Skin Is Only About As Thick As a Paper Towel

-Skin is only about as thick as a paper towel -When damaged, nearly every body system reacts, though BURN: Tissue damage and cell death caused by intense heat, electricity, UV radiation (sunburn), or certain chemicals (acids)

-When skin is burned and cells are destroyed, two life threatening problems results

1. Body loses its precious supply of fluids containing proteins and electrolytes as these seep from burned surfaces -This can lead down to shutdown of kidneys and circulatory shock – inadequate circulation of blood caused by low blood volume (Fluids must be replaced immediately) To determine how much body surface is burned, use RULE OF NINES

RULE OF NINES: Divides body into 11 areas, each accounting for 9% of total body surface area, plus an additional area surrounding genitals representing 1%.

2. Infections becomes most important threat and is leading cause of death in burn victims (Burned skin is sterile for about 24 hours so this time frame is important)

BURN CLASSIFICATION

PARTIAL-THICKNESS BURNS – Regeneration possible 1ST DEGREE: Only the epidermis is damaged; area becomes red and swollen; normally heal in 2-3 days

2nd DEGREE: Involve injury to epidermis and upper region of dermis; skin is red & painful and blisters appear

FULL-THICKNESS BURNS – Regeneration not possible 3RD DEGREE BURNS: Destroy entire thickness of skin; burned area is red and blanched; not painful (WHY?)

BURNS ARE CONSIDERED CRITICAL IF: 1. Over 25% of body has 2nd degree burns 2. Over 10% has 3rd degree burns 3. Third degree burns of face, hands, and feet (WHY?) SKIN CANCER: -Most common type of cancer in humans -Most are benign and do not metastasize but overexposure to UV light could cause cancerous tumors

TYPES: 1. BASAL CELL CARCINOMA: Least malignant and most common skin cancer (Face) -Appear as shiny, dome-shaped nodules that later develop a central ulcer -Cells of stratum germanitivum are altered so can no longer produce keratin – this affects dermis and subcutaneous layer

2. SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA: Arise from Strat. Germ. but not those cells in contact with basement membrane -Lesion appears as scaly reddened papule (small, rounded elevation) -Scalp, ears, lower lip

3. MALIGNANT MELANOMA: Cancer of melanocytes -Appears as spreading brown or black patch -American Cancer Society suggests examining skin often and use ABCD RULE

(A) Assymetry: Two sides of pigmented mole don’t match (B) Border Irregularity: Borders of lesion aren’t smooth; have indentations (C) Color: Spot has diff. colors (D) Diameter: Spot larger than 6mm in diameter