Dermatology

A review in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology strongly reinforces the idea that diet can play a particularly large role in acne prevalence and severity, alongside other factors such as hormones, stress, sleep levels, good skin care, and geography.

Skin-picking disorder (SPD) is a serious and poorly understood condition similar to hair-pulling disorder and severe nail biting, among other body-focused repetitive behaviors, in which a patient causes harm to themselves or their appearance. SPD is much more than a cosmetic problem, as repetitively touching, rubbing, scratching, or picking at the skin can lead to severe tissue damage, disfigurement, and even significant infection in some cases.

Collaboration between dermatologists and oncologists is crucial.

This 69-year-old woman requested evaluation of scaling behind her left ear, which has been present for 8 months after she started a new shampoo.

Patients with vitiligo have a choice of many treatment options, which run the gamut from applying make-up to depigmented areas, to light treatment, all the way up to surgery to move pigmented skin cells to affected areas. Yet, many patients elect not to treat the condition at all, despite the fact that the condition can be emotionally devastating and progressive.

About a quarter of patients with acne did not fill prescriptions, according to a survey published in JAMA Dermatology.

Vitamin B12 has been shown to trigger pimple-promoting chemicals in even normal skin bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes).

The potential link between oral erectile dysfunction medications and melanoma risk has been under scrutiny following publication of study results last year in the Journal of American Medical Association suggesting sildenafil use may be associated with an increased risk of developing melanoma.

Topical medications for skin ailments may be able to alleviate and reverse damage caused by multiple sclerosis.

A study that used data from the Danish Melanoma Group database shows the incidence of malignant melanoma has doubled during the past 25 years, despite targeted awareness campaigns and a focus within the dermatology community on early detection and treatment.

Vitamin D insufficiency can be like the slippery suspect in a network procedural: It's probably up to no good on any number of counts, but pinning the crime on it with airtight evidence can still prove elusive.

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.

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.

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.

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

Patients with plaque psoriasis often experience clear improvement in their skin conditions after undergoing tonsillectomy.

This 29-year-old man came in for a wellness evaluation but notes having had this rash for 8 years. Occasionally it itches, but otherwise is asymptomatic and he has had no treatment for it to date. He does not take any medications and has no significant past medical history.

A lot of work goes into a medication being approved for the public including many rounds of trials and adjustments along the way. For a new plaque psoriasis medication that work is well underway and the developers hope to have it to patients in the near future.

This 3-day-old boy was noted to have this left buttock lesion. He was born by cesarean section at 35 weeks due to a transverse lie on presentation with premature rupture of membranes. There was no prenatal care, and routine maternal labs on admission were significant for a positive gonorrhea screen.

Clinicians have several guidelines, algorithms, and other tools at their disposal that can assist them in the differential diagnosis and management of chronic urticaria.

Approximately 20% of women develop leiomyomas during their childbearing years. When these uterine fibroids cause excessive bleeding, pelvic pain, cramping, or painful intercourse, surgery is indicated. Hysterectomy is an appropriate choice for women who are done with childbearing, but for women with childbearing plans for the future, myomectomy is an option. However, hemorrhage is a common complication during myomectomy.

According to a recent study, melanoma cells may become resistant to BRAF and MEK inhibitors after an initial tumor regression.

Soolantra (ivermectin) Cream, 1% has been approved for the once-daily topical treatment of inflammatory lesions, or bumps and pimples, of rosacea.

This 71-year-old woman presented with an itchy raised erythematous leg lesion that had been present for 10 months. She has a history of significant sun exposure in the past and was prescribed topical triamcinolone 4 months ago which she believes has made it slightly smaller and less itchy.

This newborn was found to have these fragile white lesions on the scrotum and extremities along with dark macules on the face. The child was otherwise asymptomatic and the pregnancy was uncomplicated, with no significant medication exposures and no family history of similar lesions.