Integumentary System

Wellness and Illness

Wellness and Illness

The integumentary system is subject to:

• degenerative disorders

• genetic disorders

• infectious diseases

Wellness and Illness

degenerative disorders are due to:

• progressive deterioration of tissue caused by continuous injury from environmental stress and/or physical stress

Wellness and Illness

genetic disorders are due to:

• the result of mutations that alter skin structure and diminish skin function

Wellness and Illness

infectious diseases are due to:

• microorganisms that damage tissues and organs

Degenerative Skin Disordersfreckles• most are genetic – not considered a

disorder• sun exposure can darken freckles• solar lentigene

– all over the body– 30 somethings who overexpose their skin to

sunlight or tanning beds– prevent with strong sunblock– can be removed by laser treatment

Degenerative Skin Disorders

cosmetics

• most common source of degenerative skin disorders

• many of the products cause mild dermatitis– inflammation of the skin caused by allergic

reaction or contact with irritant– itching– redness– swelling

Degenerative Skin Disorders

• facial cleansers and toners produce scaling skin and accelerate skin aging

Degenerative Skin Disorders

skin cancer

• although degenerative, has an underlying genetic connection = precancerous genes

• if damaged by sunlight, or certain chemicals, precancerous genes promote abnormal cell division in the affected skin cells

• common type– start as irregularly shaped brown or black

spots → open sores

Degenerative Skin Disorders

other skin cancers

• injury deep within the skin

• first appear as discolored blisters or sores

• erode the skin and spread to other parts of the body

Skin cancers can be fatal if not treated

Degenerative Skin Disorderstumors• moles

– flat, squamous-cell tumors that are heavily pigmented by melanocytes

– possible origin may be genetic damage to skin; if so = most likely → cancer

• skin tags– soft, colored, knob-shaped tumors that grow

out of the skin– appear on the neck, in the armpits– removed by minor surgery

Degenerative Skin Disorders

tumors

• seborrhoeic keratosis– black or brown growth on face or body– creates a greasy, rough appearance on skin

• sebaceous hyperplasia– masses of cells developed by oil glands– appear as small, yellow bumps with an

opening in the center– removed by simple surgery

Degenerative Skin Disorderstumors

• syringomas– formed by sweat glands– painless growths– appear as small lumps on the cheeks and

eyelids

• lipomas– raised tumors formed by fat cells underneath

the skin– usually don’t go away– problematic if they occur around the mouth or

impede movement

Genetic Skin Disordersacne• most common skin disorder thought to have a

genetic connection• overproduction of sebum due to hormonal

changes• in teenagers after puberty, and women

undergoing hormone changes (pregnancy/menopause)– blackheads– pimples– red spots– whiteheads– lesions called cysts/nodules

Genetic Skin Disorderscysts/nodules– deep in the skin– saclike structure swollen with liquid or semisolid

substance

furuncle– inflammation of a hair follicle that leads to a buildup of

dead cells and blood components

acne is aggravated by skin bacteria that feed on the sebum and decaying cells – the bacteria produce irritating waste products

Genetic Skin Disorderstreatment– mild cases = soaps that:

• open he cysts• remove some of the bacteria• remove the excess sebum

– severe cases = drugs• antibiotics – kill bacteria• isotretinoin – shed sebum filled cysts

Genetic Skin Disorderspsoriasis• due to an increase in the amount of skin

cells produced• build up of thick scales appearing on the

skin• inflammatory = skin is:

– painful– red– swollen– Warm

Why?The skin is trying to protect the affected area from disease or injury

Genetic Skin Disorders• skin is dry, itchy

• hair loss can occur if psoriasis affects hairy parts of the body

• scientists know a gene exists that is activated by certain environmental conditions and infectious diseases

• treatment = drugs– reduce swelling– slow skin production

Genetic Skin Disordersbirthmarks (that can affect the skin)1) port wine stains2) spider veins3) strawberry hemangiomas• port wine stain

– as named, appears like a spot of red wine spilled on the skin

– abnormality of skin blood vessels– anywhere– begins at birth, grows larger and darker– larger examples can bleed as the skin cracks

Genetic Skin Disorders• spider veins

– enlarged skin blood vessels– large central vessels with smaller vessels

branching out = name– no problems – unattractive

Genetic Skin Disorders• strawberry hemangiomas

– enlarged skin blood vessels– grow rapidly after birth– lighten in color for many by age 6– problems arise form excessive bleeding, or if

located near the eyes or mouth

Genetic Skin Disorders• vitiligo

Genetic Skin Disordersvitiligo vs albinism

Genetic Skin Disordersmelasma

• brown patches on the face

• symmetrical

• darkened by sunlight

• caused by female hormonal changes = appearance in pregnant women and women who take oral contraceptives

