Rash Decisions

Emollients (Part 2) - It’s all about the emollient

“Patients sometimes think that an emollient is an emollient. But when we're prescribing, we mustn't forget about splitting them into simple and sophisticated types and actually think about what we're putting on our patient's skin, which sounds an obvious thing to say, but it really is horses for courses” - Dr Roger Henderson. 
Following on from the first episode in the “Emollients” topic, which covered the critical role of our skin, Dr George Moncrieff and Dr Roger Henderson now discuss how emollients work in keeping our skin barrier healthy. This episode highlights the crucial distinctions between simple and sophisticated emollients, as well as unveiling the key ingredients to seek out and those to avoid when selecting an emollient for your patients. 
In addition, this episode covers: 
The different modes of action emollients can have, including their role as a vehicle for getting humectants, anti-inflammatory, and anti-itch ingredients onto the skin
The importance of patient education including advice on emollient application, soap substitutes and emollient safety 
The amount of emollient that you should be prescribing to your patients 
Emollients play a pivotal role in managing dry skin conditions, and this episode equips you with the knowledge to confidently prescribe and educate patients on effective emollient use. Listen in to finely tune your emollient selection. 
Thank you to our kind sponsor AproDerm, who provide a comprehensive range of quality emollients designed for the management of dry skin conditions, including eczema, psoriasis and ichthyosis.  
To simplify the process of finding the most suitable emollient for each patient, they have developed a remarkable solution: the AproDerm Emollient Starter Pack. This pack conveniently combines all four of their emollients in a single prescription, enabling patients to identify their ideal emollient more efficiently, aiding both compliance and adherence.  
Find out more: https://aproderm.com/aproderm-emollient-starter-pack/  
TW: https://twitter.com/AproDerm   
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fontus-health-ltd/   
Thank you for listening. We hope you find this podcast interesting and helpful, please leave us a review or email info@aproderm.com with any feedback on this episode or suggestions for what you would like to hear about in future podcasts.   
The views expressed in this podcast are of Dr George Moncrieff and Dr Roger Henderson and Fontus Health has not influenced, participated, or been involved in the programme, materials, or delivery of educational content.

Emollients (Part 1) - Refreshing dry skin!

Before we attempt to understand the critical role that emollients play in the management of dry skin conditions, we first need to understand our largest organ, the skin. Dr Moncrieff and Dr Henderson delve deep into the remarkable structure that is our skin, looking at how this organ punches way beyond its weight simply because it’s the part of the body that everyone sees and notices. They explore this fascinating structure and cover:  
The skin’s many roles from being our first line of defence, through to thermoregulation, immune regulation and its critical role in sensation 
The sophisticated function of the skin barrier and why it is so important to protect it 
The role of filaggrin 
Barrier dysfunction and its consequences 
Why dry skin conditions are increasing in the modern world 
So, if you’ve noticed an increase in the number of patients presenting with dry skin conditions in your practice, then join Dr Moncrieff and Dr Henderson as they explain why this is happening, who our most vulnerable patients are, and why it's important to help our patients look after this crucial organ. 
Thank you to our kind sponsor AproDerm, who provide a comprehensive range of quality emollients designed for the management of dry skin conditions, including eczema, psoriasis and ichthyosis.  
To simplify the process of finding the most suitable emollient for each patient, they have developed a remarkable solution: the AproDerm Emollient Starter Pack. This pack conveniently combines all four of their emollients in a single prescription, enabling patients to identify their ideal emollient more efficiently, aiding both compliance and adherence.  
Find out more: https://aproderm.com/aproderm-emollient-starter-pack/   
TW: https://twitter.com/AproDerm   
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fontus-health-ltd/   
Thank you for listening. We hope you find this podcast interesting and helpful, please leave us a review or email info@aproderm.com  with any feedback on this episode or suggestions for what you would like to hear about in future podcasts.  
The views expressed in this podcast are of Dr George Moncrieff and Dr Roger Henderson and Fontus Health has not influenced, participated, or been involved in the programme, materials, or delivery of educational content.

