8. The skin and lymph nodes

This chapter sets out what you need to look out for when examining the skin and lymph nodes. As regards the skin, you should pay attention to all the observable aspects, such as colour (e.g. cyanosis, jaundice, redness), skin abnormalities (haemorrhages, petechiae, purpura, ecchymosis or haematoma), scars, striae, itching or pruritus, effects of scratching, body hair (hair loss, hypertrichosis and hirsutism), abnormalities of the hands, fingers and nails, oedema, skin turgor and moist skin. Lastly, we describe how to examine the lymph nodes and the various things that you may observe when palpating them, with special reference to lymphadenopathy.