Clinical Dermatology

Discuss all about dermatology here. All about dermatology, skin disorders and problems and tips to cope up with them.

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A blog about dermatology and its related topics. Guide to cope up with dermatology disorders and some dermatology treatments.

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With the advancement in medical world, it is evident that more than your BMI, your waist hip ratio is important to save you from risks of heart diseases and syndrome-x. If you exceed the limits, you are vulnerable to succumb to hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, etc. that’s why losing weight is very much important to get back to normal waist hip ration and save oneself from hoards of diseases.

Opting for best diet pills is one option that is very much feasible and effective. You can burn you fat faster and safely without causing any unwarranted side effect. Searching for the right diet pill is easy with the advent of internet. Not only searching but even purchasing is lot more easier and you can order online for the product you wish for.

If you combine your diet pills with healthy diet and exercise, you will get amazingly consistent results. The safe diet pills like Nueslim are the pills that have natural ingredients and they energize your body better for harder work. Burning fat subtly yet effectively is done marvelously by these diet pills. Once you embark on this pill regime, you need not turn back and look at your flabs again. Once reduced flab will not return with little caution on your part and I am sure you will do that!


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With the increasing awareness regarding the modern age ailments, most people are keen to have best health advices and treatments possible. Also, they nowadays know that holistic medicine in the form of herbal medicines is a better choice than popping hefty tablets that lead to unnecessary side effects. So, many people are turning towards therapies like aromatherapy, homoeopathy etc. Those who go for aromatherapy must be aware of the medium that transmits the aroma of a particular herb to you. That weapon is vaporizer!

There are many types of vaporizers available in the market. Among those, volcano vaporizer is the popular vaporizer with maximum benefits to the buyer. Go online and order your vaporizer today for availing maximum health benefits. You can consult your doctor regarding your ailment and get a prescription of herbs to be used. Then at leisure at your home, you can put the specific herb into the vaporizer.

The vaporizer heats the herb at relatively low temperature and releases the active ingredients of the herb optimally. When you inhale them, you will sense what an experience it is! You are inhaling only herbal properties and not tar or harmful gases. What a discovery! Your body will thank you for freeing it of the combustible products and give you blessing of complete health!


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If your mirror is telling you the fact about your sagging figure, you need to take an essential step to get back into shape fast. We do find attractive women even in their fifties who have enormous confidence because of their preserved beauty. Well, you can also be one of them if you are little aware of your body needs and concentrate on weight loss. It is always a multi-faceted approach that works during weight loss regime. One has to be very precise regarding the diet, exercise, and diet supplements.

If you want to embark on any diet supplement, consult any good fitness instructor before starting on your own. It is always better to do so because then you get to know about your body and its needs better. If you opt for a good instructor, he may guide you to Curvelle as fitness equipment. Well, it is one of the most natural weight loss supplements especially suited for women. The Curvelle’s main action is centered on metabolism that enhances metabolism and burns more calories.

The cinnamon extract, green tea, elderberry extract, raspberry ketone, etc present in Curvelle decrease the fat absorption and suppress sugar cravings, thus deleting empty calories from diet. Also because of elderberry and green tea, you feel radiant from inside too. You do get a lustrous skin and dazzling hair that go well with your new found svelte figure! As the Curvelle supplement is available in the form of capsules, it is easy to consume. Just take 2 capsules, 30 minutes before breakfast and lunch, and you will soon find yourself bubbling with confidence and energy!


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White Plaques in the Mouth

February 29th, 2008

The most common and important causes of white lesions in the mouth include the normal bite line, lichen planus, lupus erythematosus, secondary syphilis (lues), leukoplakia, candidiasis, and human papilloma virus infection. All of these diseases except candidiasis occur because of the development of a byperkeratotic surface in an area normally lacking the ability to form a stratum corneum. This cornified layer is white while wet for the same reason that one’s fingertips become white after prolonged exposure to water. The whiteness in candidiasis represents the actual yeast organisms present in a thick mycelial plaque.Bite line is the most common white lesion in the mouth. This lesion is characterized both by its linearity and by its location at the dental occlusion line. Often the bite line has several irregular extensions that correspond to grooves between the teeth. It is asymptomatic. The bite line probably arises as a type of “callus” formation secondary to the presence of chronic, biting trauma. The condition has no pathologic significance and requires no treatment.

Lichen Planus is the most common pathologic explanation for white plaques on the oral mucous membranes. In milder lesions the plaques are made up of a network of crisscrossed, gray-white lines, whereas in more severe cases the plaques are thicker and are less reticulated. Central erosions may be present in these latter lesions.

