Topicals Flashcards
What does the skin protect against?
Pollution
Temperature
Humidity
Radiation
What does the skin function as?
Protection for internal organs
Limiter for the passage of chemicals
Stabiliser for blood pressure and temperature
Mediator of heat, cold, touch and pain
Indicator of human characteristics
How can skin be damaged?
Physically - cuts, bruises, burns and radiation exposure
Chemically - bites, stings, pollutants and chemical residues
Biologically - microorganisms such as bacteria
What are the variations in thickness of the epidermis?
0.8mm on the soles and palms to
6μm on the eyelids
What is the stratum corneum?
Dead, dense and almost impermeable surface layer
What is maceration?
Skin absorbs water and swells
What is the variation of thickness of the dermis?
3-5mm
What makes up the dermis?
Matrix of connective tissue woven from fibrous proteins - collagen, elastin and reticulin
What traverses the dermis matrix?
Nerves, blood vessels and lymphatics
What is the purpose of subcutaneous fat?
Provides a mechanical cushion and thermal barrier
Synthesises and stores readily available chemicals
What do eccrine sweat glands do?
Produces sweat of pH 4-6.8
Secretes drugs, proteins, antibodies and antigens
Aids heat control
What do apocrine sweat glands do?
Produce milky or oily secretions that contain proteins, lipids, lipoproteins and saccharides
Where do apocrine sweat glands develop?
At the pilosebaciuos follicle
What does the sebacious gland produce?
Sebum from cell disintegration
Where are sebacious glands found?
Sebacious glands open into hair follicles
What does the sebum that sebacious glands produce contain?
Glycerides, fatty acids, cholesterol and it’s esters, wax esters and squalene
Where do hair follicles develop?
All over the skin except lips, palms and soles
What treatments are given via the skin for systemic delivery?
HRT
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
What is used to treat hyperhydrosis of sweat glands?
Antiperspirants containing aluminium salts
What is used to treat acne?
Topical exfoiliants such as salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide
Topical antibiotics such as erythromycin
What is used to treat localised fungal diseases (dermatophytoses)?
Topical imidazoles such as clotrimazole
What is used topically to treat male pattern baldness?
Minoxidil
Examples of conditions and treatments of the viable epidermis/dermis
Anti-inflammatories - steriodal and NSAIDs
Anaesthetics - relief of local pain
Anti-pruritics - relief of itching of pruritus in eczema
Anti-histamines - effective against insect bites and stings
UV and light therapies
What are liniments?
Alcoholic or oily solutions that contain methyl saccinate or camphor