Infectious DisordersBeneficial bacteria and fungi can cause skin infections.In most cases the infections are mild and treatable, unless they breach the skin.

danger = enter deeper tissues and bloodThe population of microorganisms on the skin can be altered → environment for disease causing bacteria.This occurs commonly when skin is washed frequently, or remains wet for a long time

Infectious Disorders

most common bacterial skin infections

• Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus)– produces secretions that erode and inflame

skin

4 most common conditions:

1) folliculitis – inflammation of hair follicle

2) impetigo – easily spread rash on children

3) boils - furuncle

4) staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) – potentially fatal shedding and swelling of skin

boil/furuncle

folliculitisimpetigo

SSSS

Infectious Disorders

monilia

• fungal infection caused by Candida albicans (C. albicans)

– a beneficial yeast in the female digestive system and reproductive system

– spreads to the skin and nails when the immune system is weakened

– the fungi breakdown the tissue causing mild to severe inflammation

Infectious Disordersdermatophytes• other fungi• eat keratin-rich materials = hair, nails, outer

layers of the epidermis• easily spread• causes itching, hair loss, deformation of

nails• ringworm – tinea = common example

– contracted from furry pets– spread person to person by contact with

clothing and skin– related to “athlete’s foot”/”jock itch”

Infectious Disorders

warts

• caused by virus

• ~60 different types

• commonly caused by human papilloma virus (HPV)

Infectious Disordersother “critters”• protists

– mostly involved with exotic diseases spread by insect bites → internal organs = severe bodily damage

• arthropods– demodex/follicle mite causes inflammation of

the eyelash follicles

• lice– blood sucking– irritate skin– spread infection/spread disease

Aging of the Integumentary SystemSkin has extrinsic aging factors and intrinsic aging factors

extrinsic = external

• environmental factors:– disease– pollution– sun exposure– etc.

Aging of the Integumentary Systemintrinsic = internal

• genetic factors

• natural maturation factors

Intrinsic aging can be accelerated by stress from pathology of other organ systems or unusual enviromic interactions

Gross Anatomical Changes of Aging• loss of head hair• graying/whitening hair• excessive growth of body

and facial hair• drying of the skin –

diminished oil secretion• decreased ability to sweat• thinning of skin• loss of melanin →

transparent skin• loss of subcutaneous fat• wrinkling

• skin stretching due to connective tissue changes in the dermis

• skin stretching due to gravity pulling on skin

• thinning of nail plate• increased probability of

skin tumors• prolonged wound healing

– diminished blood flow/suppressed immune system

• regular irritations – changes in microbial populations

Aging of the Integumentary SystemIntrinsic aging is impossible to stop

Why?

Natural decline of cells in connective issue and muscle is uncontrollable

BUT . .

decline is slowed by living in a climate that does not have extreme cold or extreme heat

Aging of the Integumentary SystemConnective tissues of the dermis and subcutaneous layers naturally reduce elastin production, and become dominated by collagen and reticular fibers → • less flexible skin• thinner skin• more brittle skinAs collagen and elastin degenerate →• lines• creases• wrinkles• furrows• folds

Aging of the Integumentary SystemOne treatment that does seem to remove wrinkling due to aging = skin needling

Aging of the Integumentary SystemDecreased blood flow to the skin slows stratum germinativum →

• thinning epidermis

• difficult to repair skin damage

People with diseases that affect blood vessels show premature aging of the skin

Aging of the Integumentary Systemmelanocyte decline is natural

loss of many nerves in the skin → more susceptile to damage

older skin doesn’t register injury as well

Aging of the Integumentary System

DNA damage in the skin

• constant exposure to oxidizing chemicals and sunlight

• causes abnormalities like cancers and tumors

• occurs naturally during the S phase of mitosis, which occurs at an ↑ rate in the epidermis

• telomere shortening

Aging of the Integumentary SystemStrategies to reduce aging focus on extrinsic aging factors

• proper diet

• reduced exposure to sunlight *

• avoiding skin irritantion

• protecting the skin from pollutants

• not smoking *

* biggest factors to slow aging

Aging of the Integumentary SystemWhy is smoking so bad?

• reduces blood flow to skin– impedes growth and repair– affects temperature regulation → susceptible

to damage form extreme hot and cold

• oxidizing chemicals are introduced into the skin

Wasn’t that Sun fun?

Not Just A Mole,

Much, Much Worse

melanomas normal

moles

moderate lipoma

unusual lipoma

extreme lipoma