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. 1991 Nov;16(6):444-7.
doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.1991.tb01232.x.

The finger-tip unit--a new practical measure

C C Long  1 , A Y Finlay
Affiliations

The finger-tip unit--a new practical measure

C C Long et al. Clin Exp Dermatol. 1991 Nov.

Abstract

A finger-tip unit (FTU) is the amount of 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 covers 286 cm2 (s.d. +/- 80, n = 30). In males one FTU covers 312 cm2 (s.d. +/- 90, n = 16) and in females 257 cm2 (s.d. +/- 55, n = 14). The use of the FTU in dermatological prescribing provides a readily understandable measure for both patients and doctor.

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