The mucosal lesions of lichen planus are most commonly located on the buccal surfaces, but involvement of the gingivae, lips, and tongue is occasionally seen. Patients with mild oral lichen planus are asymptomatic, but in more severe, erosive cases the lesions can be very painful. The diagnosis is easily made when typical cutaneous lesions are found elsewhere on the body. Lichen planus does sometimes exist solely within the mouth, however, and in such instances biopsy will be necessary to confirm the diagnosis.

The mucosal lesions of lichen planus are chronic in nature; buccal plaques in particular may remain for years. Very rarely, squamous cell carcinoma has arisen in older lesions of erosive lichen planus.

Asymptomatic plaques require no treatment. Painful, eroded lesions are partially responsive to topically applied steroids (Kenalog in Orabase, Temovate Ointment, or Steroid Aerosol sprays) and to topically applied tretinoin (Retin-A). In some cases, orally administered retinoids or intralesionally injected triamcinolone will be required, Topically applied cyclosporine has recently been suggested in spite of its very high cost.

About 20% of patients with either discoid or acute systemic lupus erythematosus may have mucosal lesions. The gray-white plaques seen with either type of lupus erythematosus are clinically similar to those found in lichen planus, though they do tend to be less reticulated. They most often occur on the buccal surface, lips, and palate. Erosions are possible but are uncommon. Diagnosis depends on the presence of typical lesions of lupus erythematosus elsewhere on the skin. Biopsy is distinctive but not pathognomonic. Treatment of the mucosal lesions is generally not necessary.

Secondary Syphilis is frequently accompanied by the presence of white plaques in the mouth. These plaques are whiter, thicker, and more sharply marginated than the otherwise similar lesions of lupus erythematosus and lichen planus. They are generally asymptomatic. The mucosal lesions of syphilis are teeming with treponemas and thus are very contagious.

These lesions occur during the secondary stage of syphilis, and thus serologic tests will always be positive.

Dark-field examinations may be of help, but care must be taken to differentiate Treponema pallidum from the Borrelia sp. that are normal inhabitants of the mouth. Typical cutaneous lesions of secondary syphilis will nearly always be found. Treatment of the patient with penicillin results in resolution of mucosal lesions.

The word leukoplakia is derived from the Greek word for “white plaque.” By dermatologic convention, use of the word is restricted to lesions that show evidence of dysplasia on biopsy. Intraoral lesions are particularly likely to be seen in patients who have chronically used intraoral tobacco products, whereas lip lesions are usually due to chronic sunlight exposure.

Diagnosis is established by way of biopsy. Most often only mild atypia is present, but in more chronic cases the picture may be that of carcinoma in situ. Such lesions should be treated with excision, electrosurgical destruction, or laser ablation. Lesions confined to the outer lip (”actinic cheilitis”) may also be treated with topically applied fluorouracil.

Candidiasis (moniliasis, thrush) represents infection with Candida sp., most often Candida albicans. The white plaques formed as the result of such yeast infection are thick and soft. They are loosely adherent, and pieces of the plaque can be dislodged with the edge of a scalpel blade. Material removed in this manner will reveal dense mats of hyphae on potassium hydroxide (KOH) examination.

Lesions of candidiasis can occur anywhere in the mouth but are particularly common on the buccal surfaces. Oral candidiasis may be found in infants and in immunosuppressed or debilitated adults. Patients with Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) are almost universally affected. Treatment is carried out by the application of an oral solution of nystatin (Mycostatin oral suspension) or through the use of clotrimazole (Mycelex) troches.

Human papilloma virus infection may result either in the appearance of flat-topped individual or coalescent white warts (Heck’s disease) or, in patients with AIDS, shaggy white plaques on the tongue known as oral hairy leukoplakia. Treatment generally necessitates local destruction.


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Eczematous Reaction Patterns

February 22nd, 2008

Acral Eczematous Diseases

Several eczematous diseases preferentially involve the hands and feet. For this reason one should not use the term “hand eczema” or “foot eczema” as a diagnostic term. One must specifically attempt to identify which process is responsible: atopic dermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema, scabies, contact dermatitis, or secondary eczematization of a noneczematous disease. Guidelines for the recognition of these separate processes are covered .

Genital and Perigenital Eczematous Diseases

The situation for eczematous diseases of the groin is analogous to that of acral dermatitis. It is not sufficient simply to make a diagnosis of “diaper dermatitis” or “pruritus ani.” One must attempt to recognize specifically which of several eczematous conditions is responsible for the observed changes. Guidelines for doing so are contained .

