A 30-year-old patient has been diagnosed with hypothyroidism. What should the nurse expect to assess in this patient's integumentary system?
1
Warm, flushed skin, alopecia, and thin nails
2
General hyperpigmentation and loss of body hair
3
Pale skin, pale mucous membranes, hair loss, and nail dystrophy
4
Cold, dry, pale skin, dry, coarse hair, and brittle, slow growing nails
2
Cyanosis, pallor, and jaundice all indicate the presence of systemic diseases. The most reliable areas for assessing these signs are nail beds, lips, sclerae, and conjunctivae, because these areas contain the least amount of pigmentation. As a result, changes in color can be easily identified. The nail beds, sclera, and lips are easily accessible; however, that is not a reason for the choice of the area during color assessment. These areas may not have high blood flow
or a high amount of sensory receptors.
Text Reference - p. 421
When assessing a 73-year-old female patient, the nurse found wrinkles, sagging breasts, and tenting of the skin, gray hair, and thick brittle toenails. The nurse knows that what normal changes of aging occur that can cause these changes in the integumentary system?
1
Decreased activity of apocrine and sebaceous glands, decreased density of hair, and increased keratin in
nails
2
Decreased extracellular water, surface lipids, and sebaceous gland activity, decreased scalp oil, and decreased circulation
3
Muscle laxity, degeneration of elastic fibers, collagen stiffening, decreased melanin, and decreased peripheral blood supply
4
Increased capillary fragility and permeability, cumulative androgen effect and decreasing estrogen levels, and decreased circulation
1
On light-skinned individuals, cyanosis, or
grayish blue tone, initially appears in lips, nail beds, earlobes, mucous membranes, palms of the hands, and soles of the feet. It is not as likely on the legs, wrists, or sclera.
Text Reference - p. 421