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Dermatology Library

C

Canker sores:

See: Mouth Care

Cellulite:

Cellulite is the body's natural way of storing fat in post-adolescent women to ensure that the body has enough calories available for pregnancy and lactation. Almost all women who are not severely malnourished have cellulite. Men, on the other hand, do not have cellulite unless feminization occurs by excessive estrogen production and decreased testosterone production. Typically, fat storage in women occurs in the buttocks and thighs due to estrogen production but can also occur in the inner knees, hips, lower abdomen and under the arms.

Cellulitis:

Cellulitis Cellulitis is an infection of the deep subcutaneous tissue of the skin. Cellulitis can be caused by normal skin flora or by bacteria that comes in contact with the skin. The most common causative organisms are Group A streptococci and Staphylococcus aureus. It often occurs where the skin has previously been broken: cracks in the skin, cuts, blisters, burns, insect bites, surgical wounds, or sites of intravenous catheter insertion. Skin on the face or lower legs is most commonly affected by this infection, though cellulitis can occur on any part of the body and may result in pain, redness, swelling, and warmth in the affected area. The treatment with appropriate antibiotics is indicated orally or via intravenous catheter depending on the severity of the infection. Also, depending on the severity of the infection and presence of drainage, a skin culture may be done to help determine the best antibiotic to treat the infection.

Submitted by: Mickelle Riley, MSN, ARNP, NP-C

Chellitis:

See: Mouth Care

Chemical peels:

Chemical peeling is a technique used to improve the appearance of the skin. A chemical solution is applied to the skin which causes it to separate, peel off, and allows new skin to regenerate. The new skin is smoother and less wrinkled than the old skin, and may also be more even in color.

Chicken pox:

See: Varicella

Cold sores:

See: Mouth Care

Collagen Implants:

The most common type of collagen implant is bovine collagen and it is the subject of this document. Bovine collagen implants consist of sterile, purified, reconstituted fibrillar bovine collagen that is injected into the dermal layers of the skin for the purpose of soft tissue augmentation. Current Food and Drug Administration-approved products consist of preparations containing 34 mg/ml of collagen (Zyderm I), 65 mg/ml of collagen (Zyderm II), or 35 mg/ml of cross-linked collagen (Zyplast). Cross-linking of collagen is accomplished by the addition of glutaraldehyde and is associated with a marked decrease in biologic degradation. All formulations are suspended in phosphate- buffered saline solution containing 0.3% lidocaine and are supplied in syringes that require refrigerated storage.

Comedo:

An acne lesion (plural: comedones)

Comedogenic:

Likely to cause comedones.

Congenital Melanocytic Nevi:

Congenital melanocytic nevi are present in 1% of newborns. Unlike caf&eacut;-au-lait macules, these lesions are raised. Clinically they range from small bland melanocytic nevi to large hairy bathing trunk nevi, to large hamartomatous lesions. The large, often exophytic hamartomatous lesions may show evidence of multiple malignant appearing processes in the neonate. The giant congenital nevus has an estimated lifetime risk of melanoma of 6%. Risk of smaller lesions has not been well defined.

Also see: Pediatric Dermatology, Birthmarks

Contact dermatitis:

Contact dermatitis is characterized by redness, swelling, itching, and scaling caused by an allergic substance that makes direct contact with the skin. The condition can develop at any age, although the facial version of the disorder is most often seen in young and middle-aged adults.

Corticosteroids:

A class of substances related to a natural hormone that can diminish an inflammatory response such as itching or irritation of the skin.

See: Eczema

Cradle Cap:

Cradle cap can occur in any baby, and most commonly begins sometime in the first 3 months. The same rash is often prominent around the earor the eyebrows. It may appear in other locations as well, where it is called seborrheic dermatitis rather than cradle cap. The cause of cradle cap is not clearly defined but it is not caused by an infection, allergy or from poor hygiene. Possibly it has to do with overactive sebaceous glands in the skin of newborn babies, due to the mother's hormones still in the baby's circulation. The glands release a greasy substance that makes old skin cells attach to the scalp as they try to dry and fall off. There may be a relationship with skin yeasts (malassezia).

