Diagnosis of Dry skin
Dry skin Diagnosis: Book Excerpts
Diagnosis of Dry skin: medical news summaries:
The following medical news items
are relevant to diagnosis and misdiagnosis issues for Dry skin:
Diagnostic Tests for Dry skin: Online Medical Books
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Dry Skin (Xerosis):
Differential Diagnosis
(In a Page: Signs and Symptoms)
- Dry skin is a very common problem
–Low humidity and cold temperatures make winter xerosis and “winter itch” common complaints
–Mild xerosis can cause impaired skin barrier function and allow irritants and allergens to more easily affect the skin
–Most common on the legs, but often affecting the entire skin surface
–Can present with severe pruritus without much evidence of a rash
- Severe xerosis is common in the elderly, and can cause eczema craquelé
–Patient's legs often have scale that resembles cracked porcelain
–Secondary erythema and excoriations occur because of the persistent itch
- Ichthyoses vulgaris
–Very common cause of dry skin
–A genetic defect in skin barrier function, leading to a higher risk of atopic dermatitis
–Patients often have hyperlinearity of their palmar skin and xerotic fish scale on their legs
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Many genetic conditions, such as the large family of ichthyoses (including X-linked ichthyoses, Netherton's disease), lead to severely dry skin in association with other systemic manifestations
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Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can also cause marked xerosis and/or itch
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Anemia
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There is an uncommon association between lymphoma and marked xerosis
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HIV
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Sarcoidosis
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Liver and biliary disease, and renal insufficiency, are commonly associated with xerosis and marked pruritus
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Diabetes mellitus
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Medications (e.g., niacinamide)
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Atopic dermatitis
Workup and Diagnosis
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A complete history should be taken that includes social, family, environmental, and exposure history; past medical history; a focused physical examination should also be performed, including thyroid, entire skin surface, and other exam
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Most cases of xerosis are secondary to environmental factors; If the xerosis is very severe or of acute onset, or is associated with intractable pruritus or other systemic symptoms, consider checking a CBC, thyroid function tests, BUN/creatine, and liver function tests
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Young, at-risk patients with severe xerosis, especially of recent onset, may be considered for HIV testing
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If the patient fails to respond to conservative therapy, age-appropriate malignancy screening should be considered
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: In a Page: Signs and Symptoms, 2004
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