Esthetician (NIC Theory Exam) · Scientific Concepts
Written by AI · Not yet reviewed by staffEsthetician (NIC Theory Exam) Skin Disorders and Diseases Summary
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- About 17 of 55 Scientific Concepts questions (30%)
Glands, lesions, contagious conditions, pigment disorders, growths, and skin cancers.
📖 See Skin Disorders and Diseases concepts →Skin Disorders and Diseases: must-know points
- Sebaceous glands make oil; sudoriferous glands make sweat.
- Primary lesions (macule, papule, vesicle, pustule) come first; secondary lesions (crust, scale, scar) follow.
- Tinea, impetigo, and scabies are contagious.
- Basal cell carcinoma is the most common skin cancer; melanoma is the most dangerous.
Skin Disorders and Diseases: 10 sample questions
Question 1. Which glands produce oil (sebum)?
- ① Sudoriferous glands
- ② Eccrine glands
- ③ Sebaceous glands
- ④ Pituitary glands
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Answer: ③ Sebaceous glands
Key point: Sebaceous glands make oil
Sebaceous (oil) glands are attached to hair follicles. Their oil keeps skin soft, and too much can lead to acne.
Wrong choices
- Sudoriferous glands: Sudoriferous glands make sweat.
- Eccrine glands: Eccrine glands are a type of sweat gland.
- Pituitary glands: The pituitary gland is in the brain.
Question 2. What is another name for a blackhead?
- ① An open comedone
- ② A closed comedone
- ③ A milium
- ④ A papule
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Answer: ① An open comedone
Key point: Blackhead = open comedone
A blackhead is a follicle plugged with oil and cells that is open at the surface. The dark color comes from air changing the plug, not dirt.
Wrong choices
- A closed comedone: A closed comedone is a whitehead.
- A milium: A milium is a tiny hard white cyst.
- A papule: A papule is a small raised bump.
Question 3. Which is the most common type of skin cancer?
- ① Malignant melanoma
- ② Squamous cell carcinoma
- ③ Vitiligo
- ④ Basal cell carcinoma
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Answer: ④ Basal cell carcinoma
Key point: Basal cell = most common skin cancer
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common skin cancer. It often looks like a shiny, pearly bump and grows slowly.
Wrong choices
- Malignant melanoma: Malignant melanoma is the most serious, not the most common.
- Squamous cell carcinoma: Squamous cell carcinoma is less common than basal cell.
- Vitiligo: Vitiligo is a loss of pigment, not a cancer.
Question 4. Which skin cancer is the most dangerous?
- ① Basal cell carcinoma
- ② Malignant melanoma
- ③ Squamous cell carcinoma
- ④ Actinic keratosis
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Answer: ② Malignant melanoma
Key point: Melanoma = most serious skin cancer
Malignant melanoma can spread to other parts of the body. Finding it early matters, so refer clients with changing moles to a physician.
Wrong choices
- Basal cell carcinoma: Basal cell carcinoma rarely spreads.
- Squamous cell carcinoma: Squamous cell carcinoma is more likely to spread than basal cell but is less dangerous than melanoma.
- Actinic keratosis: Actinic keratosis is a precancerous spot, not a cancer.
Question 5. A flat, discolored spot such as a freckle is called what?
- ① A papule
- ② A vesicle
- ③ A nodule
- ④ A macule
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Answer: ④ A macule
Key point: Macule = flat spot
A macule is a flat change in skin color with no raised surface. Freckles are an example.
Wrong choices
- A papule: A papule is raised.
- A vesicle: A vesicle is a small blister.
- A nodule: A nodule is a solid raised lump deeper in the skin.
Question 6. What is a small, raised, solid bump with no pus, such as an early pimple?
- ① A papule
- ② A pustule
- ③ A vesicle
- ④ A wheal
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Answer: ① A papule
Key point: Papule = raised bump, no pus
A papule is a small raised bump. If it fills with pus, it becomes a pustule.
Wrong choices
- A pustule: A pustule contains pus.
- A vesicle: A vesicle is a blister filled with clear fluid.
- A wheal: A wheal is a swelling like a hive or insect bite.
Question 7. Which of these is a secondary skin lesion?
- ① A macule
- ② A vesicle
- ③ A wheal
- ④ A scar
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Answer: ④ A scar
Key point: Scar is a secondary lesion
Secondary lesions develop after a primary lesion changes or heals. Crusts, scales, and scars are examples.
Wrong choices
- A macule: A macule is a primary lesion.
- A vesicle: A vesicle is a primary lesion.
- A wheal: A wheal is a primary lesion.
Question 8. Which condition causes long-lasting redness and visible small blood vessels on the cheeks and nose, with flare-ups?
- ① Milia
- ② Rosacea
- ③ Vitiligo
- ④ Impetigo
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Answer: ② Rosacea
Key point: Rosacea = chronic facial redness
Rosacea is a chronic condition of facial redness that may include bumps. Heat, spicy food, and stress can trigger flares.
Wrong choices
- Milia: Milia are tiny white cysts.
- Vitiligo: Vitiligo is loss of pigment in patches.
- Impetigo: Impetigo is a contagious bacterial infection with crusts.
Question 9. What is the main job of the sudoriferous glands?
- ① To make oil for the hair
- ② To make sweat that cools the body
- ③ To make skin pigment
- ④ To grow new hairs
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Answer: ② To make sweat that cools the body
Key point: Sudoriferous glands = sweat
Sweat from these glands evaporates and helps cool the body. It also removes small amounts of waste.
Wrong choices
- To make oil for the hair: Oil comes from sebaceous glands.
- To make skin pigment: Pigment is made by melanocytes.
- To grow new hairs: Hair grows from follicles.
Question 10. What is a small blister filled with clear fluid, such as from poison ivy?
- ① A papule
- ② A pustule
- ③ A vesicle
- ④ A nodule
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Answer: ③ A vesicle
Key point: Vesicle = fluid blister
A vesicle is a small sac of clear fluid. A larger one is called a bulla.
Wrong choices
- A papule: A papule is solid.
- A pustule: A pustule holds pus.
- A nodule: A nodule is a solid lump.
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