The oral vitamin A derivative for severe nodular acne that can be dispensed only through a restricted pregnancy prevention program is isotretinoin.
Missing Word
isotretinoin
Isotretinoin shrinks sebaceous glands and reduces oil production. Because it causes severe birth defects, prescribers, pharmacies and patients must enroll in a restricted program.
Category: Isotretinoin Safety
Question 2
Doxycycline and minocycline, oral antibiotics used for inflammatory acne, belong to the tetracyclines, a class generally avoided in young children because it can permanently stain developing teeth.
Missing Word
tetracyclines
Tetracyclines bind calcium in developing teeth and bone, causing permanent tooth discoloration, so they are generally avoided in pregnancy and young children. They also cause photosensitivity, and dairy products, antacids and iron reduce their absorption.
Category: Acne Drugs
Question 3
The oily secretion of the sebaceous glands, which mixes with dead skin cells to plug pores in acne, is called sebum.
Missing Word
sebum
Sebum lubricates the skin and hair. Excess sebum plugs follicles and feeds acne bacteria, and drugs such as isotretinoin reduce its production.
Category: Acne Drugs
Question 4
The allylamine antifungal that is applied topically for athlete's foot and also taken by mouth for fungal nail infections is terbinafine.
Missing Word
terbinafine
Terbinafine is an allylamine that kills dermatophytes by blocking ergosterol synthesis in the fungal cell membrane. The oral form, used for nail infections, can injure the liver, so liver function is checked.
Category: Antifungals and Antiparasitics
Question 5
The topical antibiotic ointment applied inside the nostrils to clear MRSA colonization is mupirocin.
Missing Word
mupirocin
Mupirocin is a topical antibacterial used for impetigo and, in a nasal form, to decolonize carriers of MRSA, often before surgery.
Category: Burn and Wound Agents
Question 6
The tough layer of dead tissue that covers a deep burn is called eschar.
Missing Word
eschar
Eschar is dead tissue over a full-thickness burn. Bacteria can grow beneath it, so topical burn agents that penetrate it, such as mafenide, are useful.
Category: Burn and Wound Agents
Question 7
Fungi that infect the keratin of skin, hair and nails and cause tinea infections are called dermatophytes.
Missing Word
dermatophytes
Dermatophytes live on keratin. They cause tinea pedis, tinea cruris, tinea corporis and tinea capitis, and are treated with azoles or allylamines such as terbinafine.
Category: Antifungals and Antiparasitics
Question 8
A fungal infection of the nails, often treated with an oral antifungal, is onychomycosis.
Missing Word
onychomycosis
Onychomycosis is fungal infection of the nail. Topical drugs penetrate the nail poorly, so oral therapy is often needed, with liver monitoring for some drugs.
Category: Antifungals and Antiparasitics
Question 9
In psoriasis, keratinocytes, the main cells of the epidermis, multiply far too quickly and pile up into scaly plaques.
Missing Word
keratinocytes
Keratinocytes make up most of the epidermis. In psoriasis an immune signal drives them to mature too fast, and many psoriasis drugs slow this growth.
Category: Psoriasis Drugs
Question 10
Increased skin reactivity to sunlight caused by drugs such as tretinoin and coal tar is called photosensitivity.
Missing Word
photosensitivity
Photosensitivity means the skin burns or reacts more easily in sunlight. Patients using such drugs limit sun exposure and use sunscreen and protective clothing.
Category: Acne Drugs
Question 11
Infestation of the hair or body with lice is called pediculosis.
Missing Word
pediculosis
Pediculosis is lice infestation. Drugs that kill lice are pediculicides, such as permethrin and malathion, and nits are combed out after treatment.
Category: Antifungals and Antiparasitics
Question 12
Tretinoin, adapalene and tazarotene are topical drugs of the retinoid class, related to vitamin A.
Missing Word
retinoid
Retinoids normalize the shedding of cells lining the follicle, preventing plugged pores. They commonly cause dryness, redness and peeling.
Category: Acne Drugs
Question 13
Topical metronidazole gel is used to reduce the facial redness and bumps of rosacea, a chronic skin condition.
Missing Word
rosacea
Rosacea causes facial flushing, redness and inflammatory bumps. Topical metronidazole and azelaic acid are among the drugs used to control it.
Category: Acne Drugs
Question 14
A contagious superficial bacterial skin infection with honey-colored crusts, often treated with topical retapamulin, is impetigo.
Missing Word
impetigo
Impetigo is caused by staphylococci or streptococci and spreads easily. It is treated with topical antibiotics such as retapamulin, and good hand hygiene limits spread.
Category: Burn and Wound Agents
Question 15
The topical calcineurin inhibitor supplied as an ointment for atopic dermatitis, with the same boxed warning as pimecrolimus cream, is tacrolimus.
Missing Word
tacrolimus
Tacrolimus ointment blocks calcineurin, reducing T-cell activation and skin inflammation, and it does not thin the skin. Like pimecrolimus, it carries a boxed warning about rare skin cancers and lymphoma, so continuous long-term use is avoided.
Category: Atopic Dermatitis Drugs