Antiviral and Ectoparasitic Agents in Aesthetic Nursing

Viruses

• Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites that lack a cell wall and membrane, and don't carry out metabolic processes.
• Viruses use the host's metabolic machinery, making it challenging to find selective drugs that prevent viral replication without harming infected host cells.

Herpes Virus Infection

• Herpes viruses are associated with a broad spectrum of diseases, including cold sores, viral encephalitis, and genital infections.
• Effective drugs against herpes viruses exert their actions during the acute phase of viral infections, with no effect during the latent phase.

Topical Antiviral Agents

• Acyclovir, valacyclovir, penciclovir, and famciclovir are synthetic guanine analogs that inhibit herpesvirus family members, including herpes simplex types 1 and 2.
• Permethrin is a topical antiparasitic agent used to treat scabies; a single application of 5% cream is applied to the body from the neck down, left on for 8-14 hours, and then washed off.

Crotamiton

• Crotamiton is a scabicide with antipruritic properties, but its mechanism of action is unknown.
• It's available as a 10% cream or lotion, and treatment involves two applications to the entire body from the chin down at 24-hour intervals, with a cleansing bath 48 hours after the last application.

Sulfur

• Sulfur has a long history as a scabicide, but it's non-irritating, has an unpleasant odor, and is staining.
• It remains an alternative drug for use in infants and pregnant women, available as 5% precipitated sulfur in petrolatum.

Benzyl Alcohol

• Benzyl alcohol is available as a 5% lotion for the treatment of head lice in patients older than 6 months.
• The lotion is applied to dry hair and left on for 10 minutes prior to rinsing off with water, and the treatment must be repeated after 7 days.

Keratolytic and Destructive Agents

• Keratolytics break down the outer layers of the skin, including salicylic acid (2%-10%), urea (20%-40%), and alpha-hydroxy acids (glycolic and lactic acids).
• Keratolytic agents are effective in localized psoriasis, especially on the scalp, and improve corticosteroid penetration.

Salicylic Acid

• Salicylic acid is a keratolytic agent used extensively in dermatologic therapy.
• It produces its keratolytic and therapeutic effects by solubilizing cell surface proteins that keep the stratum corneum intact, resulting in desquamation of keratotic debris.

Propylene Glycol

• Propylene glycol is used extensively in topical preparations as a vehicle for organic compounds.
• It's an effective keratolytic agent for the removal of hyperkeratotic debris, and increases the water content of the stratum corneum.

Urea

• Urea has a softening and moisturizing effect on the stratum corneum, making creams and lotions feel less greasy.
• It increases the water content of the stratum corneum, and is also keratolytic, breaking down prekeratin and keratin and solubilizing hydrogen bonds that keep the stratum corneum intact.

This quiz covers topical antiviral and ectoparasitic infections, as well as keratolytic agents, specifically in the context of aesthetic nursing. It explores the characteristics of viruses and their interactions with host cells. Test your knowledge of these important concepts in nursing.