Camtasia-Derm Flashcards
Preventing Skin Cancer
•Know the ABCDE’s
A- Asymmetry
B- Borders are irregular
C- Color changes from one area to another, tan, brown, black,
white, red or blue
D-Diameter – usually larger than 6 mm in diameter (size of pencil
eraser)
E- Evolution – keeps changing appearance
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Guidelines for Use of Sunscreen
3.5 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. each yr.
• Apply a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or more if you are going to be
in the sun for 20 minutes or longer.
•Apply 30 minutes before going outside & every 2 hours
• By increasing SPF you do not significantly increase protection, ie a
SPF of 15 absorbs 93% of the sun’s rays & SPF of 34 absorbs 97%
• Choose a broad spectrum that protects against UVA & UVB rays
• Gel sunscreens tend to be sweated off more easily
• Water resistant sunscreens are to be labeled as lasting for 40 min. or 80 minutes of water exposure
• The term waterproof is no longer used.*****
•(American Melanoma Foundation, 2012)
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Preventing Skin Cancer
•Wear protective clothing
•Avoid tanning beds
•Check your skin regularly for unusual lesions
•Apply about 1 ounce each time
•Check expiration date – typically are good for 3
years
•Use a lip balm with SPF of 15 or higher
•The higher the altitude, the greater the exposure
(American Melanoma Foundation, 2012)
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Contact Dermatitis
•Irritant- exposure to agent that is toxic to skin
•Allergic – exposure to antigen, most common atopic dermatitis (eczema). Chronic condition
•Factors to determine type of treatment
A. Protection/barrier function
B. Delivery of drug to skin
C. Cosmetic appearance with treatment
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Drug therapy
•Ideally prevention of coming in contact with allergen
•Determine severity which determines treatment
•Mild cases – cool compresses, colloidal oatmeal, baking soda in bath water, Burrow’s solution- dries vesicles
Topical Bases
•Ointment, emollients – best delivery and protection, most potent & most lubricating
•Creams- less greasy but less effective. Cosmetically most desirable, but water based cause more drying
•Lotions- are dilute creams
•Solutions – alcohol based liquids used to treat scalp
Barrier creams and Moisturizers- increase skin hydration
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Goals of Drug Therapy for Dermatitis
•Restoration of a normal epidermal barrier
•Treatment of inflammation of skin
•Control of itching
Medications available
A. Topical corticosteroids
B. Immunosuppressant(used for chronic atopic dermatitis but
takes several weeks to exert effect & associated with skin cancer & lymphoma)
C. Systemic corticosteroids
D. Antihistamines
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Guidelines
•Use topical corticosteroids BID for not more than 2 weeks for adults, one week for children
•Use lowest potency for the face and intertriginous areas
•Most potent reserved for extremities and torso
•Effective for smaller outbreaks and safer than systemic corticosteroids
•Start with intermediate or high-potency (unless in the areas listed above)
•Applying an occlusive dressing increases absorption & penetration by increasing hydration
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