Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN) Practice Exam

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What skin condition may present with both erythema and papules in a patient?

  1. Atopic dermatitis

  2. Contact dermatitis

  3. Allergic dermatitis

  4. Irritant contact dermatitis

The correct answer is: Irritant contact dermatitis

The skin condition that is characterized by both erythema and papules is irritant contact dermatitis. This condition typically arises when the skin comes into direct contact with an irritant substance, leading to a localized inflammatory response. Erythema, or redness of the skin, results from increased blood flow to the area due to inflammation, while papules, which are small raised bumps, can develop as the skin reacts to the irritant. The presence of these two symptoms indicates a reactive process occurring in response to the irritant. Irritant contact dermatitis can happen quite quickly after exposure to substances like soaps, detergents, or chemicals, and it often presents with other symptoms such as itching or burning, which help in diagnosing the condition. Other types of dermatitis like atopic dermatitis and contact dermatitis can present similarly, but they usually have distinct triggering mechanisms or patient histories that differentiate them from irritant contact dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis, for instance, is chronic and often has a genetic component, while allergic dermatitis is typically an immune reaction to an allergen rather than a direct irritant. Thus, the response and presentation in irritant contact dermatitis specifically support the symptoms of erythema and papules as a direct reaction to an irritant.