It is important to encourage self care whenever possible (NHS England, 2018). Self care is recommended for mild dry skin and mild irritant dermatitis, however it is appropriate to prescribe emollients for long term conditions including eczema (National Insitute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), 2013; National Eczema Society, 2018).
The British National Formulary (BNF) (2020) suggests suitable quantities of dermatological preparations to be prescribed for specific areas of the body (Table 1).
Table 1. Suitable quantities of dermatological preparations to be prescribed for specific areas of the body
| Area of body | Creams and Ointments | Lotions |
|---|---|---|
| Face | 15–30 g | 100 ml |
| Both hands | 25–50 g | 200 ml |
| Scalp | 50–100 g | 200 ml |
| Both arms or both legs | 100–200 g | 200 ml |
| Trunk | 400 g | 500 ml |
| Groins and genitalia | 15–25 g | 100 ml |
QUESTION 1
Complete the table (Table 2) with the quantity of emollient to prescribe for eczema for one month
Table 2. Prescribing emollient for eczema for one month
| Emollient | Pack sizes available | Adult or child | Body part affected | Quantity to prescribe for one month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exocream | 50 g, 500 g | Adult | Face | |
| Epimax ExCetra cream | 100 g, 500 g | Child | Whole body | |
| Epimax Oatmeal cream | 500 g | Adult | Trunk | |
| Epimax Original cream | 100 g, 500 g | Adult | Both legs | |
| Zero Double gel | 100 g, 500 g | Child | Whole Body | |
| Zeroderm ointment | 125 g, 500 g | Adult | Both hands | |
| Epimax ointment | 125 g, 500 g | Child | Whole body | |
| Cetraben | 125 g, 450 g | Child | Whole body | |
| Hydromol ointment | 125 g, 500 g | Adult | Mild dry skin on both legs |