoriasis

Silver scales on an elevated erythematous base (plaques). Pinpoint bleeding spots are evident when scales are scratched off. Symmetric distribution is common

Posterior scalp

Refer to physician for diagnosis; nonprescription management depending on severity at diagnosis

Dandruff

Diffuse, white flakes without redness; mildly itchy

Scalp

Recommend self-care

Shingles

Unilateral, painful, grouped blisters with eventual crusts. The lesions are arranged in a linear (dermatomal) pattern along a sensory nerve

Scalp, forehead and face

Refer to physician immediately due to risk of eye involvement

Mildly red patches with yellowish, greasy scale. Ill-defined borders

Scalp, eyebrows and nasolabial folds

Recommend self-care; refer to physician if severe

Painful vesicles in a unilateral dermatomal distribution with eventual crusting

Dermatomal distribution — linear from back to chest or abdomen

Refer to physician promptly as treatment should be initiated <72 h from onset of rash

Scalp (See Fungal Skin Infections) (See Parasitic Skin Infections: Lice and Scabies) (See Psoriasis)

(See Dandruff and Seborrhea) (Herpes zoster) (See Viral Skin Rashes)

Seborrheic dermatitis (See Dandruff and Seborrhea) Trunk Shingles

(Herpes zoster) (See Viral Skin Rashes)

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Condition

Signs and Symptoms

Location(s)

Management

Tinea corporis

(See Fungal Skin Infections)

Round, red, scaly patches with well-defined, raised edges; central clearing and itchy

Trunk, limbs

Recommend self-care

Phototoxic photosensitivity reaction

Exaggerated sunburn (may be blistered if severe)

Sun-exposed areas

Recommend self-care

Photoallergic photosensitivity reaction

Red, itchy papules with no sharp borders

Any skin area

Recommend self-care

Pityriasis versicolor

Light-coloured patches on tanned skin or darkercoloured patches on untanned skin; fine scale

Chest, back

Recommend self-care

Acne

Comedones, papules, pustules and cysts. Commonly in adolescents

Face

Recommend self-care if mild; refer to physician if moderate-severe

Acne rosacea

Papules, pustules (no comedones); flushing in blush areas

Face

Refer to physician

Perioral dermatitis

Discrete, red or fleshcoloured papules and pustules. May be pruritic and burning

Around mouth and nasolabial folds

Refer to physician

Folliculitis

Small red pustules surrounding hair follicles

Bearded (hairy) areas

Recommend self-care

Furuncles

Painful, red, raised lump (nodules) with pus-filled centre around hair follicle

Bearded (hairy) areas, back of neck

Recommend self-care

(See Prevention and Treatment of Sun-Induced Skin Damage)

(See Fungal Skin Infections) Face (See Acne)

(See Acne)

(See Acne)

(See Bacterial Skin Infections: Impetigo, Furuncles and Carbuncles and Acne) (See Bacterial Skin Infections: Impetigo, Furuncles and Carbuncles)

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Condition

Signs and Symptoms

Location(s)

Management

Carbuncles

Large, painful, red, raised nodules with pus-filled centre around multiple hair follicles; fever, malaise, adenopathy

Bearded (hairy) areas, back of neck

Refer to physician

Cold sores (Herpes simplex)

Tingling sensation progressing to tiny, painful, grouped blisters, then crusts

Lips

Recommend self-care; refer to physician if genital involvement or immunocompromised

Impetigo

Weeping vesicles with honey-coloured crusts. Erythema surrounds lesion. Adenopathy is common

Around nose and mouth (usually)

Recommend self-care if a few small lesions; otherwise, refer to physician

Phototoxic photosensitivity reaction

Exaggerated sunburn

Sun-exposed skin areas

Recommend self-care unless severe; refer to physician for reassessment of drug therapy if necessary

Photoallergic photosensitivity reaction

Red, itchy vesicles

Any skin area

Recommend self-care unless severe; refer to physician for reassessment of drug therapy if necessary

Contact dermatitis

Localized, itchy, red vesicles

Any skin area in contact with allergen

Recommend self-care unless severe

Atopic dermatitis

Red, itchy, weeping vesicles; eventually see chronic changes — lichenified dry skin (thickened, accentuated skin markings)

Infants: face (cheeks) Adolescents and young adults: sides of neck

Refer to physician

Localized, itchy red vesicles

Hands, wrists or any area exposed to contact allergen

Recommend self-care unless severe

(See Bacterial Skin Infections: Impetigo, Furuncles and Carbuncles)

(See Cold Sores (Herpes Labialis))

(See Bacterial Skin Infections: Impetigo, Furuncles and Carbuncles)

(See Prevention and Treatment of Sun-Induced Skin Damage)

