STEP 1 Content Outline

Skin and Related Connective Tissue


Normal processes

  • embryonic development, fetal maturation, and perinatal changes
  • organ structure and function
  • cell/tissue structure and function, including barrier functions, thermal regulation, eccrine function
  • repair, regeneration, and changes associated with stage of life or ethnicity (eg, senile purpura, male pattern baldness, postmenopausal hair changes)
  • skin defense mechanisms and normal flora

Abnormal processes

  • infectious, inflammatory, and immunologic disorders
    • bacterial infections (eg, acne, cellulitis, carbuncle, abscess, necrotizing fasciitis, gangrene)
    • viral infections (eg, herpes infections, chickenpox, rubella, measles, roseola, verrucae)
    • fungal infections, including mycoses, dermatophytosis (eg, tinea)
    • parasitic infections (eg, scabies, lice)
    • immune and autoimmune disorders (eg, discoid lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, dermatomyositis, alopecia, psoriasis, urticaria, allergic dermatosis)
  • traumatic and mechanical disorders (eg, thermal injury, decubitus ulcers, effects of ultraviolet light and radiation)
  • neoplastic disorders
    • keratinocytes (eg, seborrheic keratosis, actinic keratosis, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and ichthyosis)
    • melanocytes (eg, nevi, melanoma)
    • vascular neoplasms (eg, hemangiomas, Kaposi sarcoma)
    • other (eg, T-cell lymphoma, skin appendage tumors)
  • metabolic, regulatory, and structural disorders (eg, vitamin deficiencies, hypervitaminosis, hyperhidrosis)
  • vascular disorders (eg, vasculitis, Raynaud disease)
  • systemic disorders affecting the skin (eg, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Marfan syndrome)

Principles of therapeutics

  • mechanisms of action, use, and adverse effects of drugs for treatment of disorders of the skin and connective tissue, including anti-inflammatory agents (eg, corticosteroids, antihistamines), emollients, sunscreen, retinoids, antimicrobial agents, cytotoxic and immunologic therapy (eg, methotrexate, PUVA, keratinolytics)
  • other therapeutic modalities (eg, laser, tattoo removal, cryotherapy)

Gender, ethnic, and behavioral considerations affecting disease treatment and prevention, including psychosocial, cultural, occupational, and environmental

  • emotional and behavioral factors (eg, sun exposure, acne)
  • influence on person, family, and society (eg, psoriasis)
  • occupational and other environmental risk factors
  • gender and ethnic factors (eg, keloid)