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Common Skin Conditions & Treatment Flashcards

7 cards from real CDT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Common Skin Conditions & Treatment flashcards as text

  1. A patient presents with grouped vesicles on an erythematous base following a dermatomal distribution on the trunk. Which condition does this describe?

    Answer: Herpes zoster (shingles)

    Herpes zoster follows a dermatomal distribution due to reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus in a dorsal root ganglion.

  2. Which layer of the epidermis is primarily affected in the blister formation of pemphigus vulgaris?

    Answer: Stratum spinosum (suprabasal)

    In pemphigus vulgaris, autoantibodies against desmoglein-3 cause acantholysis (separation of keratinocytes) within the suprabasal stratum spinosum.

  3. A patient with acne vulgaris has predominantly open and closed comedones with few inflammatory lesions. This is classified as:

    Answer: Mild comedonal acne

    Predominantly comedonal lesions (blackheads and whiteheads) with minimal inflammation represent mild comedonal acne.

  4. Patch testing is the gold standard diagnostic tool for which condition?

    Answer: Allergic contact dermatitis

    Patch testing identifies type IV (delayed) hypersensitivity reactions and is the definitive test for allergic contact dermatitis.

  5. Which clinical feature best differentiates cellulitis from necrotizing fasciitis in the emergency setting?

    Answer: Pain out of proportion to physical findings

    Pain disproportionate to the visible skin findings is a red flag for necrotizing fasciitis, as the deep fascial destruction causes severe pain before overlying skin changes appear.

  6. A 45-year-old patient has multiple skin-colored soft pedunculated growths in the axillae and neck folds. What are these lesions called?

    Answer: Acrochordonas (skin tags)

    Acrochordons (skin tags, or fibroepithelial polyps) are benign pedunculated growths commonly found in skin folds and areas of friction.

  7. Calcineurin inhibitors such as tacrolimus and pimecrolimus are used in atopic dermatitis primarily to:

    Answer: Avoid the side effects of long-term corticosteroid use

    Calcineurin inhibitors are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents that avoid skin atrophy and other side effects associated with prolonged topical corticosteroid use.