Dermatology, stroke and mental health

Agenda

• 30 min

  Malignant and non-malignant skin lesions

  This presentation will explore how to differentiate between malignant and non-malignant skin lesions by using key clinical signs and recognizing red flag indicators. It will also outline a variety of less commonly encountered skin lesions, such as acral lentiginous melanoma and pre-cancerous lesions. Additionally, the session will consider the benefits of using dermoscopy techniques for lesion assessment, offering an introduction to identifying key patterns in suspicious lesions to enhance the quality of referrals.

• 30 min

  Mental health and dermatology

  This presentation will explore the psychological impact of dermatological conditions, including the distress associated with visible conditions, and review the support available to patients. It will revisit the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) as a tool to assess how skin conditions affect patients’ quality of life. The session will also examine the influence of social media trends, such as “skinfluencers”, on patient behaviours and self-image. Finally, it will discuss problematic skin practices promoted through social media and suggest healthier alternatives for effective patient education.

• 30 min

  Skin health and sunlight

  This presentation will explore the effects of sunlight on skin health, including UV-induced ageing and the risk of skin cancers. It will review conditions that are improved by sunlight alongside those that are worsened, discussing the balance between the benefits and risks of sunlight exposure for different patient groups. The session will also identify strategies for counselling patients on safe sunlight exposure and recommending effective photoprotection measures.

• 30 min

  Stroke and transient ischaemic attack (TIA) in over 16s: diagnosis and initial management

  Here we discuss our top tips for how to differentiate a TIA from other conditions, the TIA primary care management checklist and the wide range of ways that a stroke may present, with a special focus on posterior circulation strokes, which are often misdiagnosed.

• 30 min

  Young people and alcohol

  The media often informs us that young people today are turning away from alcohol. We explore the truth behind these headlines, take a closer look at the latest research on the effects that alcohol has on brain development in adolescents and discuss the support we can give in primary care.

• 30 min

  Perinatal mental health problems

  We review the 2023 SIGN guidelines on perinatal mental health conditions. Key topics covered include the red flag symptoms to ask women about to assess their suicide risk and the recommended ways of managing perinatal mental health problems, including tokophobia, birth trauma and postpartum psychosis.