Eczema (Part 3) - Moving up the scale of eczema treatment

In this final episode on eczema, Dr George Moncrieff and Dr Roger Henderson share their thoughts on eczema treatments, including topical steroids and immunomodulators.
Alongside many other practical tips, the key takeaways from this episode include:
Advice on which, when, and how much topical steroid to prescribe to patients with eczema and how they can be used as useful little markers to show whether a patient’s eczema is being controlled adequately
If and when to prescribe antibiotics for eczema patients and how to manage recurrent eczema flares driven by infection
Why topical immunomodulators should no longer be secondary care’s best-kept secret!
“Topical steroids… have stood the test of time… and they really do work.
There's nothing more frustrating for a healthcare professional to see somebody with a condition… not getting better because they haven't used the treatment we recommended.
But I do think we need to acknowledge that our patients have concerns about topical steroids, and they often are reluctant to use them and often nod and accept that we suggest them to them, and then they go away and they don't use them.
I could not manage my skin patients without the use of topical steroids, but I like to use them for short, sharp bursts, get things under control…” - Dr George Moncrieff
If this sounds familiar then, listen in to find out Dr Moncrieff’s top tips on addressing patient concerns regarding topical steroids.
Episode resources:
PCDS: https://www.pcds.org.uk/clinical-guidance/atopic-eczema
Thank you to our kind sponsor AproDerm, who provide a comprehensive range of quality emollients that are designed for the management of dry skin conditions, including eczema.
To simplify the process of finding the most suitable emollient for each patient, they have developed a remarkable solution: the AproDerm Emollient Starter Pack. This pack conveniently combines all four of their emollients in a single prescription, enabling patients to identify their ideal emollient more efficiently, aiding both compliance and adherence.
Find out more: https://aproderm.com/aproderm-emollient-starter-pack/
TW: https://twitter.com/AproDerm
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fontus-health-ltd/
Thank you for listening. We hope you find this podcast interesting and helpful, please leave us a review or email info@aproderm.com with any feedback on this episode or suggestions for what you would like to hear about in future podcasts.
The views expressed in this podcast are of Dr George Moncrieff and Dr Roger Henderson and Fontus Health has not influenced, participated, or been involved in the programme, materials, or delivery of educational content.
 

Eczema (Part 2) - Rethinking eczema treatment (and throw the soap away!)

Join Dr Moncrieff and Dr Henderson as they discuss their assessment process for patients with eczema. Not only does this involve looking at the skin but also taking into account patient quality of life, their psychosocial wellbeing, as well as the importance of developing a bond with your patients through touch in this very tactile condition before moving on to the treatment process. 
“The first thing I say to my patients is, tell me how do you wash? … And they often look aghast” Dr Moncrieff 
During this episode, you will find out why Dr Moncrieff starts his eczema assessments this way, as well as:  
The value of using tools like POEM and EASI to track and measure eczema 
The importance of a QRISK, especially in patients with moderate to severe eczema 
The three Es of eczema management – Emollients, emollients and emollients and why patient choice is fundamental in this 
Episode resources:  
POEM: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/research/groups/cebd/resources/poem.aspx 
PCDS Photography Information Sheet: https://www.pcds.org.uk/clinical-guidance/photography-for-the-patient-how-to-take-a-good-photograph-of-a-skin-conditi  
Pulse Emollient Table: https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/clinical-feature/clinical-areas/dermatology/emollients-reference-chart/  
mySkinHealth App: https://www.myskinhealth.org/hcp/  
Thank you to our kind sponsor AproDerm, who provide a comprehensive range of quality emollients designed to manage dry skin conditions, including eczema. 
To simplify the process of finding the most suitable emollient for each patient, they have developed a remarkable solution: the AproDerm Emollient Starter Pack. This pack conveniently combines all four of their emollients in a single prescription, enabling patients to identify their ideal emollient more efficiently, aiding both compliance and adherence. 
Find out more: https://aproderm.com/aproderm-emollient-starter-pack/ 
TW: https://twitter.com/AproDerm 
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fontus-health-ltd/ 
Thank you for listening. We hope you found this podcast interesting and helpful, please leave us a review or email info@aproderm.com with any feedback on this episode or suggestions for what you would like to hear about in future podcasts. 
The views expressed in this podcast are of Dr George Moncrieff and Dr Roger Henderson and Fontus Health has not influenced, participated, or been involved in the programme, materials, or delivery of educational content.

