Lesson 1How findings guide management decisions: matching signs to medical vs aesthetic priorities and staging treatmentThis section explains how to translate clinical findings into staged management, distinguishing urgent medical needs from aesthetic goals, prioritizing safety, and sequencing therapies to optimize efficacy, downtime, and long-term skin health outcomes.
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 details targeted questioning for acne, atopy, and photosensitivity, teaching you to identify flare triggers, temporal patterns, and systemic associations that refine differential diagnosis and guide both medical and aesthetic treatment choices.
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 learn to structure a complete dermatologic history, integrating medical comorbidities, prior skin disease, medications, allergies, hormonal factors, and family patterns to anticipate risks, refine diagnosis, and individualize 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 covers validated clinical scoring tools for acne, hyperpigmentation, and photoaging, plus quality-of-life indices, showing how to select, apply, and interpret scales to standardize assessment, track progress, and support patient education.
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 obtain a focused aesthetic history, exploring prior procedures, satisfaction, expectations, risk tolerance, and preferences for natural results, enabling realistic planning, informed consent, and prevention of dissatisfaction or harm.
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: standardized lighting, views, scales, and serial comparisonYou will learn principles of standardized clinical photography, including lighting, camera settings, patient positioning, and use of scales, enabling reliable serial comparison, outcome documentation, and clear communication with patients and teams.
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 head-to-toe skin examination tailored to combined care, emphasizing lesion morphology, distribution, Fitzpatrick type, photodamage, texture, pores, atrophy, and scarring to support accurate 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 learn to evaluate lifestyle and skincare behaviors, including product use, routines, sun exposure, smoking, diet, and sleep, identifying modifiable factors that worsen disease or impair aesthetic outcomes and counseling patients effectively.
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
