Exam 4 Flashcards
Xerosis
Dry skin
-Skin functions to protect the body and control moisture loss
Ability to protect depends on:
-Age
-Immunologic status
-Underlying health conditions
Xerosis etiology
External/environmental factors
-Dry air and wind
-Long and hot showers
-Prolonged use of detergents and soaps
Internal factors
-
-Malnutrition
-Hypothyroidism
Presenting symptoms for Xerosis
-Roughness
-Scaling
-Cracking
-Fissuring
-Erythema
-Pruritis
Do not self treat for Xerosis when
-Severe dry skin
-Large body surface area
-Intense itching
-Infected skin
Goals of therapy Xerosis
-Improve skin hydration and minimize water loss
-Restore skin’s barrier function
-Educate patient: prevention and treatment
General treatment approach:
-Modify environmental factors and bathing habits
-Bath oils and moisturizers
-Topical hydrocortisone - Only if Puritis and erythema
Complementary and non otc options for Xerosis
-Moisturizers
-Oil based emollients
-Apply
*Within 3 minutes of bath/shower
-Frequent reapplication during daytime
-Humidify air
-Drink water
OTC:
-Moisturizers
-Cleansers
-Hydrocortisone ointment/cream
*Follow up after 1 week if not resolved
Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
An inflammatory condition of the epidermis and dermis characterized by episodic flares and periods of remission
*caused by genes/mutations
Presenting Sx:
-Redness and scaling
-Often cheeks initially
-Crusts, pustules
-Remissions and flares
-Lichenification
-Secondary infections
Don’t self treat for eczema when
-Severe dry skin
-Large body surface area
-Intense itching
-Infected skin
-Less than 1 year old
-Face or intertriginous areas
Goals of therapy Eczema
-Stop the itch scratch cycle
-Maintain skin hydration and barrier function
-Avoid or minimize triggers
-Prevent secondary Infections
General treatment approach:
-Manage symptoms
-Nonpharmacologic first
-Hydration
-Skin barrier support/moisture
-Topical hydrocortisone for itch/inflammation
Complementary options for eczema
-Trigger avoidance
-Oral and skin hydration
-Trim fingernails short, keep clean
-Wear cotton gloves at night
-Wet wrap compresses
-Moisturizers (avoid lotions, use creams/ointments, coconut oil)
Moderate to severe eczema: diluted bleach baths
-2x daily; max 3x per week
-1/2 cup of 5% household bleach in 40 gallons/full bathtub; soak for 10 minutes
-Rinse with fresh water, and apply moisturizer within 3 minutes
OTC treatment options for eczema
-Bath oils (FF)
-Cleansers (FF)
-Moisturizers (FF)
-Hydrocortisone ointment/cream
*FF = Fragrance Free
Follow up if symptoms worsen or not improved after 1 week
-Pruritis not improved after 1 week topical hydrocortisone
Bath oils and skin cleansers
Bath oils
-Ingredients: mineral or vegetable oil + surfactant
-Mechanism: lubricate dry skin
-Considerations: safety hazard
Cleansers:
-Ingredients: glycerin, castor oil
-Mechanism: reduce skin drying
-Considerations: little evidence
Moisturizers
Emollients: Glycol, glyceryl stearate
MOA - Fill spaces between desquamating skin scales with
Occlusives: Petrolatum, mineral oil, dimethicone
MOA - Prevent evaporation of water from the skin
Humectant: Gylcerol, lactic acid, urea
MOA - Attract and hold water in the skin
How to use moisturizers
- Liberal and frequent application
-At least twice daily and up to 4 times daily - Pat dry + must apply within 3 minutes of toweling off
Considerations:
1. Vehicle choice
b. Creams
C. Ointments
Hydrocortisone 0.5% or 0.1%
MOA: suppresses cytokines involved in inflammation and itching
-Pharmacokinetics
Onset is very fast and duration is very long
SE: skin atrophy/thinning
Avoid: weeping lesions, cracked/open or infected skin
Ointment preferred to cream
Hydrocortisone dosing
- Apply before moisturizers
- Twice daily during flares only
- Fingertip rule
- Use sparingly