Eczema (Part 1) - It’s not just itchy skin

In the first episode of this three-part series on eczema Dr Henderson and Dr Moncrieff examine the various factors that have contributed to the rapid increase in eczema since World War II as well as the relationship between atopic eczema, asthma, and hay fever, known as the atopic march.
They will examine the causes and diagnosis of eczema in children and adults, including how its appearance differs in skin of colour, whilst sharing with you the tell-tale signs of scratching.
“The average patient with moderate eczema is having about nine flares a year. Severe eczema is 11, that's almost one a month. And each of these flares is taking two to three weeks to settle. So you can see that a lot of our patients with eczema are just rebounding, ricocheting from one flare to another” Dr Moncrieff.
With this in mind, they discuss the complexities of flare-ups, from the impact of the environment through to infection, adherence and compliance, and the importance of not just treating the flare.
From this episode, you will take away…
The causes of atopic eczema and tips on diagnosing eczema in children and adults taking into account skin of colour
Understanding the impact of eczema symptoms on the patient and why a holistic treatment approach is always best
The complexities of a flare and effective management strategies
Episode resources:
mySkinHealth App: https://www.myskinhealth.org/
Thank you to our kind sponsor AproDerm, who provide a comprehensive range of quality emollients that are designed for the management of dry skin conditions, including eczema.
To simplify the process of finding the most suitable emollient for each patient, they have developed a remarkable solution: the AproDerm Emollient Starter Pack. This pack conveniently combines all four of their emollients in a single prescription, enabling patients to identify their ideal emollient more efficiently, aiding both compliance and adherence.
Find out more: https://aproderm.com/aproderm-emollient-starter-pack/
TW: https://twitter.com/AproDerm
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fontus-health-ltd/
Thank you for listening. We hope you found this podcast interesting and helpful, please leave us a review or email info@aproderm.com with any feedback on this episode or suggestions for what you would like to hear about in future podcasts.
The views expressed in this podcast are of Dr George Moncrieff and Dr Roger Henderson and Fontus Health has not influenced, participated, or been involved in the programme, materials, or delivery of educational content.
 

Psoriasis (Part 3) - Managing the tricky patterns

In this final instalment of our three-part series on psoriasis, Dr George Moncrieff and Dr Roger Henderson discuss the management of challenging psoriasis patterns such as guttate psoriasis, flexural psoriasis, nail psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and palmoplantar pustulosis. In addition, the experts explore the impact of psoriasis on patients' self-esteem and relationships, especially when the affected areas involve the face and genital regions. 
During this engaging episode, the two experienced GPs will share their extensive knowledge and insights on the various treatment approaches that they have successfully used on their patients throughout their careers. They discuss the effectiveness of different interventions, ranging from emollients and tars to steroids whilst also touching on soap avoidance, the effects of smoking and natural sunlight therapy. 
In addition to being upskilled on the various treatment options, Dr Moncrieff and Dr Henderson will leave you with the following five key takeaways:  
The role of emollients 
The significance of doing and reviewing a DLQI 
The importance of doing a QRISK  
Always keeping psoriatic arthritis on your radar 
The impact of smoking  
So, tune in to this podcast and gain practical tips on managing tricky psoriasis sites on your patients.  
Episode Resources:  
PEST: https://www.jrheum.org/content/38/3/551 
DLQI: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8033378/ 
QRISK: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs40/chapter/quality-statement-4-assessing-cardiovascular-risk 
The Skin I’m In: https://youtu.be/UW9K1m4bZ04  
Thank you to our kind sponsor AproDerm, who provide a comprehensive range of quality emollients that are designed for the management of dry skin conditions, including psoriasis. 
To simplify the process of finding the most suitable emollient for each patient, they have developed a remarkable solution: the AproDerm Emollient Starter Pack. This pack conveniently combines all four of their emollients in a single prescription, enabling patients to identify their ideal emollient more efficiently, aiding both compliance and adherence. 
Find out more: 
TW: https://twitter.com/AproDerm 
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fontus-health-ltd/ 
Thank you for listening. We hope you found this podcast interesting and helpful, please leave us a review or email info@aproderm.com with any feedback on this episode or suggestions for what you would like to hear about in future podcasts. 
The views expressed in this podcast are of Dr George Moncrieff and Dr Roger Henderson and Fontus Health has not influenced, participated, or been involved in the programme, materials, or delivery of educational content.

