Dermatology Mnemonics

Dermatology Mnemonics

Herpes zoster: medications "AAAA":
Acyclovir (or alternative depending on price: valacyclovir, famciclovir)
Asprin (or other analgesics)
Amitriptyline (low dose TCA to reduce neurlagia)
Antibiotics if needed for secondary infection.

Erythema nodosum: causes DIPS OUT:
Drugs (eg sulfonamides)
Infections (eg strep)
Pregnancy
OCP
Ulcerative colitis
TB

Pruritus: systemic causes ITCH:
Iron deficiency anemia/ Internal malignancy
Thyroid disease/ Type 1 DM
CRF/ Chronic liver disease
HIV infection/ Hereditary hemochromatosis

Malignant melanoma: 3 sites with poor prognosis BANS:
Back of Arm
Neck
Scalp

Albinism: type I vs. II classification "One has 
None. Two Accumulates":
Type I: have no pigment.
Type II: No pigment at birth, but accumulates as person ages.

Generalized skin hyperpigmentation: causes "With
generalized, none of skin is SPARED":
Sunlight
Pregnancy
Addison's disease
Renal failure
Excess iron (haemochromatosis)
Drugs (eg busulphan)

Clubbing: causes CLUBBING:
Cyanotic heart disease
Lung disease (hypoxia, lung cancer, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis)
UC/Crohn's disease
Biliary cirrhosis
Birth defect (harmless)
Infective endocarditis
Neoplasm (esp. Hodgkins)
GI malabsorption

Cutaneous inflammation patterns "Pus of
Pig Valve"
· Remove the vowels: PSFPGVLV:
Psoriaform
Spongiotic (eczematous)
Folliculitis
Panniculitis
Granulomatous
Vasculopathic
Lichenoid
Vessiculobullous

Nodules: painful cutaneous nodules causes BENGAL CO.:
Blue rubber bleb nevus
Eccrine spiradenoma
Neurilemmoma/ Neuroma
Glomus tumor
Angiolipoma/ Angioleiomyoma/ Angiosarcoma
Leiomyoma
Cutaneous endometriosis/ Calcinosis cutis
Osteoma cutis

Wound healing: factors delaying DID NOT HEAL:
Drugs
Infection/ Icterus/ Ischemia
Diabetes
Nutrition
Oxygen (hypoxia)
Toxins
Hypothermia/ Hyperthermia
EtOH
Acidosis
Local anesthetics

White patch of skin: differential "Vitiligo PATCH":
Vitiligo
Pityriasis alba/ Post-inflammatory hypopigmentation
Age related hypopigmentation
Tinea versicolor/ Tuberous sclerosis (ashleaf macule)
Congenital birthmark
Hansen's (leprosy)

Psoriasis: pathophysiology PSORIASIS:
Pink Papules/ Plaques/ Pinpoint bleeding (Auspitz
sign)/ Physical injury (Koebner phenomenon)/ Pain
Silver Scale/ Sharp margins
Onycholysis/ Oil spots
Rete Ridges with Regular elongation
Itching
Arthritis/ Abscess (Munro)
Stratum corneum with nuclei, neutrophils
Immunologic
Stratum granulosum absent/ Stratum Spinosum thickening

Raynaud's phenomenon: causes COLD HAND:
Cryoglobulins/ Cryofibrinogens
Obstruction/ Occupational
Lupus erythematosus, other connective tissue disease
Diabetes mellitus/ Drugs
Hematologic problems (polycythemia, leukemia, etc)
Arterial problems (atherosclerosis)
Neurologic problems (vascular tone)
Disease of unknown origin (idiopathic)