Dermatological Procedures and Treatments Flashcards

Chemical peels using trichloroacetic acid (TCA) at 30–40% penetrate to which skin layer?

Answer: Papillary to upper reticular dermis

Medium-depth TCA peels at 30–40% penetrate through the epidermis to the papillary and upper reticular dermis, making them effective for actinic keratoses and dyspigmentation.

What is intralesional triamcinolone acetonide most commonly used to treat in dermatology?

Answer: Keloids and hypertrophic scars

Intralesional triamcinolone acetonide is the first-line treatment for keloids and hypertrophic scars, reducing collagen synthesis and inducing collagenase activity to flatten the scar.

Which laser is specifically used for tattoo removal based on the principle of selective photothermolysis?

Answer: Q-switched Nd:YAG, alexandrite, or ruby laser

Q-switched lasers (Nd:YAG 1064/532 nm, alexandrite 755 nm, ruby 694 nm) deliver nanosecond pulses that fragment tattoo ink particles into smaller pieces cleared by macrophages.

What is the role of dermoscopy (dermatoscopy) in skin cancer diagnosis?

Answer: Magnified visualization of subsurface skin structures to improve diagnostic accuracy of pigmented lesions

Dermoscopy uses polarized or immersion light to visualize structures in the epidermis and superficial dermis invisible to the naked eye, significantly improving melanoma detection rates.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is FDA-approved for treatment of which condition?

Answer: Actinic keratoses

PDT with ALA (Levulan) followed by blue or red light activation is FDA-approved for non-hyperkeratotic actinic keratoses on the face and scalp.

Which injection technique minimizes the risk of intravascular filler injection in the glabellar region?

Answer: Aspiration before injection, small aliquots, low injection pressure, and superficial dermal placement

In the high-risk glabellar region, aspiration, small aliquot injection, low pressure, superficial placement, and knowledge of vascular anatomy help prevent catastrophic intravascular injection.