Dermatology: Pruritic Skin Disease Distance Education

Develop a logical, problem-based approach to investigating pruritic skin cases.

Skin problems are among the most common reasons for presentation in general practice. The CVE Dermatology Distance Education Program is a modular course designed to equip you with the practical skills necessary to work up and resolve these often-recurrent cases, minimising frustration for both the owner and clinician. 

The Dermatology: Pruritic Skin Disease DE course covers various common causes of pruritus, including insect hypersensitivities, atopic and contact dermatitis, as well as food allergies, Malassezia dermatitis, and pruritic parasitic skin diseases. It also reviews the pathophysiology of pruritus, including neurogenic and psychogenic pruritus, with an emphasis on current and upcoming treatment modalities.

While the focus is on enhancing your personal, logical approach to case management, this course provides the latest information on a wide range of conditions and introduces the latest evidence-based treatment options. Ultimately, gaining more confidence in your abilities to manage skin patients will lead to higher job satisfaction.

Introductory module: Begin with our comprehensive introductory module that lays the foundation for dermatological assessment, including practical skills like microscopy and skin biopsy sampling, which you can complete online. This introductory module is compulsory but only needs to be completed once. If you have previously completed this module as part of the Dermatology: Pruritic Skin Disease Distance Education course, you don't need to repeat it, and your first module starts on March 1, 2025.

Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Develop a logical, problem-based approach to the investigation of pruritic skin cases.
• Choose relevant tests based on clinical signs and history and feel confident regarding the minimum database required to reach a definitive diagnosis for each pruritic patient.
• Provide your clients and patients with the latest evidence-based treatments for a range of pruritic diseases.
• Consider the cost-benefit analysis of each treatment.

Modules

• Introductory Module* 
• Pruritus - understanding pathophysiology will affect your approach and treatments.
• Insect bite hypersensitivities in the dog and cat - when to use what.
• Atopic Dermatitis - recognize the many flare factors and optimize management.
• Contact Dermatitis - although the least common allergy, this can be tricky.
• Food Allergy - diets, alternative tests and long-term options.
• Malassezia Dermatitis - as it relates to the management of pruritus.
• Pruritic Parasitic Skin Diseases 

* The introductory module only needs to be completed once so if you have already completed this module, as part of another CVE Dermatology course, you do not need to enroll in it again. In this case, please select the course registration option that excludes the introductory module.

Workshop/s

• 1-day workshop as part of the introductory module (if not completed previously)
• 1-day workshop as part of the Pruritic Skin Disease Distance Education course.

Dermatology Program

Our year-long Dermatology Distance Education program has been broken down into 3 manageable and independent parts: Pruritic Skin Disease, Infectious Skin Disease and Advanced Dermatology.

Each is a discrete course on its own but together they form a formidable dermatology educational program. Each course has an interactive workshop – a major drawcard – where you have the opportunity to apply the theory you have learnt under the watchful eye of your tutor. You also benefit from the group experience of learning with, and from, your peers.

The introductory dermatology module is a prerequisite for Pruritic Skin Disease and Infectious Skin Disease courses while you must complete either Pruritic or Infectious Skin Disease course to enrol in the Advanced Dermatology Distance Education course.

Related courses

• Infectious Skin Disease Distance Education Starts May 2025
• Advanced Dermatology Distance Education Starts September 2024

Tutors

Sonya Bettenay, Stefan Hobi & Ralf Mueller