Nummular Eczema. The adjective “nummular” is derived from the Latin word for coin. Thus nummular lesions are characterized by sharp margination and by coin-like roundness and coin-like size. This is a very common morphology; in fact, nummular lesions can be found in all ten disease groups. The term is most commonly used for small round eczematous lesions, however. Nummular patterns are most often seen in xerotic eczema and in atopic dermatitis. Occasionally, some of the lesions scent in autoeczematization are also nummular. Some clinicians use the term “nummular eczema” as if it were the name of a single disease, but in most instances nummular eczematous lesions can be more specifically assigned as variations of atopic dermatitis, xerotic eczema, or autoeczematization.

Autoeczematization (Autosensitization, “Id” Reaction)

There is a marked tendency for severe eczematous disease, regardless of type, to spread spontaneously outside of its original distribution pattern. The reason for this spread is unknown, but it is widely believed to occur as the result of an immunologic reaction mounted against antigens located at the original site of involvement. The putative antigens include proteins of external origin (bacteria and fungi) and proteins of internal origin (keratin and collagen) that have been modified some way by the original disease process.

Conceptually, auto eczematization can be considered as “metastatic” spread of an eczematous disease. Local, contiguous extension could then be viewed as “lymphatic metastases,” and distant, noncontiguous lesions could be viewed as “hematogenous metastases.”

Autoeczematization is most often seen in association with diaper dermatitis, stasis dermatitis, external otitis, hand eczema, and foot eczema. Historically, autoeczematization was first recognized in individuals with tinea pedis who subsequently developed vesicular and eczematous disease of the hands. This process was called the “dermatophytid reaction,” and from this the term “id” reaction has been derived.

The lesions of autoeczematization are frequently vesicular when they occur on the hands, but they are more typically eczematous when they occur on the face, arms, legs, and trunk. In these latter locations the lesions of auto eczematization often assume a nummular pattern. The ultimate form of auto eczematization is that of exfoliative erythrodermatitis wherein nearly the entire skin surface becomes involved with eczematous disease.

Patients with autoeczematization usually do not respond well to simple measures such as soaks and topical steroids. In most instances a burst of systemically administered steroids will be required. When systemically administered steroids are used, the auto eczematous lesions respond promptly, but the underlying, original disease clears more slowly. Failure to continue treatment until the original lesions are completely healed is usually followed by rapid recrudescence of the entire process.


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Criteria for Nevi and Melanomas

February 15th, 2008

Diagnostic Criteria

In most instances, the failure to correctly identify a given skin disease does not have life or death consequences. Melanoma constitutes one exception to this generalization. The prognosis in melanoma corresponds most directly with the depth of invasion, and this, in turn, relates at least in part to the duration of the lesion. Correct identification and early removal of superficial melanomas are associated with gratifyingly high cure rates, whereas failure to recognize a melanoma might well lead to a disastrous outcome. Any clinician would have great moral (and possibly legal) difficulty living with a misdiagnosis, but in spite of this consideration, evaluation of most pigmented lesions is carried out in a hurried and superficial manner. Biopsy of all pigmented lesions is not the answer. The cost in time and money is far too great when one considers that each of us has an average of about 15 pigmented nevi. The only practical approach is to develop our clinical skins to as great a degree as possible. A remarkably high degree of accuracy can be obtained when systematic criteria are used for evaluation.

Objective Criteria

Lesional Configuration. Most benign pigmented lesions are perfectly round. Melanomas, on the other hand, are often somewhat irregular in shape. This is sometimes termed lesional asymmetry; i.e., if a line were drawn through the center of a lesion and if the lesion were folded along that line, the two halves would not be superimposable. The earliest irregularity is often the appearance of a small area of pigment spread (pigment bleeding) onto the flat skin surrounding the lesion. More advanced change consists of one or more areas of irregular, peninsular growth of the elevated portion of the lesion. Some individuals, especially those of Celtic origin, will demonstrate some irregularity of configuration in almost all of their nevi. When multiple nevi are irregularly shaped, one should consider the possibility of the dysplastic nevus syndrome.

Surface Smoothness. Benign lesions generally have a smooth surface. Melanomas, on the other hand, sometimes show some irregularity of surface growth. The development of one or more “bumps” on the surface of a pigmented lesion suggests that clusters of the underlying cells may be growing at different rates. Thus, the presence of surface irregularity is analogous to the presence of configurational irregularity. It should be noted, however, that the absence of surface “bumpiness” does not argue against the diagnosis of a melanoma; early melanomas may be essentially flat with no areas of elevation.

