This document outlines the process for assessing skin and providing general skin care. It discusses conducting both informal and formal skin assessments on an ongoing basis to monitor overall health and identify any changes or problems. Key areas to assess include skin color, temperature, moisture, texture, thickness, swelling, elasticity, bruising, hygiene, and presence of lesions. General care for skin disorders and older skin involves providing comfort, preventing infection, maintaining fluid/nutrition, education, and monitoring for changes over time.

1. CHCICS301A Skin Assessment & Care

2. Skin Assessment May be informal or formal Occurs on an ongoing basis May be overall – giving information about general state of health May be specific – in response to a defined problem or change in skin

3. Skin Assessment Collection of subjective data, via client interview and questioning Collection of objective data , mainly via inspection (looking) and palpation (feeling or touching)

4. What to assess? Skin colour Temperature Moisture Texture Thickness Oedema (swelling)

5. Turgor (elasticity) Bruising Skin hygiene Presence of lesions (any exudate?)

6. Skin Turgor

7. Other assessment areas Associated with skin assessment is : Hair and scalp – assessment of colour, texture, distribution, loss, scalp lesions Nails – shape and contour, texture, consistency, colour

8. Nail Texture / Color

9. Scalp Lesions

10. Throughout skin assessment, need to relate findings to the individual client being assessed In many situations, findings are different, even if the skin is healthy

11. General care of a client with a skin disorder Providing comfort, relief of pruritus Topical applications – soothing creams, substances to add to bath water, dressings Prevention of infection Fluid and nutritional balance Providing psychologic support Client education

12. General care of older skin Check / monitor skin changes – moles etc Use sunscreen Avoid drying agents Eat / drink well Provide constant temperature

13. Skin Changes – that may occur…. Oedema

14. Pitting Oedema

15. Lymphoedema

16. Skin Changes Venous Dermatitis

17. Skin Changes Maceration