CDT Patient Education & Counseling 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient with rosacea wants to know which common trigger they should avoid. Which of the following is a well-recognized rosacea trigger?
- Cold water facial rinses
- High-fiber foods
- Spicy foods and alcohol (Correct answer)
- Low-humidity environments
Correct answer: Spicy foods and alcohol
Spicy foods, alcohol, heat, and emotional stress are classic rosacea triggers that cause flushing and flare-ups.
Question 2: When teaching a patient with atopic dermatitis about the 'soak and seal' technique, what does 'seal' refer to?
- Applying a topical steroid to the wet skin before bathing
- Applying moisturizer or emollient immediately after bathing to trap moisture (Correct answer)
- Wrapping the skin in plastic wrap overnight
- Using a humectant spray 30 minutes before bathing
Correct answer: Applying moisturizer or emollient immediately after bathing to trap moisture
The 'seal' step involves applying an emollient within 3 minutes of patting skin dry to lock in moisture and repair the skin barrier.
Question 3: A patient prescribed a high-potency topical corticosteroid asks why it should not be applied to the face. The best explanation is:
- Facial skin is too oily for corticosteroids to penetrate
- Facial skin is thinner and more absorbent, increasing the risk of atrophy and telangiectasia (Correct answer)
- Corticosteroids cause facial acne only on the face
- Facial veins block the medication from working
Correct answer: Facial skin is thinner and more absorbent, increasing the risk of atrophy and telangiectasia
The face has thin, highly permeable skin that absorbs more corticosteroid, making side effects like skin thinning and visible vessels more likely.
Question 4: Which of the following should be included when counseling a patient about proper sunscreen application?
- Apply sunscreen 15–30 minutes before sun exposure and reapply every 2 hours (Correct answer)
- Apply sunscreen immediately before sun exposure and only once per day
- Sunscreen does not need reapplication if it is SPF 50 or higher
- Apply sunscreen after skin becomes pink to maximize effectiveness
Correct answer: Apply sunscreen 15–30 minutes before sun exposure and reapply every 2 hours
Sunscreen needs 15–30 minutes to bind to the skin and must be reapplied every 2 hours or after swimming/sweating.
Question 5: A patient undergoing laser hair removal asks how many sessions are typically needed. The dermatology tech should explain that multiple sessions are required because:
- The laser can only treat one follicle at a time
- Laser only destroys hair follicles in the active (anagen) growth phase (Correct answer)
- Hair regrows faster after laser treatment
- Each session reduces pain tolerance, requiring longer intervals
Correct answer: Laser only destroys hair follicles in the active (anagen) growth phase
Laser hair removal targets the pigment in actively growing (anagen) follicles, and since follicles cycle asynchronously, multiple sessions are needed.
Question 6: When educating a patient about tinea versicolor, which statement about the condition is accurate?
- It is caused by a bacteria and requires oral antibiotics
- It is a fungal overgrowth that causes color changes in skin but is not contagious (Correct answer)
- It permanently alters melanocytes and cannot be treated
- It is caused by sun exposure and will resolve with sunscreen use alone
Correct answer: It is a fungal overgrowth that causes color changes in skin but is not contagious
Tinea versicolor is caused by overgrowth of Malassezia yeast on skin, producing hypopigmented or hyperpigmented patches that can be treated with antifungals.
Question 7: A patient asks why their acne scars are pink or red. The best explanation for post-inflammatory erythema (PIE) is:
- Excess melanin deposited after inflammation
- Persistent dilated blood vessels left after the inflammatory process resolves (Correct answer)
- Bacterial colonization of healed acne lesions
- Keratin plugs beneath the scar surface
Correct answer: Persistent dilated blood vessels left after the inflammatory process resolves
PIE results from dilated superficial capillaries that remain after inflammation has resolved and gradually fade over months.
CDT Patient Education & Counseling 3
A patient with rosacea wants to know which common trigger they should avoid.
Which of the following is a well-recognized rosacea trigger?