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The finger‐tip unit—a new practical measure
Author(s) -
LONG C.C.,
FINLAY A.Y.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
clinical and experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1365-2230
pISSN - 0307-6938
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2230.1991.tb01232.x
Subject(s) - trunk , medicine , forearm , nuclear medicine , thigh , forehead , anatomy , surgery , biology , ecology
Summary A finger‐tip unit (FTU) is the amount (if ointment expressed from a tube with a 5 mm diameter nozzle, applied from the distal skin‐crease to the tip of the index finger. Thirty adult‐patients treated various anatomical regions using FTU's of ointment. The number of FTU's required was: face and neck 2.5 (s.d. +0.8); front of trunk 6.7(s.d.± 1.7); back of trunk 6.8 (s.d. ±1.2); arm and forearm 3.3 (s.d. ±1.0); hand 1.2 (s.d. ±0.4); leg and thigh 5.8 (s.d. ±1.7); foot 1.8 (s.d. ±0.6). One FTU rovers 286 cm 2 (s.d. ±80, n = 30). In males one FTU covers 312 cm 2 (s.d. ±90, n =16) and in females 257 cm 2 (s.d. ± 55, n =14). The use of the FTU in dermatological prescribing provides a readily understandable measure for both patients and doctor.