Dermatology Day Care Services

Dermatology care in the UK is primarily an outpatient service. In addition to the outpatient consultations, many patients benefit from dermatology day care services that are mainly nurse-led (Table 11.1). The following are examples of the services provided by a dermatology day care unit.

Patient Education

Treatment of chronic inflammatory skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis requires the use of several topical treatments including moisturisers and active treatments such as topical corticosteroids or calcineurin inhibitors.

Educating patients and parents of affected children regarding the appropriate application of the topical treatments, including quantities, when and how to use them, helps to improve treatment compliance. Patients also require education about self-administration of biological therapies for severe psoriasis.

Intensive Topical Treatment

Reasons for receiving topical treatment in a dermatology day care unit include the following:

Severe extensive skin disease (e.g. eczema, psoriasis)
Elderly individuals unable to reach body sites to apply treatment
Co-morbidities that limit ability to use topical treatment (e.g. arthritis, impaired vision)
Too messy to use at home (e.g. crude coal tar for psoriasis)
Need careful application, as contact with unaffected skin may cause severe skin irritation (e.g. dithranol for large plaque psoriasis).

Moisturisers come in a variety of consistencies from lotions, creams to greasy emollients which can be used for any dry skin condition (e.g. eczema; Figure 11.1).

Coal tar

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