Dermatologic manifestations in critically ill patients: Challenging task for an intensivist

Abstract

Skin disorders are commonly encountered in intensive care unit and pose numerous diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas to the attending intensivist. Variable presentation of a single critical illness or a common presentation of multiple critical illnesses is few of the challenging aspects of such dermatologic disorders. Lack of in-depth understanding of the dermatological manifestations of systemic diseases in critically ill patients is one of the prime factors for difficulty in accurate diagnosis and management. Services of a dermatologist are immensely helpful and essential in diagnostic and therapeutic management of such disorders. The present article reviews in detail the clinical profile, diagnostic measures and therapeutic interventions of various dermatologic disorders encountered in the critically ill patients.