Also For The Skin Disorder, You Will Choose A Skin Disorder ✓ Solved

Also For The Skin Disorder You Will Chose A Skin Disorder You Will

Identify a specific skin disorder, analyze a visual graphic associated with it, and create a detailed SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan) note describing the case. Document the patient's chief complaint with a concise sentence, including details like location, description, onset, and factors affecting the condition. Use the SOAP template provided in the resources, incorporating clinical terminology to describe physical characteristics. Develop a differential diagnosis with three to five possible conditions based on the graphic, then determine the most likely diagnosis with supporting reasoning. Support your assessment with at least three references: one current evidence-based article and two resources from the week's learning materials.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

In dermatological practice, accurate diagnosis of skin conditions relies heavily on thorough clinical assessment, detailed documentation, and systematic differential diagnosis. This paper demonstrates the application of the SOAP note methodology to a selected skin disorder, emphasizing clinical reasoning, descriptive terminology, and evidence-based support to identify the most probable diagnosis among multiple possibilities.

Selection of Skin Disorder and Visual Graphic Analysis

For this assignment, I selected a graphic depicting atopic dermatitis, a common chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by pruritus, erythema, and xerosis. The graphic features well-demarcated, erythematous patches with excoriations and lichenification, predominantly affecting flexural areas such as the antecubital and popliteal fossae. These physical characteristics align with classic features of atopic dermatitis, though differential diagnoses such as contact dermatitis, psoriasis, or tinea corporis could also present similarly.

Chief Complaint and Subjective Data

The patient, a 32-year-old woman, presents with a complaint of itchy, red patches on her elbows and knees that have persisted for two weeks. She reports the onset was gradual, with worsening itching during the evenings. The itching alleviates somewhat with topical emollients but worsens with exposure to harsh soaps and allergens. No recent changes in personal care products or environmental exposures were noted.

Objective Findings

On examination, there are localized, erythematous, xerotic patches with excoriations and lichenification observed on the antecubital and popliteal regions. No signs of secondary infection are present. Vital signs are within normal limits. No lymphadenopathy or systemic symptoms are noted.

Assessment

Based on clinical presentation and physical findings, the preliminary diagnosis is atopic dermatitis. Differential diagnoses include contact dermatitis, psoriasis, and tinea corporis. These conditions share features such as erythema and itching but differ in distribution, morphology, and associated symptoms.

Differential Diagnosis and Rationale

• Atopic dermatitis: Classic presentation with flexural involvement, itching, xerosis, and lichenification.
• Contact dermatitis: Potential due to allergen or irritant exposure; lesion distribution may correlate with exposure sites.
• Psoriasis: Usually presents with thicker plaques with silvery scales, often in extensor areas, which are less characteristic here.
• Tinea corporis: Fungal infection with well-defined, ring-shaped lesions, usually with central clearing.

Most Likely Diagnosis and Supporting Evidence

Atopic dermatitis remains the most probable diagnosis, supported by the characteristic flexural distribution, pruritus severity, and chronicity. Literature reports confirm that flexural dermatitis in adults commonly presents with xerosis and lichenification, hallmark features of atopic eczema (Brown & Burns, 2021). Additionally, patient history of allergen aggravation aligns with the pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis (Leung & Guttman-Yassky, 2014).

Plan of Care

Management includes educating the patient about skin hydration and irritant avoidance, prescribing topical corticosteroids to reduce inflammation, and recommending daily emollient use. Further, an allergy consultation and patch testing are suggested to identify potential allergens, and follow-up is scheduled in two weeks to assess response to therapy.

Conclusion

This case illustrates the importance of integrating clinical findings, visual analysis, and evidence-based research to establish an accurate dermatological diagnosis. The systematic approach ensures comprehensive care tailored to the patient's presentation and needs.

References

• Brown, C., & Burns, T. (2021). Dermatology. Elsevier.
• Leung, D. Y., & Guttman-Yassky, E. (2014). Deciphering the role of cytokines in atopic dermatitis. Current Opinion in Immunology, 29, 54-61.
• Sullivan, C. (2023). Comprehensive SOAP note guidelines. Journal of Clinical Practice, 12(3), 45-52.
• Smith, J., et al. (2022). Visual assessment of dermatological conditions. Dermatology Reports, 14(2), 101-110.
• Johnson, M. H., & Williams, D. (2020). Evidence-based management of atopic dermatitis. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 145(4), 1240-1246.
• American Academy of Dermatology Association. (2023). Atopic dermatitis: Overview. Retrieved from https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/eczema/atopic-dermatitis
• National Eczema Association. (2022). Patient education resources. Retrieved from https://nationaleczema.org
• Lee, K. & Kim, H. (2021). Differential diagnosis in dermatology. Skinmed, 19(2), 79-85.
• Williams, H. C., et al. (2018). Epidemiology of atopic dermatitis. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 138(7), 1470-1481.
• Kaur, S., et al. (2017). Advancements in atopic dermatitis treatment. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 18(11), 2382.