- Maximum 7 days
Warts or “verrucae”
-Affect 7-10% of the pop
-More common in children/teens
*Children age 12-16
-Caused by HPV infection
-3 criteria (presence of HPV, opening in skin, susceptible immune system)
-Resolve on their own
Risk factors for Warts
-History of warts
-Immunocompromised
-Chronic skin condition
-Walking barefoot
-Use of public bathing areas/swimming pools
-Nail biting
-Working at meat handling facility
Clinical presentation of warts
Common warts
-Skin colored or brown lesions
-Rough, cauliflower texture
-Usually painless
Plantar warts
-Skin colored lesions appearing on the feet
-Extend deeper into skin
-May be painful
-Not a special kind of wart
(named after plantar –> bottom of the foot)
Do not self treat warts when
Age under 3 (SA)
Age under 4 for freezing
-Unable to follow instructions
-Pregnancy and lactation
-Immunocompromised
-Chronic conditions
-Large/and or multiple concentrated warts
-Bleeding, painful or discolored warts
-Warts found on sensitive areas of the body
-No/little improvement after 12 weeks of self-treatment
Complementary options for warts
Wait and see approach
-Main focus is preventing the spread of HPV
OTC options for warts
Salicylic Acid
Cryotherapy
Occlusion therapy (duct tape)
Follow up:
-Expect some improvement in 1-2 weeks
-May self treat for a max of 12 weeks
Salicylic acid
MOA: keratolytic agent
Indication: common or plantar warts
Pharmacodynamics:
quick onset and clearance within 6-12 weeks
Efficacy: Better than placebo
SE: skin irritation, potential systemic toxicity
DI: none
Avoid: under 3 years old, allergy, immunosuppressed, pregnancy/lactation
Dosing:
-Apply
-Every 48 hours
Cryotherapy
MOA: destroys warts by freezing them off with nitrous oxide or a mix of dimethyl ether and propane
Indication: common or plantar warts
Pharmacodynamics: Onset is as soon as blister forms, ~10 days wart falls off
Efficacy:
-No more effective than salicylic acid or placebo
SE:
-Blistering
-Pain/tenderness
-Scarring or burns
-Hypo or hyperpigmentation
-Tendon or nerve damage
Avoid: < 4 yr old
Dosing: can repeat after 2 weeks
Cryotherapy cautions
-Treat only one side of the finger/toe at a time
-Treat one wart at a time
-Apply directly to wart only
-Protect eyes during use
-Do not ingest or inhale chemicals
-Keep away from children
-Avoid areas with thin skin
-Avoid irritated or infected skin
-Do not use for moles or birthmarks
-Avoid in pregnancy or lactation
Occlusion therapy
MOA: unclear - local irritation causing stimulation of immune response
Indication: warts at any location
Pharmacodynamics: Duration up to two months or until resolved
SE:
-Left over sticky residue
-Adhesive rash
DI: none
Avoid: if sensitive to duct tape
*Use silver duct tape only
*Apply and leave on wart for 6 days
Corns and calluses
-Affect 5% of the population
-caused by increased friction and pressure
*leads to increased growth of the basal cell skin layer
*As cells reach the outer surface a thicker layer of skin is produced
corns
Small, raised lesion with a central core and defined border appearing on bony joints
Hard corns = found on the tops of toes near joints
Soft corns = found between toes
Calluses
-Thickening of skin with an indefinite border
-Found at the bottom/sides of the foot
-Usually somewhat raised and dull yellow color
Do not self treat corns and calluses
-Age < 3 years (if using SA)
-Chronic conditions
-History of rheumatoid arthritis
-Fault in body weight distribution
-Bleeding or oozing purulent material
-Painful or extensive in nature
-Self care is ineffective
Complementary options for corns and calluses
-Soak affected area in warm water for at least 5 minutes daily and then remove dead tissue
-Circular foam cushioning pads
-Wear appropriately fitted shoes
-Arch supports
-Surgical correction
-Avoid trimming tissue