Skin pharmacology Flashcards
What are the 3 layers to the skin? Which layer are sweat, sebaceous glands and hair follicles found? Where are subcut injections given?
Epidermis
Dermis - sebaceous glands, sweat glands and hair follicles
Hypodermis - subcut injection
What are the functions of the skin?
Sensory perception
Protection - water loss, damage, radiation
Secretion and excretion of sweat and sebum
Vitamin D production
Temperature regulation
Disturbance of skin homeostasis causes the release of what and from which skin layer?
Inflammatory mediators and cytokines
Epidermis and dermis
What is epidermal hyperplasia also know as? It is an increase in what cell?
Scaling
Keratinocytes
What is furunculosis?
Deep infection of hair follicle
What happens if bacteria penetrate the skin barrier?
Ulceration
Furunculosis
What are the clinical signs of skin infection?
Pruritis - itch Epidermal hyperplasia - scaling Greasiness Odour due to microbe proliferation Alopecia
How can treatment for skin infections be applied?
Shampoos - not LAs
Creams - smaller areas
Ear drops
Systemic treatment - orally/injections
Why is the ear a common place for skin infections (extension of skin into external ear)?
Protected, moist environment
Ideal for microbe proliferation
When should ear drops not be used?
Tympanic membrane rupture - causes irritation and damage
What do anti-seborrheic agents do?
Decrease seborrhoea
= dandruff - redness, itchy rash and white scales on scalp
Give examples of anti-seborrheic agents
Sulphur
Salicylic acid (not dry skin)
Tar
Selenium sulpide
Which species should not have tar used as a topical anti-seborrheic agent? When is it also contraindicated?
Cats - toxic!
Don’t use on dry skin
Give examples of antimicrobial agents for skin
Chlorhexidine
Iodine
Benzyol peroxide
What is benzoyl peroxide used to treat?
Pyoderma
What microbes does chlorhexidine work against?
Bacteria - especially staph
Little effect on yeast/fungi
Emolients soften and protect the skin. How do they prevent dryness?
Thin oil film on stratum corneum
Decrease water loss
What are the layers of the skin - can life go suck balls?
Stratum corneum Stratum lucidum Stratum granulosum Stratum spinosum Stratum basale Basement membrane
Give examples of skin moisturisers
Urea
Glycerine
Colloidal oatmeal
What are anti-pruritic agents? Why is this important?
Prevent itching
Prevent self-inflicted trauma
Give examples of anti-pruritic agents
Anti-histamines
Aloe vera
Hydrocortisone
What can be used to treat immune mediated skin disease?
Tacrolimus
What is otitis external? Why does treatment often fail?
Inflammation of external ear canal
Painful - difficult to administer drops= owner compliance
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?
Flushing of ears
Only if intact tympanic membrane
What do eardrops for otitis external contain?
Anti-inflammatories
Anti-bacterials
Anti-fungals
Anti-parasitics
