Advanced Health Assessment Practice Exam

If a nurse finds pustular lesions on a client’s face, which condition could this indicate?

1. Psoriasis

2. Eczema

3. Acne

4. Dermatitis

The correct answer is: Acne

Pustular lesions on a client’s face are indicative of a condition commonly associated with the presence of pus-filled blisters, which is a hallmark sign of acne, particularly inflammatory acne such as pustular acne. This skin condition results from the clogging of hair follicles with oil and dead skin cells, leading to the swelling and inflammation that manifests as pustules. In contrast, psoriasis primarily presents with thick, scaly plaques rather than pustular lesions. Eczema tends to show more as dry, itchy patches rather than pustular formations, characterized by exudative lesions in its acute phase. Dermatitis, while it can involve a range of lesions, typically features more erythematous and flaky presentations that don't specifically include pustular lesions in the same way that acne does. Understanding the specific types and appearances of skin lesions is essential in making an accurate diagnosis, and in this case, pustular lesions are strongly suggestive of acne.