Crow's feet:

See: Wrinkles

Cryosurgery:

Cryosurgery is a procedure utilizing cryogenic agents to treat a variety of cutaneous diseases. Single or multiple lesions on all areas of the body can be eradicated with cryosurgery. Freezing temperatures of a cryogenic agent applied directly or indirectly to the skin cause local destruction of tissue. Certain conditions may require multiple or repeated treatments.

Cystic Acne and Acne vulgaris:

Acne (acne vulgaris, common acne) is not just a problem for teenagers; it can affect people from ages 10 through 40. It is not unusual for women, in particular, to develop acne in their mid- to late-20s, even if they have not had breakouts in years (or ever). Acne can appear on the skin as any of the following:

- Congested pores ("comedones")/whiteheads and blackheads, pustules, or cysts (deep pimples, boils). The pus in pustules and cysts is sterile and does not actually contain infectious bacteria.

These lesions occur wherever there are many oil (sebaceous) glands, mainly on the face, chest, and back.

Causes: No one factor causes acne. Acne happens when oil (sebaceous) glands increase around puberty, stimulated by male hormones from the adrenal glands of both boys and girls. Sebum (oil) is a natural substance which lubricates and protects the skin, and under certain circumstances, cells that are close to the surface block the openings of sebaceous glands and cause a buildup of oil underneath. This oil stimulates bacteria (which live on everyone's skin and generally cause no problems) to multiply and cause surrounding tissues to become inflamed.

Inflammation near the skin's surface produces a pustule; deeper inflammation results in a papule (pimple); deeper still and it's a cyst. If the oil breaks though to the surface, the result is a "whitehead." If the oil accumulates melanin pigment or becomes oxidized, the oil changes from white to black, and the result is a "blackhead." Blackheads are therefore not dirt, and do not reflect poor hygiene.

Here are some factors that can cause acne,-usually not by themselves but in combination:

Heredity: With the exception of very severe acne, most people do not have the problem exactly as their parents did. Almost everyone has some acne at some point in their life.

Stress: Some people get so upset by their pimples that they pick at them and make them last longer. When the body is stressed it tends to produce more oils which can worsen acne.

Hormones : Some women break out cyclically. Some oral contraceptive pills may help relieve acne. Pregnancy has a variable effect on acne; some women report that they clear up completely, and others get worse, while many others see no overall change.

Medications used for Acne: These are medications that your dermatology provider can prescribe if they are right for your type of acne:

- Topical (externally applied) antibiotics and antibacterials: These include erythromycin, clindamycin, sulfacetamide amongst others.

- Retinoids: Retin-A (tretinoin) has been around for years, and preparations have become milder and gentler while still maintaining its effectiveness. Newer retinoids include adapalene (Differin) and tazarotene (Tazorac). These medications are especially helpful for unclogging pores. Side effects may include irritation and a mild increase in sensitivity to the sun. With proper sun protection, however, they can be used even during sunny periods.

- Oral antibiotics: Most doctors start treatment with tetracycline or one of the related "cyclines," such as doxycycline and minocycline. Other oral antibiotics that are useful for treating acne are cefadroxil, amoxicillin, and the sulfa drugs.

- Isotretinoin: (Accutane was the original brand name; there are now several generic versions in common use, including Sotret, Claravis, and Amnesteem.) It should be used for people with severe acne, chiefly of the cystic variety, which has been unresponsive to conventional therapies like those listed above. Those with milder forms of acne often relapse shortly after finishing a course of isotretinoin, making this drug less useful in such cases. This means that isotretinoin is not a good choice for people whose acne is not that bad but who are frustrated and want "something that will knock acne out once and for all."