A 20-year-old college student comes to see you in the office for a physical exam before leaving for a vacation. She plans to go to the Caribbean for a two-week summer break. She has no medical problems. She takes an oral contraceptive pill regularly. She denies smoking, but admits to occasional alcohol intake on weekends. She plans to be out in the sun a lot, and is concerned about the possible skin damage from excessive sun exposure. You counsel her on sun protective behaviors and advise her to use a sunscreen with a SPF of 15 or more. Which of the following measures should you recommend to help her prevent or reduce further skin damage?

Question

A 20-year-old college student comes to see you in the office for a physical exam before leaving for a vacation.  She plans to go to the Caribbean for a two-week summer break.  She has no medical problems.  She takes an oral contraceptive pill regularly.  She denies smoking, but admits to occasional alcohol intake on weekends.  She plans to be out in the sun a lot, and is concerned about the possible skin damage from excessive sun exposure.  You counsel her on sun protective behaviors and advise her to use a sunscreen with a SPF of 15 or more.  Which of the following measures should you recommend to help her prevent or reduce further skin damage?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Explanation: Sun exposure or UV radiation-induced skin damage (sunburn) and risk of malignancy is a common and preventable problem. Dehydration is another cause which can aggravate skin damage by causing intracellular damage and cell death. All persons, especially those at high risk of exposure, should be counseled regarding the harmful effects of prolonged sun exposure and the ways to prevent it. Such patients should be advised to use sun protective behaviors, protective barriers (e.g., clothing and sunscreens), and perform measures to maintain adequate hydration. (Choices A, B, C and E)Sea foods, corticosteroid creams, avoiding alcoholic beverages, and vitamin E have not been shown to prevent skin damage caused by excessive sun exposure. Educational objective: Sun protective behaviors, sunscreens, and maintaining adequate hydration are the key factors to prevent skin damage from sun exposure.

A 20-Year-Old College Student Comes to See You in the Office