Chapter 56 Dermatological Drugs
Sealock Lilley’s Pharmacology for Canadian Health Care Practice
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A father calls the clinic because his son has head lice. He reports to the nurse that he has used “that
special stuff you spray on to the hair, but nothing is happening.” What should be the nurse’s first
recommendation?
a. Get a prescription for a second product, malathion.
b. Add a lotion product that remains on the scalp for 8 hours.
c. Use a nit comb to remove nits from the hair shafts.
d. Comb through the hair with mineral oil to loosen the lice from the hair shafts.
ANS C
Before another product is tried, the nurse should ensure that the father is performing the current
product correctly. It is to be sprayed onto dry hair, massaged in, and left for 30 minutes. Then the dead
lice are removed with a lice comb. Once the hair dries (8 hours), it is shampooed.
DIF Cognitive Level Analysis
2. A teenage boy is taking tretinoin (Rejuva-A®) for his acne. What important information should the
nurse give him?
a. He should avoid foods heavy in salt and oils.
b. The drug may cause increased redness of the skin.
c. He should use abrasive cleansers to remove old skin layers.
d. Extremes of weather and sunlight should not bother him during therapy.
ANS B
Tretinoin may cause increased skin redness and drying. Patients taking tretinoin should avoid weather
extremes, ultraviolet (UV) light, and abrasive cleansers. Eating foods that are heavy in salt and oils is not
, a contraindication to this medication, although consumption of these types of foods is not good for
one’s health.
DIF Cognitive Level Analysis
3. Which is a true statement regarding the dermis layer of the skin?
a. The dermis does not have a direct blood supply.
b. It forms the protective layer of the entire body.
c. Outer dead cells contain a water-repellent
protein known as keratin.
d. It provides extra support with blood vessels, with nerves, and with lymphatic, elastic, and
connective tissues.
ANS D
The dermis layer provides extra support and nourishment with the blood vessels, nerves, elastic tissue,
lymphatic tissue, and connective tissue. The epidermis layer of the skin does not have a direct blood
supply. It forms a protective layer for the entire body and has outer dead cells that contain a water-
repellent protein known as keratin.
DIF Cognitive Level Knowledge
4. A patient is to receive a topical corticosteroid for the treatment of psoriasis. Which form is generally
the most penetrating when applied to the skin?
a. Gel
b. Lotion
c. Cream
d. Ointment
ANS D
Ointments are generally the most penetrating vehicles for topical forms of corticosteroids.
DIF Cognitive Level Comprehension
Sealock Lilley’s Pharmacology for Canadian Health Care Practice
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A father calls the clinic because his son has head lice. He reports to the nurse that he has used “that
special stuff you spray on to the hair, but nothing is happening.” What should be the nurse’s first
recommendation?
a. Get a prescription for a second product, malathion.
b. Add a lotion product that remains on the scalp for 8 hours.
c. Use a nit comb to remove nits from the hair shafts.
d. Comb through the hair with mineral oil to loosen the lice from the hair shafts.
ANS C
Before another product is tried, the nurse should ensure that the father is performing the current
product correctly. It is to be sprayed onto dry hair, massaged in, and left for 30 minutes. Then the dead
lice are removed with a lice comb. Once the hair dries (8 hours), it is shampooed.
DIF Cognitive Level Analysis
2. A teenage boy is taking tretinoin (Rejuva-A®) for his acne. What important information should the
nurse give him?
a. He should avoid foods heavy in salt and oils.
b. The drug may cause increased redness of the skin.
c. He should use abrasive cleansers to remove old skin layers.
d. Extremes of weather and sunlight should not bother him during therapy.
ANS B
Tretinoin may cause increased skin redness and drying. Patients taking tretinoin should avoid weather
extremes, ultraviolet (UV) light, and abrasive cleansers. Eating foods that are heavy in salt and oils is not
, a contraindication to this medication, although consumption of these types of foods is not good for
one’s health.
DIF Cognitive Level Analysis
3. Which is a true statement regarding the dermis layer of the skin?
a. The dermis does not have a direct blood supply.
b. It forms the protective layer of the entire body.
c. Outer dead cells contain a water-repellent
protein known as keratin.
d. It provides extra support with blood vessels, with nerves, and with lymphatic, elastic, and
connective tissues.
ANS D
The dermis layer provides extra support and nourishment with the blood vessels, nerves, elastic tissue,
lymphatic tissue, and connective tissue. The epidermis layer of the skin does not have a direct blood
supply. It forms a protective layer for the entire body and has outer dead cells that contain a water-
repellent protein known as keratin.
DIF Cognitive Level Knowledge
4. A patient is to receive a topical corticosteroid for the treatment of psoriasis. Which form is generally
the most penetrating when applied to the skin?
a. Gel
b. Lotion
c. Cream
d. Ointment
ANS D
Ointments are generally the most penetrating vehicles for topical forms of corticosteroids.
DIF Cognitive Level Comprehension