Pigment Homogeneity. Most benign lesions are evenly colored throughout, whereas most melanomas show some variation in pigment density. For example, in a melanoma, one or more dark-colored speckles might be present against a lighter brown background. Some benign nevi, especially those of the dysplastic nevus syndrome, do show speckling of pigmentation, but a single speckled nevus when all others are more normal in appearance should arouse concern about the presence of a melanoma. It should be emphasized that only irregularity in density of pigment is important. Absolute density of pigmentation does not correlate with malignancy; benign lesions can be very black, and melanomas can be rather light.

Nonbroum Colors. Most benign pigmented lesions are brown or brown-black. Most superficial spreading melanomas have, in addition, red, white, or blue hues in various portions of the lesion. Those lesions that fall toward the notably red end of the brown spectrum should be considered as possible dysplastic nevi. White areas arc also quite important. These represent areas of pigment destruction from immunologic attack. Since benign pigmented lesions are ordinarily not recognized as foreign by the body, no immunologic reaction is directed against them. One important exception to this rule is the presence of a white halo that completely surrounds pigmented lesions. Such “halo nevi” are rather common in childhood and are invariably benign in nature. Halo nevi are not common in adults, and such lesions should be viewed with suspicion.

Presence of Inflammation. Inflammation does not spontaneously appear around benign lesions. The presence of such inflammation suggests that the body recognizes the lesion as foreign and is mounting an attack against it. In spite of the theoretical value of this sign, it happens that most inflamed pigmented lesions turn out to be benign nevi with small underlying ruptured epidermoid cysts.

Firmness on Palpation. Benign pigmented lesions feel quite soft when they are picked up between the thumb and forefinger. Firm lesions suggest that cellular proliferation is occurring at a rapid rate. Unfortunately, firmness is a finding noted primarily with malignancy of rather advanced stages.

Epithelial Disruption. Benign lesions never show evidence of spontaneous epithelial disruption. The presence of weeping, crusting, or ulcer formation in any pigmented lesion is a highly suspicious sign. On biopsy, however, many eroded pigmented lesions turn out to be benign nevi that have been scratched or otherwise traumatized.

Lesion Size. Large lesions are more suspect than small lesions. Melanomas are almost always larger in diameter than a lead pencil eraser (7 mm), whereas benign nevi, are congenital or dysplastic, are usually less than 7 mm in diameter.

Lesion Number. The likelihood of developing melanoma is linearly related to the number of pigmented lesions present. Individuals with more than 100 pigmented nevi almost always have at least several clinically dysplastic lesions and seem to be at especially high risk for eventual development of melanoma.

Subjective Criteria

Criteria that depend on patient history are inherently less accurate than the objective criteria. Nevertheless, several aspects of history may be helpful. The first has to do with the length of time the lesion has been present. Pigmented lesions that have been present from birth (congenital nevi) are more likely to undergo melanomatous degeneration than are nevi acquired in childhood. Likewise, newly acquired pigmented lesions after age 30 in adults are more suspect than those acquired in childhood.

The second important aspect of patient history has to do with the patient’s perception of change in a single lesion. An individual lesion described voluntarily and spontaneously by the patient as having changed in size, configuration, or pigment density should be viewed with considerable suspicion. Likewise, a single lesion described as recently becoming pruritic or painful should be examined with particular care. On the other hand, little importance can be attached to a patient’s comment that multiple lesions have changed or have become symptomatic.

Dysplastic Nevi

Dysplastic nevi and the dysplastic nevus syndrome cause special problems for all clinicians. There is no doubt that patients with numerous clinically dysplastic nevi and a family history of melanoma have a greatly increased risk for melanoma. This risk may be expressed by the transformation of existing dysplastic nevi into melanomas or by the development of de novo melanomas. Unfortunately, the magnitude of risk for those with clinically dysplastic nevi but who lack a family history of melanoma is not known with certainty. Common sense suggests that there is some increase in risk, but it can be argued that the actual risk is related to the total number of nevi present, which, in turn, perhaps relates to sunburn-type damage acquired in childhood. In any event, it seems expedient to offer patients with numerous clinically dysplastic nevi frequent and expert follow-up examinations.


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Cytotoxic

A variety of cytotoxic agents are used for the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as pemphigus, pemphigoid, dermatomyositis, and lupus erythematosus. The most commonly administered medications include azathioprine (Imuran), cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), and methotrexate. For the most part, these medications are used only for patients nonresponsive to steroids or in instances where steroid side effects require a lowering of the steroid dose. An exception to this occurs in the treatment of psoriasis where methotrexate can be considered as a first-line drug for widespread, debilitating disease.

