Dermatology

This 25-year-old African-American man has had this papular rash for the last 2 years following a short haircut. Initially he had pustules, itching and inflammation but currently only has itching papules that are slowly enlarging. Triamcinolone 0.1% ointment has helped the itching. Past history and remainder of physical examination is noncontributory.

The FDA rightfully cracked down on compounding pharmacies under a 2013 law brought on by 64 deaths traced to contaminated drugs at a dirty compounding facility. But physicians are concerned the FDA's new powers could end in-office compounding for individual patients, a common practice in many medical specialities.

Data from the CDC show that only 14.3 percent of men and 29.9 percent of women report they regularly use sunscreen, even when they are outside in the sun for more than an hour.

A recent study compared patient education efforts using traditional websites with offerings that included automated online counseling for adolescent acne sufferers.

A report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that melanoma incidence rates in the US have doubled throughout the last three decades.

While most cases of shingles typically clear up in a matter of a few weeks, the condition has the ability to cause long-term problems.

Considering possible legal ramifications, an opinion piece published in JAMA Dermatology has urged universities to cut business ties with tanning salons.

In elderly patients who experience chronic, post-traumatic, lower-extremity ulcers, fractional carbon dioxide laser treatment was found to accelerate wound healing.

A study published online in JAMA Dermatology identified an increase in non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) incidents in the US as well as equal basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) occurrences among Medicare recipients.

Results from two clinical trials reported at the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting 2015 highlighted the potential for immunotherapies nivolumab and pembrolizumab as treatment for advanced melanomas, according to Rene Gonzalez, MD, investigator at the University of Colorado Cancer Center and director of the Melanoma Research Clinics at the CU School of Health, and study.

New strains of leishmania, a parasitic disease that starts with skin ulcers, are spreading. The CDC reports on an outbreak in a group of 24 scientists and warns US physicians to be alert for the infection in travelers returning from Latin America and South America. The destruction of the Amazon rain forest may be playing a role.

The herpes virus has found its sole positive use: to combat melanoma, the deadliest of skin cancers.

Early diagnosis and treatment is the key to preventing long-term joint damage in patients with psoriatic arthritis.

In many medical school programs students might only get a few weeks of training in dermatology which likely will not cover all the conditions they will see, particularly working in hospitals. From fellowships to online learning there is a concerted effort underway to change that trend.

While hospitals across the country have begun adding dermatologists to their staff it has not become common practice across the field. As a result care of the patients can vary and telemedicine has become an increasingly popular option in diagnosis.

In hospitals across the country patients are being admitted with conditions that can only be treated by specially trained dermatologists while others are developing issues during hospitalization. How quickly and how well they are treated can make a significant difference in patient care.

This 76-year-old woman presented to clinic with 8 weeks of severe scalp itching. She had previously been treated with emollient lotion, baby oil, a dandruff shampoo containing pyrithione zinc, and hydroxyzine. Her past medical history includes eczema, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, paroxysmal SVT, GERD, and depression. She is retired, volunteers at an elementary school, and does not drink alcohol, smoke tobacco, or use recreational drugs.

Interleukin-17, one of the T-helper 1 (Th17) subtypes had been reported to be a significant trigger for plaque psoriasis however the specific contribution of each cytokine group still remains questionable.

Although psoriatic arthritis (PsA) only targets those diagnosed with psoriasis, a genetic factor has been discovered that only pinpoints the former.

Chronic itch (itch last 6 weeks or longer) is a clinical challenge, and is associated with a number of dermatologic, systemic, neuropathic, and psychogenic causes. Transmission of the itch sensation is similar to that of pain, but distinct in several ways. Scientists have found itch-specific neuronal pathways that when activated, cause considerable discomfort for patients. Current available treatments, however, are still more trial-and-error than evidence-based.

A measuring tool typically used to assess the activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has proven to be valuable for analyzing disease activity in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) as well.

Although moderate alcohol intake is linked to health benefits, a high consumption can have a negative effect on women.

A 50-year-old forest ranger noted this rash, which he thinks has been present for several weeks. He noticed a similar rash on his dog. It is itchy, with a raised red border and a clear center. It may have increased in size slightly over several weeks. He is otherwise asymptomatic. What is the next step in treating him?

A recent study observed the likelihood of survival and other aspects of melanoma depending on a patient's NRAS and BRAF status.

A recent study looked specifically at patients on Medicare who require surgery for their melanoma and their wait time before going under the knife.

For patients with Androgenic Alopecia (AGA), Finasteride is a popular treatment option.

Researchers are investigating whether microbial therapy can be an effective treatment for several skin and allergic conditions.

Most oncologists recommend removing melanomas within 4 to 6 weeks of diagnostic biopsy. Researchers have analyzed Medicare's database to determine how quickly the highest risk population (elderly people) have melanomas removed. Their findings indicate 20 percent wait more than 1.5 months to have the malignancy removed, and roughly 8 percent wait longer than 3 months.

Any clinician who biopsies multiple melanocytic lesions per day daydreams about a modality that will consistently and accurately distinguish the neoplasms that haunt us the most: the ones with no clear diagnosis. New diagnostic technology may soon make that dream a reality.

The first guttate psoriasis (GP) episode, which is often triggered by an acute infection such as streptococcal pharyngitis, often results in patients developing chronic plaque psoriasis, according to research presented at the 73rd American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting.