Summary – Integumentary System

The integumentary system includes the skin, hair, and nails. The primary function of the skin is to protect and minimize injury from physical, chemical, and thermal injuries. It acts as a barrier to reduce the risk of invasion of microorganisms and loss of water and electrolytes. The skin regulates body temperature and is a complex sensory organ for sensations of pain, temperature, and pressure.

The skin consists of two primary layers, the epidermis, and the dermis. Appendages of the skin are also included in the integumentary assessment. These appendages include anything embedded in the skin, such as hair, sebaceous glands, sweat glands, and rigid plates of keratin called nails.

Common abnormal skin findings and conditions include rashes, lesions, ulcers, and pigment changes such as vitiligo, petechiae, and purpura. Disorders include atopic dermatitis or eczema, psoriasis, soft tissue abscess, pressure ulcers, hives, tinea (ringworm), and varicella zoster (shingles). Common abnormal hair findings include seborrheic dermatitis (cradle cap), alopecia, pediculosis, and folliculitis. Disorders of the nails include paronychia (skin infection around the nails), onycholysis (separation of the nail from the nail base), onychomycosis (fungal nail infection), koilonychia (spoon nails), and onychocryptosis (ingrowing nails).