Symptoms And Treatment Of Skin

1.1 describe the anatomy and physiology of the skin in relation to skin breakdown and the development of pressure sores.

1. describe the anatomy and physiology of the skin in relation to skin breakdown and the development of pressure sores

Skin tears and pressure ulcers are frequently seen in the elderly and care home residents are prime candidates (Stephen-Haynes

Mrs X is becoming very tired, spending more time resting. Her skin is very fragile and the risk of skin breakdown has increased significantly.

Skin integrity is an important concept that’s nurses assess on their patients. A key skill in nursing practice is to frequently assess the skin for possible breakdown or decreased skin integrity. Skin assessments should be conducted thoroughly once a shift and frequently reassessed for any signs of change. Skin discrepancies may be the first sign of an underlying issue. Early detection of any breakdown can help to implement interventions sooner. Unfortunately, unless there is a major skin discrepancy, skin issues can easily get overlooked, specifically in documentation and report. The focus of this paper is to research new skin integrity assessments to improve documentation effect and accuracy, resulting in decreased prevalence of skin breakdown in hospitalized patients. Topics discussed include reviewing current practices and new skin assessment techniques that decrease the prevalence of skin breakdown and pressure ulcers.

Areas of red skin that doesn’t go away when pressure applied, sore skin, dry skin, hot or cold areas of skin, blisters or broken skin should all be reported. Discoloured skin should also be reported.

is not receiving enough nutrients such as protein and vitamins that are crucial to wound healing, which impedes healing of the pressure ulcers (Myers, 2012). Last but not least, he has sexual dysfunction that can be detrimental to his psychosocial well-being. He is physically unable to achieve erection and orgasm. Appendix A is provided at the end of the paper to show an example of nursing care plan for physiological issues.

As cited by Jarvis (2012, p.203), “the skin is the sentry that guards the body from environmental stresses and adapt it to other environmental influences.” Maintaining the elderly patient’s skin integrity requires a holistic care approach. As a nurse, one of our best practices is performing a thorough skin assessment of the whole body of our patients. A detailed head-to-toe skin assessment and clear documentation can help the interdisciplinary team in generating individualize plan of care. I perform a thorough assessment by inspecting the patient’s skin color, temperature, texture, moisture, and for presence of wounds. I ensure that the information I obtained from the skin inspection is clearly documented in the patient’s chart and plan of care, and any skin changes are communicated to the physician or nurse practitioner.

Why was skin-grafting necessary in this patient? (why not just let the skin heal on its own)

Skin (history of skin disease, pigment or color change, change in mole, excessive dryness or moisture, pruritus, excessive bruising, rash

Patient denies history of skin disease. Reports two serious sun burns while swimming and not re-applying sun screen. Reports occasional dryness of skin during the winter. Denies any

This problem is important, but does not have the highest priority when developing the client's plan of care.

I chose my topic because I have a skin condition, and I thought it might be a good idea to research different skin disorders. I have eczema on my foot and it was a very irritable skin disorder to go through. But thanks to the miracle of modern day medicine, all I'm left with is a scar and it is barely noticeable. Since that's my skin disorder I will begin with eczema and work my way down to pressure sores.

Impaired skin integrity related to limited mobility, impaired tissue perfusion, decreased cardiac output, altered nutritional and hydration status, increased moisture, decreased sensory perception and excess weight as evidenced by patient being bed reddened 95% of the day, +2-+3 peripheral edema, stage III- IV coccyx pressure ulcer, drainage from the coccyx ulcer, high blood pressure, decreased oxygen saturation between 85-95 % 2L NP, weak peripheral pulses, obesity, excessively dry skin, sores on both legs (blister-like), denial of pain regarding dressing changes, and excessive diaphoresis with movement secondary to CHF, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and non-insulin dependent type II diabetes.

Red, raised, dry, inflamed, scaly areas on the body and the pitting of the nails describe the common appearance of the pathological disease of psoriasis. Doctors often find it difficult to determine psoriasis because it is very similar to other skin disorders. There are several ways to confirm its medical diagnosis, dermatologist may analyze your skin, nails, and scalp (Langley, 2010). A dermatologist is a specialist trained in skin diseases. If not determined by the naked eye, further investigations are needed to determine the type of psoriasis. It can be tested by a biopsy of the skin which is performed by examining the skin under a microscope, x-rays could determine joint swelling or joint deformity, a blood test to determine arthritis, and medical history.