Eczema, Urticaria and Skin Allergy

Module overview

This module can be taken as part of one of our awards (PG Cert, PG Diploma, MSc) or as a short course with or without completing the assessment. During this module, you will explore all aspects of allergic skin disease in depth. The module teaches about the immunological basis for skin diseases which can have an allergic component including eczema (atopic dermatitis), allergic contact dermatitis, photoallergic dermatitis, urticaria, angioedema, and systemic allergies affecting the skin. The sessions will include details on pathogenesis, diagnosis, investigations and management. In addition, the module covers how to clinically distinguish allergic skin disease from other similar differential diagnoses. This module comprehensively covers both paediatric and adult disease and throughout, you will explore topics by interpreting clinical scenarios to reinforce your learning. Our online module is delivered using a blend of live teaching sessions and pre-recorded sessions. You are expected to attend live sessions is strongly encouraged as it allows you to engage with our expert teachers and your fellow students and benefit from rich discussions. Our recorded sessions allow you to learn at your convenience within each teaching week. Most of our students continue to work while studying and benefit from this flexibility. Engaging with our blended learning each teaching week allows you to build on and synthesise your learning as you go. This module is taught once a year and typically involves approximately 10 hours of student engagement per week.

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods

This online module is a blend of live teaching and pre-recorded sessions providing a flexible learning environment that gives you control over your studies. You should plan your time so that you can attend our live teaching and make the most of being able to take part in rich discussions and interact with the teaching staff and your fellow students. A variety of online learning and teaching methods will be adopted to promote the development of a wide range of skills. Specialist lecturers from a range of academic and health care professional backgrounds will ensure a breadth and depth of perspective is offered, giving a good balance between background theories, principles and practical management options. In addition, by sharing their experience of living with allergy, patients will give an insight into their perspective, enabling you to develop your patient-centred approach. As well as the live teaching and recorded sessions, we offer online tutorials to support your learning.

Study time
Type	Hours
Tutorial	2
Independent Study	75
Teaching	23
Total study time	100

Resources & Reading list

General Resources

American Academy of Dermatology Guidelines of care for the management of atopic dermatitis. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2014 Section 1-4.

Useful Journals:. These include: Allergy Clinical Experimental Allergy Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Internet Resources

Resources for skin of colour: (3) Centre of Evidence Based Dermatology Skin of Colour Resource.

The Dermatology: Handbook for medical students & junior doctors.

Resources for skin of colour: (1) Skin deep.

Resources for skin of colour: (2) Black and Brown Skin.

Resources for skin of colour: (4) Mind the Gap: A handbook of clinical signs in Black and Brown skin.

Textbooks

Griffiths CEM, Barker J, Bleiker T, et al. (2016). Atopic Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) In Rook's Textbook of Dermatology. Wiley Blackwell (available as an e-book from our library).

Ardern-Jones MR, Hampton PJ, Vleugels RA (2017). Handbook of Dermatology Treatment. London: JP Medical.

Gawkrodger D and Ardern-Jones MR (2016). Dermatology: An Illustrated Colour Text. Elsevier (available as pdf from our library).

Assessment

Assessment strategy

The assessment for the module provides you with the opportunity to achieve the learning outcomes by demonstrating the depth and breadth of your knowledge of allergic skin disease, and your ability to apply this in clinical contexts. There is one assessed component which is based on a clinical case. The pass mark for the module is 50%. If you have failed the module, the Board of Examiners may offer you the opportunity to submit work at the next referral (re-sit) opportunity. The referral mark will be capped at 50%. If you fail a referral opportunity, the Board of Examiners may offer you the opportunity to repeat the module. The repeat module mark will be capped at 50%.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Assignment	100%

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Assignment	100%

Repeat Information

Repeat type: External