Translate this page into:
Clinical pearl: Tea-spoon as a novel applicator of topical preparations on the upper back
*Corresponding author: Muhammed Mukhtar, MD Consultant Dermatologist, Katihar Medical College Road, Katihar - 854 105, Bihar, India. drmmukhtar20@gmail.com
-
Received: ,
Accepted: ,
How to cite this article: Mukhtar M. Clinical pearl: Tea-spoon as a novel applicator of topical preparations on the upper back. CosmoDerma 2022;2:107.
PROBLEM
Self-application of topical drugs on the upper back is challenging for all patients because the scapular and interscapular areas of the back are inaccessible to the hands.[1,2] According to personal experience, there is a risk of tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) when self-application of topical over the area with extra effort is attempted. As a result, the patients become dependent on others for upper back topical therapy.
SOLUTION
To overcome the aforementioned concerns, we recommend a teaspoon (5 ml, 8″ long or more) as an innovative and simple-to-apply topical applicator [Figure 1]. First, a spoon is used to apply the needed amount of topical medication (5 ml) to the upper back. The medicine is, then, applied from above and on both sides of the back, focusing on the scapular, interscapular, and inaccessible regions [Video 1]. Following that, any remaining cream on the back’s perimeter is manually rubbed. Thus, using the spoon, the topical treatment may be simply applied to the inaccessible portion of the back. When dealing with a small area, topicals are put on the back side of a spoon and applied to the affected area using a mirror.
- Teaspoon of 8″ long with 5 ml lotion before application on the back.
Video 1:
Video 1:The lotion is poured on the upper back and applied with help of the spoon from above and sides of the upper back.Declaration of patient consent
Patients’ consent not required as patients’ identity is not disclosed or compromised.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
Videos available online at
10.25259/ CSDM_127_2022
References
- Innovative method for self-application of topical preparations on inaccessible sites. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021;84:e225-6.
- [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Home-made topical therapy back applicator. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2022;47:1593-954.
- [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
