Dermatological therapies

Question 1

What are emollients and what are they used for?

Answer 1

Emollients are fats/oils that help replenish lipids found naturally within skin layers. Examples = Aqueous cream, Emulsifying ointment, Liquid paraffin, and White soft paraffin. These are used to rehydrate skin and re-establish the surface lipid layer

Question 2

What are the 3 types of emollients and how do they differ?

Answer 2

Ointments = v. greasy Creams = less greasy Lotions = very light

Question 3

What special instruction should be given for applying emollient?

Answer 3

In the direction of the hair

Question 4

Rank the following steroid creams in terms of potency?

• Hydrocortisone
• Clobetasone (eumovate),
• Betamethasone
• Clobetasol (Dermovate)

Answer 4

• Mildly potent = Hydrocortisone
• Moderately potent = Clobetasone (eumovate) -
• Potent = Betamethasone
• Very potent = Clobetasol (Dermovate)

Question 5

What are 4 side effects of steroid creams?

Answer 5

• skin atrophy
• telangiectasia
• striae
• contact dermatitis.

Question 6

Give 1 example of a non-sedative and a sedative anti-histamine.

Answer 6

Non-sedative examples = Cetirizine and Loratadine

Sedative examples = Chlorpheniramine

Question 7

What are the main side effects with retinoids? What is the most important complication of retinoid use?

Answer 7

• S/e = mucocutaneous reactions, disordered livre function, hypercholesterolaemia, and myalgia
• These are highly teratogenic, and effective contraception must be practiced during use and for 1 month after Isotretinoin and 2 years after Acitretin