Topical Skin Therapeutics Flashcards
name six possible bases that topical medications can come in
gel cream ointment paste lotion foam
what is a cream?
a semisolid emulsion of oil in water
what do creams contain?
emulsifier
preservative
high water content
what do creams do?
cool and moisturise the skin
what are the pros of creams?
non greasy
easy to apply
what is an ointmennt?
a semisolid grease or oil
what is the action of an ointment?
occlusive and emollient to restrict epidermal water loss
what is the downside to ointments?
they are greasy
what is a lotion?
a suspension of a medication in a liquid
what are lotions used for?
treating skin in hair bearing areas i.e. scalp
what are gels?
thick semi solid solutions
what do gels contain?
HMW polymers i.e. methylcellulose
what are pastes?
semi-solids containing finely powdered material
what are the downsides to pastes?
stiff
greasy
hard to apply
what are pastes used for?
protection
occlusion
hydration
soothing
what are foams?
a colloid with two/three phases i.e. liquid and then a foam
what do emollients do?
enhance the rehydration of the epidermis
what common condition are emollients used for?
eczema
what dose of an emollient is prescribed for eczema?
300-500g
what can be used to treat xerotic skin?
wet wrap therapy
what is xerotic skin?
skin that is very dry
what three effects can topical corticosteroids have on the skin?
vasoconstrictive
anti inflammatory
anti proliferative
name a mild topical corticosteroid
hydrocortisone
name three moderate topical corticosteroids
modrasone
clobetasone
butyrate
name two potent topical corticosteroids
mometasone
betamethasone valerate
name a very potent topical corticosteroid
clobetasol propionate
what do you need to be aware of when prescribing a topical corticosteroid for pustular psoriasis?
rebound triggering
how much topical corticosteroid is required for an application to the whole adult body?
20-30g
how much is 1 fingertip unit of topical corticosteroid and how much does this cover?
0.5g
two hand areas
name a calcineurin inhibitor
tacrolimus
pimecrolimus
how do calcineurin inhibitors work?
suppress lymphocyte activation
what are calcineurin inhibitors used for?
atopic eczema
especially for the face and in children
