Single application of a fluorescent test cream by healthy volunteers: assessment of treated and neglected body sites.

BACKGROUND: Management of dermatological self-treatment is demanding. Imperfect application of creams and ointments and poor adherence to topical treatment are common, resulting in unsatisfactory treatment outcome. OBJECTIVES: To assess the technique and precision of test subjects' self-application of a test cream. Treated and neglected skin sites were measured after intended widespread single application of a fluorescent test cream. METHODS: Twenty healthy volunteers (10 women, 10 men) were included. They were asked to treat their whole skin surface with the fluorescent test cream, except the head and neck and skin covered by underwear. Treated and untreated sites were subsequently measured under Wood's ultraviolet radiation. RESULTS: Thirty-one per cent of the skin surface that was a target for application did not show any fluorescence and thus was assumed to have been untreated. Typical neglected sites included the central back, the upper breast, the axilla with surrounding skin, the legs and the feet, particularly the sole. The posterior aspect of both trunk and extremities, not easily inspected, was more often neglected. In the treated sites the fluorescence was typically uneven. CONCLUSIONS: Qualified and motivated persons with no obvious physical limitations practised imperfect self-application of a test cream mimicking a therapeutic cream product. As much as 31% of the skin surface was neglected. Sites especially prone to nonapplication were identified. This might imply that dermatological patients on long-term self-treatment may practise local application very poorly, a problem of major therapeutic and economic importance. A fluorescent test cream can be used for research, and as an educational tool in the training of dermatological patients on how to apply local treatment.

Quality of life before and 6 weeks after treatment in a dermatological outpatient treatment unit.

BACKGROUND: Dermatological disease affects quality of life to a great extent. Treatments are time-consuming and many patients have problems adhering to treatment. Attending an outpatient unit regularly during an intensive treatment period may enable patients to cope with their illness, adhere to treatment and thus improve their quality of life. OBJECTIVE: To study the effect on quality of life of 6 weeks of regular treatment in the outpatient unit in the County Hospital of Jönköping, by means of a questionnaire and interviews. METHODS: The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) was distributed to 50 consecutive patients with psoriasis, atopic dermatitis or pruritus attending our outpatient treatment unit. Nine of the patients were interviewed during treatment about factors that might influence their quality of life. RESULTS: The DLQI scores before treatment indicated a low quality of life. Women were more affected than men. After 6 weeks of treatment there was a clear improvement, with a 57% reduction in the scores. The answers from the interviews indicated important areas of concern such as withdrawal from public places, adoption of special clothing habits and concern about personal relationships. CONCLUSION: Dermatological diseases have an important influence on patients' quality of life. Attending an outpatient treatment unit was in this series of cases associated with improved quality of life as measured with the DLQI.