💙 Onset: When did the skin problem start? Was the onset acute or gradual?
💙 Course – has the rash/skin lesion changed over time?
💙 Intermittent or continuous – is the skin problem always present or does it come and go?
💙 Duration of the symptom if intermittent – minutes/hours/days/weeks/months/years
⭐️⭐️ Location/distribution: Where is the skin problem? Number of lesions? Is it spreading?
⭐️⭐️ Precipitating factors – are there any obvious triggers for the symptom?
⭐️⭐️ Relieving factors – does anything appear to improve the symptoms (e.g. steroid cream)?
⭐️⭐️ Associated features – are there other symptoms that appear associated (e.g. fever/malaise)?
⭐️⭐️ Previous episodes – has the patient experienced this problem previously? When? How long for? Was it the same or different than the current episode?
⭐️⭐️ Previous or current treatment for this skin problem (did it work?): Prescribed medication Over the counter medication
⭐️⭐️ Contact history – has the patient been in contact with an infectious skin problem (e.g. chickenpox)?
⭐️⭐️ Sun exposure (including sunbed use) Important when considering skin cancer in the differential diagnosis Ask the patient about how their skin reacts to sun exposure to help determine their skin type (Fitzpatrick scale)
✅ Social history • Occupation – Are the skin problems worse at work? Do the skin problems improve when the patient is off from work? Is the patient exposed to any skin irritants or other hazardous substances?
• Smoking – How many cigarettes a day? How many years have they smoked for? • Alcohol – How many units a week? – type / volume / strength of alcohol • Recreational drug use – e.g. cellulitis from IV drug injection sites
✅ Living situation:
• Own home/care home – adaptations / stairs? • Who lives with the patient? – is the patient supported at home? • Any carer input? – what level of care do they receive? • Any recent changes at home that could be related to skin problems (e.g. new detergent causing allergic reaction to clothing)
✅ Activities of daily living:
• Is the patient independent and able to fully care for themselves? • Can they manage self-hygiene/housework/food shopping? • Travel history Where did the patient travel to? How long was the patient there? Is the patient aware of any exposure to infectious disease? • Sun exposure – was the skin problem worsened by sun exposure? (e.g. facial rash in lupus)