Dermatological Examination

Author: Alexandra Newman / Editor: Adrian Boyle / Reviewer: Emma Everitt, Raghaventhar Manikandan / Code: O2 / Published: 11/07/2023

This session covers the correct procedure for a thorough and comprehensive dermatological examination, to allow the correct diagnosis of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with dermatological conditions.

After completing this session you will be able to:

• Describe the key points in a dermatological history
• Explain a systematic dermatological examination
• Identify skin lesions with the correct terminology
• Recognise the ‘red flag’ signs of serious dermatological illness

References

1. Graham-Brown R, Burns T. Lecture Notes: Dermatology. 8th edn. Blackwell Publishing, 2002: 9-12.
2. Marks JG Jr, Miller JJ. Principles of Dermatology. 4th edn. Saunders Elsevier, 2006: 15-33.
3. Gawkrodger DJ. Dermatology: An Illustrated Colour Text. 3rd edn. Churchill Livingstone, 2002: 14-19.
4. Collier J, Longmore M, Duncan-Brown T. Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties. 5th edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999: 576-593.
5. Gawkrodger DJ. Dermatology: An Illustrated Colour Text. 3rd edn. Churchill Livingstone, 2002: 45.
6. Graham-Brown R, Bourke J, Cunliffe T. Dermatology Fundamentals of Practice. Mosby Elsevier, 2008: 208-209.
7. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Meningitis (bacterial) and meningococcal septicaemia in under 16s: recognition, diagnosis and management. Clinical guideline [CG102], 2010. Last updated: 01 February 2015. [Accessed June 2023].
8. Walls, Hockberger and Gausche-Hill. Rosens Emergency Medicine Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th edn. Elsevier, 2017.

We should like to thank the following for permission to reproduce images:

• Centre for Disease Control
• Wellcome Images