Psoriasis (Part 2) - Getting the scale of treatment right

This second episode is bursting with the possible treatment options available in primary care for the management of psoriasis. Join Dr George Moncrieff and Dr Roger Henderson as they discuss how they get their patients psoriasis under control using coal tars, topical steroids, vitamin D analogues, and their favourite combination product, whilst touching on how biologics have changed the psoriasis landscape.
 
Listen along to hear their perspective on the NICE guidelines and to find out how they prioritise a clinical and health excellence approach for treating psoriasis with their patients, valuing patient wellbeing and immediate results.
 
Thank you to our kind sponsor AproDerm, who provide a comprehensive range of quality emollients that are designed for the management of dry skin conditions, including psoriasis.
 
To simplify the process of finding the most suitable emollient for each patient, they have developed a remarkable solution: the AproDerm Emollient Starter Pack. This pack conveniently combines all four of their emollients in a single prescription, enabling patients to identify their ideal emollient more efficiently, aiding both compliance and adherence.
 
Find out more:
 
TW: https://twitter.com/AproDerm
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fontus-health-ltd/
 
Thank you for listening.
 
The views expressed in this podcast are of Dr George Moncrieff and Dr Roger Henderson and Fontus Health has not influenced, participated, or been involved in the programme, materials, or delivery of educational content.

Psoriasis (Part 1) - More than just a troublesome rash

Tune in as Dr George Moncrieff and Dr Roger Henderson discuss psoriasis in this first of three episodes where they explore the causes, prevalence, triggers, and psychological impacts this inflammatory disease has on patients' lives.
 
Thank you to our kind sponsor AproDerm, providing a comprehensive range of quality emollients that are designed for the management of dry skin conditions, including psoriasis. To simplify the process of finding the most suitable emollient for each patient, they have developed a remarkable solution: the AproDerm Emollient Starter Pack. This pack conveniently combines all four of their emollients in a single prescription, enabling patients to identify their ideal emollient more efficiently, aiding both compliance and adherence.
 
Find out more:
 
AproDerm Emollient Starter Pack
 
TW: https://twitter.com/AproDerm
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fontus-health-ltd/
 
Thank you for listening. 
 
The views expressed in this podcast are of Dr George Moncrieff and Dr Roger Henderson and Fontus Health has not influenced, participated, or been involved in the programme, materials, or delivery of educational content.

Rash Decisions Trailer

Aimed at healthcare professionals and co-hosted by Dr George Moncrieff and Dr Roger Henderson, these Rash Decisions podcasts will delve deep into the world of dermatology. This immersive series will help to strengthen your understanding and broaden your skill set in this vitally important clinical area by bridging the gap in recognising, diagnosing and treating a wide range of skin conditions. From acne, eczema, psoriasis and rosacea through to melanomas to name a few, they’ve got you covered.
With over 70 years of combined experience in general practice, the two hosts will share their first-hand experiences of the symptoms, triggers and real-life impacts they have witnessed while treating these and many other skin conditions...and all in concise 20-30 minute episodes!
With a new episode dropping every three weeks, Rash Decisions is your gateway to regular exceptional expertise, equipping you with invaluable knowledge and practical tips, to enhance your patient care. It’s time to take your dermatology understanding to new heights!
Follow the Rash Decisions podcasts today!
Thank you to our kind sponsor AproDerm, an emollient range that is suitable from birth and free from common irritants and sensitisers, making them ideal for eczema, psoriasis, ichthyosis and other dry skin conditions.  
For more information, visit: https://aproderm.com/healthcare-professionals/
Stay updated on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AproDerm 
Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fontus-health-ltd/