(See Atopic, Contact, and Stasis Dermatitis) (See Atopic, Contact, and Stasis Dermatitis)

Limbs Contact dermatitis

(See Atopic, Contact, and Stasis Dermatitis)

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Condition

Signs and Symptoms

Location(s)

Management

Common warts

Skin-coloured, well-defined, small, round, rough-surfaced papules. May see black dots on surface

Hands, fingers, around nails

Recommend self-care

Flat warts

Multiple, smooth, flat or slightly elevated reddish papules

Hands

Refer to physician

Psoriasis

Red plaques with a silvery scale

Knees, elbows

Refer to physician for diagnosis; nonprescription management depending on severity at diagnosis

Scabies

Red lesions, possibly with thin grey lines; itching that increases at night

Finger webs and wrists; armpits

Refer for diagnosis; recommend self-care for management

Atopic dermatitis

Red, itchy vesicles

Extensor areas in infants; flexural area in adolescents and adults

Refer to physician

Cellulitis

Red, hot, hard, painful skin area with systemic symptoms of fever and malaise

Often at site of trauma

Refer to physician immediately

Stasis dermatitis

Red, itchy vesicles, edema followed by brownish, scaly, thickened skin; pain

Lower legs, ankles (in older adults)

Refer to physician

Thickened; discoloured yellow-brown; debris collection under the nail; separation of nail plate from nail bed

Fungal infection starts in the nail bed just under the tip of the nail (distal end) and spreads proximally towards cuticle

Refer to physician

Powdery white patches on nail surface. May spread to involve entire nail which becomes

Fungal infection starts as patches on top of nail plate

Refer to physician

(See Viral Skin Infections: Common and Flat Warts)

(See Viral Skin Infections: Common and Flat Warts) (See Psoriasis)

(See Parasitic Skin Infections: Lice and Scabies) (See Atopic, Contact, and Stasis Dermatitis)

(See Atopic, Contact, and Stasis Dermatitis) Nails Distal and lateral subungual onychomycosis (Tinea unguium)

(See Fungal Nail Infections (Onychomycosis)) White superficial onychomycosis (Tinea unguium)

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Condition

Signs and Symptoms

Location(s)

Management

(See Fungal Nail Infections (Onychomycosis))

roughened and crumbly

Paronychia

Swelling and redness of nail fold. Cuticle may detach from nail plate

Involves nail folds and nails in persons with excessive water exposure

Refer to physician. Recommend self-care once diagnosed if mild case

Pubic lice

Crab lice and eggs detectable; very itchy

Genital area; other hairy areas

Recommend self-care

Candidiasis

Red, moist rash with irregular edges and satellite lesions (papules outside the edge of the rash); itchy and sore

Skin folds such as groin (gluteal fold), under breasts, axillae

Recommend self-care

Tinea cruris

Red-brown, bilateral, well-demarcated rash; itchy

Inner aspect of thighs and pubic area; scrotum and penis is spared in males. Often associated with tinea pedis

Recommend self-care

Psoriasis

Bilateral, red, sharply demarcated plaques (scales are absent in intertriginous areas)

Intergluteal folds (groin), axillae

Refer to physician for diagnosis; recommend self-care for management depending on severity at diagnosis

(Candida onychomycosis)

(See Fungal Nail Infections (Onychomycosis)) Genitals (See Parasitic Skin Infections: Lice and Scabies) (See Fungal Skin Infections)

(See Fungal Skin Infections)

(See Psoriasis)

Only the most common signs and symptoms, presentations and locations are listed; not inclusive. Systemic symptoms accompanying these rashes should be referred to a physician. Any conditions not responding to self-care management should be referred to a physician. Viral exanthems and foot conditions not included in this table. a

References 1. Hooper BJ, Goldman MP. Primary dermatologic care. St. Louis: Mosby; 1999. 2. Goldstein BG, Goldstein AO. Practical dermatology. 2nd ed. St. Louis: Mosby; 1997. p. 71-7. 3. Lookingbill DP, Marks JG. Principles of dermatology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 2000. 4. Edwards C, Stillman P. Minor illness or major disease?: responding to symptoms in the pharmacy. 3rd ed. London: Pharmaceutical Press; 2000.

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5. Fitzpatrick TB, Wolff K, eds. Fitzpatrick's dermatology in general medicine. 7th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2008. CPhA assumes no responsibility for or liability in connection with the use of this information. For clinical use only and not intended for for use by patients. Once printed there is no quarantee the information is up-to-date. [Printed on: 03-03-2016 12:00 AM] RxTx, Compendium of Therapeutics for Minor Ailments © Canadian Pharmacists Association, 2016. All rights reserved

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