What’s New

As a clinician interested in dermatology and skin care information, you’ll want to stay up-to-date on the latest skin care information and research and clinical recommendations related to dermatology nursing. More...

• Also, by tuning into the skin care information and dermatology information your patients are reading and learning about from the media, online, and even in your office or waiting room, you will be better prepared to answer their questions and concerns. It can be time consuming to read, watch, and sort through all of the material out there. We’ll condense this comprehensive dermatology information and skin care information into a list of highlighted resources for your convenience. The most recent highlights are included below:
• Skin Cancer Tx Mostly Surgical, Regardless of Life Expectancy
   
• AAP Endorses Pediatric Acne Management Guidelines
   
• FDA Proposes to Increase User Awareness of Sunlamp Risks
   
• Potentially Toxic Metals Present in Lip Cosmetics
   

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Clinical Update

The most important factor for successful management of melanoma is early diagnosis. Clinical suspicion should occur when a nevus's appearance replicates any or all of the following ABCDE of melanomas: (A) the nevus is asymmetrical; (B) the nevus is irregular in outline or border; (C) the nevus changes color or appears pearly, translucent, tan, brown, black, or multicolored; (D) the nevus is larger than 6 mm in diameter or the size of a pencil eraser; and (E) the nevus evolves or changes in any way.

More on malignant melanoma...

 Skin of color: A basic outline of unique differences
The Nurse Practitioner: The American Journal of Primary Health Care
May 2013

Darker skin differs from white skin in presentation, a tendency toward pronounced scarring, and pathophysiology of skin diseases common to those with skin of color. Recent studies highlight differences beyond the surface, which include issues of treatment, scar formation, collagen production, basic structure, and skin cancer development.

The classic malignant melanoma is a black or purple nodule, but it may be flat or pedunculated, pink, red, tan, brown, or amelanotic. A change in a skin lesion should arouse suspicion, including change in size, shape, border, color, bleeding, and ulceration.