Lesson 1How findings guide management decisions: matching signs to medical vs aesthetic priorities and staging treatmentThis section explains how to turn clinical findings into staged management, separating urgent medical needs from aesthetic goals, prioritising safety, and ordering therapies to improve efficacy, reduce downtime, and support long-term skin health for diverse Zambian patients.
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 targeted questions for acne, atopy, and photosensitivity, helping you spot flare triggers, time patterns, and body-wide links that sharpen differential diagnosis and direct both medical and aesthetic treatments suitable for local contexts.
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 build a full dermatologic history, combining medical conditions, past skin issues, medicines, allergies, hormonal factors, and family traits to predict risks, improve diagnosis, and customise combined treatment plans for Zambian individuals.
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 discusses proven clinical scoring tools for acne, hyperpigmentation, and photoaging, plus quality-of-life measures, showing how to choose, use, and read scales to standardise assessments, track changes, and educate patients in everyday Zambian practice.
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 focused aesthetic history, looking into past procedures, satisfaction, expectations, risk tolerance, and liking for natural results, allowing realistic planning, informed agreement, and avoiding unhappiness or harm in local settings.
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 learn rules for standardised clinical photography, including lighting, camera settings, patient position, and scale use, enabling reliable before-and-after comparisons, result recording, and clear talks with patients and teams in Zambian clinics.
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 head-to-toe skin check suited to combined care, stressing lesion shape, spread, Fitzpatrick type, sun damage, texture, pores, thinning, and scars to aid accurate diagnosis and aesthetic planning for Zambian skin diversity.
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 check lifestyle and skincare habits, including product use, routines, sun exposure, smoking, diet, and sleep, finding changeable factors that worsen illness or affect aesthetic results and advising patients well in Zambian life.
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
