Lesson 1How findings guide management decisions: matching signs to medical vs aesthetic priorities and staging treatmentThis part explains how to turn clinical findings into phased management, separating urgent medical issues from aesthetic goals, putting safety first, and ordering therapies to boost effectiveness, reduce downtime, and improve long-term skin health for local 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 part covers focused questions on acne, atopy, and sun sensitivity, helping you spot flare causes, time patterns, and body-wide links that sharpen diagnosis and direct both medical and aesthetic treatments suitable for Zimbabwe.
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 learn to build a full skin history, mixing in other health issues, past skin problems, medicines, allergies, hormone factors, and family traits to predict risks, hone diagnosis, and customise combined treatment plans for diverse patients.
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 part looks at proven scoring tools for acne, dark spots, and sun damage, plus life quality measures, teaching how to pick, use, and read scales to standardise checks, follow progress, and educate patients effectively in 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 targeted aesthetic history, looking at past treatments, satisfaction, hopes, risk levels, and wish for natural looks, allowing realistic planning, informed agreement, and avoiding unhappiness or injury in consultations.
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 standard clinical photos, covering lights, camera setups, patient positions, and scale use, for reliable before-after comparisons, recording results, and clear talks with patients and teams in Zimbabwe 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 part teaches a full-body skin check fitted for mixed care, stressing lesion shapes, spread, Fitzpatrick skin type, sun damage levels, texture, pores, thinning, and scars to aid correct diagnosis and aesthetic planning locally.
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 learn to check lifestyle and skincare habits, like product use, daily routines, sun time, smoking, eating, and rest, finding changeable factors that harm skin or aesthetic results and advising patients well in Zimbabwe.
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
