Module 5 – dermatopathology
This first section of the module focuses on dermatopathology. It outlines when and why to conduct a biopsy, including different biopsy methods and biopsy processing. It describes how to complete a pathology request form by providing essential information, including the site and method of biopsy, descriptive words describing distribution and morphology, and differential diagnosis. An overview of the pathological changes of skin and six tissue reaction patterns of inflammatory cells is discussed. The next section focuses on types of pruritus, including pruriceptive, neuropathic, neurogenic and psychogenic itch. It explains the initial and ongoing management of these conditions. The final section focuses on allergic versus irritant contact dermatitis. It outlines the different types of irritant contact dermatitis, the clinical features, pathology and ways to manage them. The module concludes with describing the clinical features of allergic contact dermatitis on various body parts, when to perform patch testing and management of this condition. Clinical images are featured throughout the module.
Module 6 – nail disorders and hair loss
The first section focuses on nail disorders. It discusses the nail apparatus and onychomycosis of the nail, including dermatophytic and non-dermatophytic infections. It explains the predisposing factors and five clinical patterns of onychomycosis, including distal/lateral subungual, the superficial white, the proximal subungual, the endonyx and candidal onychomycosis. The main differential diagnosis, a step-by-step specimen collection, treatment options, preventive measures and complications are discussed in detail. The next section focuses on the dermatologic entities that induce hair loss. It briefly outlines the classifications and presentations of the most common non-cicatricial and cicatricial alopecia. Conditions include androgenetic alopecia, telogen effluvium and alopecia areata. Each category is discussed in detail and clinical images are used to identify differential diagnosis, work-up and management of these conditions.
Module 7 – paediatric topics, follicular disorders and blistering disorders
The first section focuses on paediatric dermatology conditions including cutaneous mastocytosis, acrodermatitis enteropathica, Gianotti-Crosti syndrome, confluent and reticulated papillomatosis, 5th disease or erythema infectiosum, viral exanthems, drug rash, impetigo, infantile acropustulosis, erythema toxicum neonatorum, hand foot and mouth disease, scabies, linear epidermal nevus, nevus sebaceous and infantile hemangiomas. Each category is discussed in detail and clinical images are used to assist with the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions. The second section focuses on hair follicle disorders including superficial folliculitis, keratin disorders and deep folliculitis. The treatment of these conditions is discussed in detail. The last section focuses on a rare blistering disorder called vesicobullous disease that causes vesicles and bullae eruptions on the skin and mucosal surfaces. The five variants of the blistering disorder including clinical images are discussed in detail.
Module 8 – dermatology cases
This module focuses on reviewing ten dermatology case studies focusing on the learning in the previous modules. Each case is supported by clinical images. History taking, identifying differential diagnosis, examination, investigations and management strategies are discussed in each of these case studies.