Final answer:
Lidoderm patches should be applied up to 3 times per day for up to 12 hours to the painful area. Overexposure to sun resulting in pain and blisters suggests damage to the epidermis and potentially the dermis layers of the skin.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question asks how many Lidoderm patches should be applied to a painful area per day for up to 12 hours. The correct answer to the question is: Lidoderm should be applied to the painful area, up to 3 patches per day for up to 12 hours/day. However, as this is a medication, these instructions can vary based on a doctor's specific recommendation for a patient's unique circumstance. Always follow the guidance of a healthcare provider when using prescription medications like Lidoderm. To answer the secondary question, sunbathing for too long and experiencing pain and blisters indicate damage to the epidermis and possibly the dermis layers of the skin. These two layers are the most superficial parts of the skin and are typically the first to be damaged by excessive UV exposure, leading to conditions like sunburn.