Clinical Examination of the Skin
1. Inspection:
- Color: Note any changes in skin color, such as pallor, erythema, cyanosis, or jaundice.
- Moisture: Assess the skin's moisture level, which can range from dry to oily.
- Texture: Evaluate the skin's surface texture, including roughness, smoothness, or the presence of scales, nodules, or cysts.
- Lesions: Identify any skin lesions, including their number, size, shape, color, and distribution.
- Morphology: Determine the morphology of skin lesions, such as whether they are flat, raised, ulcerated, or crusted.
2. Palpation:
- Temperature: Assess the skin's temperature, which can be cool, warm, or hot.
- Thickness: Estimate the thickness of the skin by pinching or rolling it.
- Texture: Palpate the skin's texture to detect any abnormalities, such as induration, scarring, or masses.
- Tenderness: Determine if the skin is tender or painful to touch.
- Crepitus: Listen for crepitus, a crackling sound that may indicate the presence of air under the skin.
3. Special Tests:
- Diascopy: Apply pressure to a skin lesion to determine its color changes.
- Koebner's phenomenon: Lightly scratch the skin to see if it develops new lesions at the scratched site.
- Wood's lamp examination: Use a Wood's lamp to visualize fluorescence, which can help identify certain infections (e.g., fungal infections).
- Patch testing: Apply potential allergens to the skin to determine if they cause an allergic reaction.
4. Additional Considerations:
- Location: Note the location of skin lesions and any associated distribution patterns.
- Duration: Determine the duration of skin symptoms or lesions.
- Symptoms: Inquire about any associated symptoms, such as itching, burning, or pain.
- Medical history: Review the patient's medical history, including any allergies, medications, or previous skin conditions.
- Family history: Ask about any family history of skin disorders.