Administration of Drugs to the Skin

About this activity

Skin, our largest organ, provides many vital functions, especially protection. Whilst this module will not make you an expert on prescribing in skin conditions, it will enable you to become a safe and effective prescriber. This session will introduce you to pharmacodynamics, including the concept of the dose-response curve. It will then go on to explain related pharmacological terms such as agonist, antagonist, efficacy and potency. Objectives By the end of this session you will be able to: Demonstrate an understanding of how drugs are administered to the skin Explain the differences between creams, ointments, gels and lotions Describe some of the adverse effects that may be associated with the administration of drugs to the skin Identify and assess clinically appropriate drug therapy used to treat common skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis, acne) including the formulation, dose, frequency and the appropriate duration of therapy