Medical Issues: skin grafts

If an injury destroys the stratum basale, new skin cannot regenerate. These wounds require skin grafts in order to heal. A skin graft involves taking skin from a donor site (thigh, ). If skin is taken from the individual it is an autograft; if it is taken from an identical twin it is an isograft. Other methods for grafting skin include synthetic materials and the foreskins of circumcised infants. Both are products of tissue engineering.

Burns

6 Major Burn Groups

1. Scalds ( liquids, grease, steam )2. Contact burns ( touching a hot object )3. Fires4. Chemical burns5. Electrical burns6. Radiation

Degrees of Burns

1st Degree Burns:

First-degree burns are red and very sensitive to touch, and the skin will appear blanched when light pressure is applied. First-degree burns involve minimal tissue damage and they involve the epidermis (skin surface). These burns affect the outer-layer of skin causing pain, redness and swelling. Sunburn is a good example of a first-degree burn.

2nd Degree Burns:

• Second-degree burns affect both the outer-layer (epidermis) and the under lying layer of skin (dermis) causing redness, pain, swelling and blisters. These burns often affect sweat glands, and hair follicles. If a deep second-degree burn is not properly treated, swelling and decreased blood flow in the tissue

can result in the burn becoming a third-degree burn.

3rd Degree Burns:

• Third-degree burns affect the epidermis, dermis and hypodermis, causing charring of skin or a translucent white color, with coagulated vessels visible just below the skin surface. These burn areas may be numb, but the person may complain of pain. This pain is usually because of second-degree burns. Healing from third-degree burns is very slow due the skin tissue and structures being destroyed. Third-degree burns usually result in extensive scarring.

4th Degree Burns:

NO’s to Treating Burns:• DO NOT apply ointment, butter, ice, medications, fluffy cotton

dressing, adhesive bandages, cream, oil spray, or any household remedy to a burn. This can interfere with proper healing.

• DO NOT allow the burn to become contaminated. Avoid breathing or coughing on the burned area.

• DO NOT disturb blisters or dead skin. • DO NOT apply cold compresses and DO NOT immerse a severe

burn in cold water. This can cause shock. • DO NOT place a pillow under the victim's head if there is an

airway burn and they are lying down. This can close the airway.

Accessory Structures of the Skin

Accessory structures of the skin…

• Hair• Nails• Glands

Hair• Also called PILI.• Found on most surfaces except for

palms & soles.• Hair is heaviest across the scalp, brows

and external genitalia.• Genetics determines hair thickness and

loss.• Protects body against foreign particles.• Color due to melanin. Grey hair occurs

with a decline in melanin production. White hair results from accumulation of air bubbles in the hair shaft.

Hair Structure

Hair Conditions

• Hirsutism (Werewolf Syndrome) is a condition of excessive body hair. It results when androgens (masculinizing sex hormones) are excessively produced. This disorder can occur in both males and females.

Male-pattern Baldness or Alopecia: In genetically predisposed adults (male and female) hair loss is caused by androgens. Males bald at the crown and temples. Females’ hair thins on the top of the head. Current treatments include minoxidil (Rogaine), hair plugs and scalp transplants.

                                                                                                              

                                                    

Nails

• Composition: Plates of tightly packed, hard, keratinized cells.

• Each nail consists of a: 1. Nail body: The visible portion of nail2. Free edge: Part that extends past finger or toe.3. Nail root: The portion that is not visible.

• The average length of fingernails is 1mm a week.

• Function: Help to grasp and manipulate small objects, protects the ends of fingers/toes, allows us to scratch various parts of the body.

Glands

There are 3 glands associated with the skin:

1. Sebaceous glands (oil): 2. Sudiforous glands (sweat)

3. Ceruminous glands (earwax)

Sebaceous glands:

• Connected to hair follicles.• Secrete oil (sebum) directly onto the skin.• Not found on the palms or soles.• Prevents hair from drying out, keeps skin

soft, helps to keep skin hydrated and inhibits certain bacterial growth.

• When glands become clogged blackheads, pimples and boils develop.

Sudiforous glands:

• 3 to 4 million glands.• Produce and excrete sweat• 2 types: eccrine and apocrine• Eccrine glands found throughout

skin.• Apocrine glands found at the armpit,

groin, areolae of breast. Stimulated during emotional stress and sexual excitement “cold sweat.”