Lesson 1How findings guide management decisions: matching signs to medical vs aesthetic priorities and staging treatmentThis section explains how to convert clinical findings into phased management, separating urgent medical needs from aesthetic goals, prioritising safety, and ordering therapies to maximise efficacy, minimal downtime, and lasting skin health.
Separating medical and aesthetic prioritiesIdentifying red flags needing referralStaging acute, corrective, and maintenance careBalancing efficacy, downtime, and riskAdapting plans to evolving clinical responseLesson 2Targeted symptom review: acne history, flare triggers, atopic background, photosensitivityThis section covers focused questioning for acne, atopy, and photosensitivity, helping you spot flare triggers, patterns over time, and systemic links that sharpen differential diagnosis and direct both medical and aesthetic treatments.
Key acne history elements and chronicityIdentifying internal and external flare triggersAssessing atopic and allergic backgroundEvaluating photosensitivity and phototoxicityLinking symptoms to systemic red flagsLesson 3Comprehensive dermatologic history-taking: medical, dermatologic, medication, allergy, hormonal, and family historyHere you will master structuring a full dermatologic history, weaving in medical conditions, past skin issues, medications, allergies, hormonal influences, and family history to foresee risks, hone diagnosis, and personalise combined treatment plans.
Core medical comorbidities to documentPast dermatologic diagnoses and coursesMedication, supplement, and topical reviewDrug allergies and adverse skin reactionsHormonal and reproductive history pointsFamily history of dermatoses and cancersLesson 4Clinical scoring tools and scales: acne severity (IGA, GAGS), hyperpigmentation indices, photoaging scales, and quality-of-life measuresThis section introduces validated clinical scoring tools for acne, hyperpigmentation, and photoaging, along with quality-of-life measures, teaching you how to choose, use, and interpret them to standardise assessments, track improvement, and educate patients.
Choosing appropriate acne severity scalesHyperpigmentation and melasma indicesPhotoaging and photodamage grading toolsDermatology quality-of-life instrumentsUsing scores to monitor treatment responseLesson 5Focused aesthetic history: prior procedures, expectations, risk tolerance, desire for "natural" resultsYou will learn to gather a targeted aesthetic history, probing past procedures, satisfaction levels, expectations, risk comfort, and preference for natural looks, to enable realistic planning, informed consent, and avoidance of dissatisfaction or complications.
Documenting prior aesthetic proceduresExploring motivations and treatment goalsAssessing risk tolerance and downtime limitsClarifying desire for subtle versus dramatic changeScreening for unrealistic expectationsLesson 6Objective photographic documentation: standardised lighting, views, scales, and serial comparisonYou will grasp principles of standardised clinical photography, covering lighting, camera settings, patient positioning, and scale use, for dependable before-after comparisons, outcome records, and smooth communication with patients and colleagues.
Setting up consistent lighting and backgroundStandard facial and body view protocolsCamera settings and distance standardizationUse of reference scales and color chartsOrganizing and securing image archivesLesson 7Structured skin examination: lesion morphology, distribution, skin type (Fitzpatrick), photodamage grading, pore size, texture, atrophy, scarringThis section teaches a full-body skin exam suited to combined care, stressing lesion shapes, spread, Fitzpatrick skin type, sun damage grading, pores, texture, thinning, and scars for precise diagnosis and aesthetic planning.
Systematic regional skin inspectionDescribing primary and secondary lesionsDetermining Fitzpatrick and Glogau typeGrading photodamage and dyschromiaAssessing texture, pores, and laxityCharacterizing scars and atrophy patternsLesson 8Lifestyle and skincare assessment: products, routines, sun exposure, smoking, diet, sleepHere you will evaluate lifestyle and skincare habits, like product choices, routines, sun exposure, smoking, diet, and sleep, spotting changeable factors that aggravate conditions or hinder aesthetic results, and advising patients wisely.
Analyzing current skincare products and stepsAssessing UV exposure and photoprotectionEvaluating smoking, vaping, and pollutionDietary patterns affecting skin healthSleep, stress, and circadian disruptionDesigning realistic behavior change plans
