Skin pharmacology

Question 1

What are the 3 layers to the skin? Which layer are sweat, sebaceous glands and hair follicles found? Where are subcut injections given?

Answer 1

Epidermis
Dermis - sebaceous glands, sweat glands and hair follicles
Hypodermis - subcut injection

Question 2

What are the functions of the skin?

Answer 2

Sensory perception
Protection - water loss, damage, radiation
Secretion and excretion of sweat and sebum
Vitamin D production
Temperature regulation

Question 3

Disturbance of skin homeostasis causes the release of what and from which skin layer?

Answer 3

Inflammatory mediators and cytokines

Epidermis and dermis

Question 4

What is epidermal hyperplasia also know as? It is an increase in what cell?

Answer 4

Scaling

Keratinocytes

Question 5

What is furunculosis?

Answer 5

Deep infection of hair follicle

Question 6

What happens if bacteria penetrate the skin barrier?

Answer 6

Ulceration

Furunculosis

Question 7

What are the clinical signs of skin infection?

Answer 7

Pruritis - itch
Epidermal hyperplasia - scaling
Greasiness
Odour due to microbe proliferation
Alopecia

Question 8

How can treatment for skin infections be applied?

Answer 8

Shampoos - not LAs
Creams - smaller areas
Ear drops
Systemic treatment - orally/injections

Question 9

Why is the ear a common place for skin infections (extension of skin into external ear)?

Answer 9

Protected, moist environment

Ideal for microbe proliferation

Question 10

When should ear drops not be used?

Answer 10

Tympanic membrane rupture - causes irritation and damage

Question 11

What do anti-seborrheic agents do?

Answer 11

Decrease seborrhoea

= dandruff - redness, itchy rash and white scales on scalp

Question 12

Give examples of anti-seborrheic agents

Answer 12

Sulphur
Salicylic acid (not dry skin)
Tar
Selenium sulpide

Question 13

Which species should not have tar used as a topical anti-seborrheic agent? When is it also contraindicated?

Answer 13

Cats - toxic!

Don’t use on dry skin

Question 14

Give examples of antimicrobial agents for skin

Answer 14

Chlorhexidine
Iodine
Benzyol peroxide

Question 15

What is benzoyl peroxide used to treat?

Answer 15

Pyoderma

Question 16

What microbes does chlorhexidine work against?

Answer 16

Bacteria - especially staph

Little effect on yeast/fungi

Question 17

Emolients soften and protect the skin. How do they prevent dryness?

Answer 17

Thin oil film on stratum corneum

Decrease water loss

Question 18

What are the layers of the skin - can life go suck balls?

Answer 18

Stratum corneum 
Stratum lucidum 
Stratum granulosum 
Stratum spinosum 
Stratum basale
Basement membrane

Question 19

Give examples of skin moisturisers

Answer 19

Urea
Glycerine
Colloidal oatmeal

Question 20

What are anti-pruritic agents? Why is this important?

Answer 20

Prevent itching

Prevent self-inflicted trauma

Question 21

Give examples of anti-pruritic agents

Answer 21

Anti-histamines
Aloe vera
Hydrocortisone

Question 22

What can be used to treat immune mediated skin disease?

Answer 22

Tacrolimus

Question 23

What is otitis external? Why does treatment often fail?

Answer 23

Inflammation of external ear canal

Painful - difficult to administer drops= owner compliance

Question 24

If there is debris in the ear in otitis external, what may need to happen for the drops to be effective? When can this not be done?

Answer 24

Flushing of ears

Only if intact tympanic membrane

Question 25

What do eardrops for otitis external contain?

Answer 25

Anti-inflammatories
Anti-bacterials
Anti-fungals
Anti-parasitics