FAC Facial Aesthetics Skin Evaluation & Treatment Techniques 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient presents with erythema, scaling, and pruritus on the cheeks and nasolabial folds. Which condition does this most likely represent?
- Seborrheic dermatitis (Correct answer)
- Rosacea
- Contact dermatitis
- Lupus erythematosus
Correct answer: Seborrheic dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitis characteristically affects sebaceous gland-rich areas including the nasolabial folds and presents with erythema, greasy scaling, and itch.
Question 2: When performing a Fitzpatrick skin type assessment, a patient reports they always tan and never burn. Which Fitzpatrick type does this describe?
- Type II
- Type III
- Type IV (Correct answer)
- Type V
Correct answer: Type IV
Fitzpatrick Type IV describes skin that always tans and rarely to never burns, typically associated with olive to moderate brown complexions.
Question 3: Which layer of the skin is primarily responsible for barrier function and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) regulation?
- Stratum spinosum
- Stratum granulosum
- Stratum corneum (Correct answer)
- Stratum basale
Correct answer: Stratum corneum
The stratum corneum acts as the primary epidermal barrier, controlling TEWL through its lipid-rich intercellular matrix.
Question 4: A chemical peel using 30% salicylic acid is classified as which type of peel depth?
- Very superficial
- Superficial (Correct answer)
- Medium
- Deep
Correct answer: Superficial
Salicylic acid peels at concentrations of 20–30% are classified as superficial peels, targeting the stratum corneum to upper epidermis.
Question 5: During skin evaluation, Glogau classification is used primarily to assess what aspect of skin aging?
- Skin laxity and volume loss
- Degree of photoaging and wrinkle severity (Correct answer)
- Pigmentation uniformity
- Vascular lesion burden
Correct answer: Degree of photoaging and wrinkle severity
The Glogau photoaging classification (Types I–IV) categorizes the severity of photoaging based on wrinkling, keratoses, and skin texture changes.
Question 6: Which modality is most appropriate as a first-line treatment for mild-to-moderate inflammatory acne without significant scarring?
- Isotretinoin monotherapy
- Topical retinoid combined with benzoyl peroxide (Correct answer)
- Laser ablation
- Intralesional corticosteroid injections
Correct answer: Topical retinoid combined with benzoyl peroxide
Current evidence-based guidelines recommend a combination of topical retinoid and benzoyl peroxide as first-line therapy for mild-to-moderate inflammatory acne.
Question 7: A patient with active cold sores (herpes labialis) presents for a perioral laser resurfacing procedure. What is the correct course of action?
- Proceed with treatment using reduced energy settings
- Postpone treatment and prescribe prophylactic antiviral therapy (Correct answer)
- Apply topical anesthetic and proceed normally
- Treat only areas away from the lesions
Correct answer: Postpone treatment and prescribe prophylactic antiviral therapy
Active herpes labialis is a contraindication for laser resurfacing; treatment must be postponed and antiviral prophylaxis initiated to prevent viral dissemination.
FAC Facial Aesthetics Skin Evaluation & Treatment Techniques 2
A patient presents with erythema, scaling, and pruritus on the cheeks and nasolabial folds.
Which condition does this most likely represent?