Dematologic Pharmacology Flashcards
Name the functions of the skin
protection, thermoregulation, immune surveillance and response, sensory detection, biochemical synthesis
Name the general ways that drugs can be given to treat skin conditions
topically, systemically, intralesionally, or through UV light
Which layer of epithelium is the primary barrier to absorption of exogenous substances through the skin?
Stratum corneum (rate limiting step)
Is the percutaneous absorption directly related to concentration of drug, volume of drug, or both?
Concentration
What has the strongest relative potency? Ointments, creams, gels, or lotions?
Ointments and gels
What part of the body are gels most useful for?
Oral cavity or scalp (hairy areas)
Which is more potent, class 1 glucocorticoids or class 7 glucocorticoids?
Class 1
What are the side effects of topical steroid treatment?
Atrophy, striae, telangiectasias, purpura, acne, hypopigmentation, and overgrowth of bacteria or fungus. If applied near the eye, can cause cataract or glaucoma.
Name five ways to treat psoriasis
glucocorticoids, cyclosporine, methotrexate, UV light, and acitretin
How does UV therapy work, and along the same line of thinking, what kind of conditions is it useful for treating?
Works to suppress the immune system by suppressing ICAM-1 and depleting Langerhans cells (overall decrease in cytokine production). Useful for inflammatory conditions (atopic dermatitis, CTCL, lichen planus)
Would you rather block UVA or UVB light and why?
UVA light; penetrates deeper in the skin
You prescribe methotrexate for a patient with psoriasis, and they call your office two weeks later saying that they have developed a cough. Your grouchy secretary says, “We’re dermatologists here, if it’s not your skin why do we care?!” but thankfully you overhear and intercede. Why does the cough matter?
Methotrexate can lead to rapidly developing pneumonitis that can be life threatening if the methotrexate is not immediately discontinued.
What are the biologics used for and what are the advantages to using them?
Used to treat inflammatory conditions and arthritis. Good because they are effective, can be used in pregnancy, and there are very few side effects.
What is the general mechanism of the drugs etanercept, infliximab, alefacpt, and efalizumab?
Inhibit the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha
How do isotretinoin and acitretin work? What are they used to treat? What is one big disadvantage of using them?
They stimulate epithelial cell turnover and are anti-inflammatory. Iso treats acne, and aci treats psoriasis. These retinoids have teratogenic effects.