Methotrexate when used in psoriasis is usually given as a once weekly oral dose of 25 mg. Most patients will begin to improve by the end of the first month and will be rather remarkably better at the end of the second month. Once maximum improvement is reached, the dose is gradually reduced to a maintenance level, which generally averages about 15 mg/week. Patients with less responsive disease sometimes require fractionation of the dosage. The mechanisms through which methotrexate improves psoriasis certainly include an antiproliferative effect on the lesional epithelial cells, but there is almost certainly an additional anti-inflammatory effect also.

The most common acute side effects occurring with methotrexate include nausea, aphthous-like ulcers of the mouth, abnormal liver function studies, and transient bone marrow depression. All of these appear to be dose related and can be managed by appropriate reduction in the amount administered at the time of the next treatment. Hepatotoxicity is a major long-term side effect. Recognition of this problem appears to require periodic liver biopsy, since, despite the presence of major structural changes, liver function abnormalities as measured by conventional tests may not be present. Liver biopsies in patients who have taken methotrexate for several years regularly reveal some degree of inflammation and fatty infiltration. About 10% of patients who have taken methotrexate for more than 5 years will also develop mild to moderate fibrosis. So far there has been no problem with drug-induced carcinogenesis or reduction in immune response sufficient to cause opportunistic infections.


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If you are thinking of getting contact lenses, finding the correct lens can be a little tricky, especially if you suffer from sensitive skin or eyes. First of all, you naturally have to make a visit to your local eye care professional. Since approximately 1 out of 10 shouldn’t wear lenses due to various medical reasons, it’s important to make a careful examination first. Your eye care professional can tell if contact lenses is the right choice for you, and if so, you get help to get the lenses properly fitted. With a prescription, you are then ready to look into the lens market.

Since the lens market is so large, there is naturally a huge range of contacts to choose from. There are a few basic good advice to have in mind however.

If your eyes are very sensitive, you should maybe not choose the extended wear lens, since wearing your lens overnight might increase the risk of infection. If so, there are disposable lenses that you throw away, or daily-wear lenses, that you take out at night. You should also be on the look-out for gas-permeable lenses, that “breathe” well, and let in much oxygen, to avoid irritation.


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Immunofluorescent

Immunofluorescent techniques are extremely useful in the diagnosis of several dermatologic diseases. University medical centers and most private dermatopathology laboratories have the facilities to carry out these tests. Transport solutions, such as Michel’s solution, are easily available so that specimens of skin to be tested for direct immunofluorescence can be mailed if necessary. Two types of immunofluorescent testing are available: the direct technique and the indirect technique.

Direct immunofluorescent testing is carried out on skin specimens. With this technique, immunoglobulin(s) or complement components that have been deposited in the skin can be identified. The skin specimen for this test is taken by standard biopsy technique, but instead of placing it in formalin, the specimen either is immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen or is placed in transport solution. In the laboratory, fluoresceinlabeled antibodies to immunoglobulins G (IgG), M (lgM), and A (IgA), complement components, and fibrin are layered over the tissue. If anyone of these proteins is present, the antibodies will adhere to the tissue and will be visible on fluorescent microscopy.

Positive direct immunofluorescent tests are expected in six diseases described in this book: dermatitis herpetiformis, pemphigoid, pemphigus, lupus erythematosus, lichen planus, and some forms of vasculitis. In dermatitis herpetiformis, perilesional skin will contain globules of IgA (and sometimes C3) located in the superficial papillary dermis. In pemphigoid, IgG and C3 are found at the dermal-epidermal junction of both lesional and perilesional skin. In pemphigus, IgG and, occasionally, C3 neatly outline the epidermal cell membranes in a net-like fashion.

IgG and C3 are present at the dermal-epidermal junction in the lesional skin of patients with all types of lupus erythematosus; about 70% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus will have similar deposits in sun-exposed but nonlesional skin. In lichen planus, globular deposits of fibrin are often found in the papillary dermis; additionally, IgM may coat the cytoid bodies (apoptotic keratinocytes) present in the papillary dermis. In the neutrophilic types of vasculitis, IgG, C3, and fibrin are generally found in and around the affected vessels.

Indirect immunofluorescent studies identify specific antibodies circulating within the patient’s plasma. These antibodies are directed against individual antigens found within the patient’s skin. When indirect studies are performed, the patient’s serum is layered over an appropriate substrate such as slices of epithelium (for the bullous diseases), certain tumor cells (for the antinuclear factors of lupus erythematosus), or specific organisms (such as T. pallidum for syphilis). If the patient’s serum contains antibodies, they will adhere to the antigen present in the substrate. These attached antibodies are visualized when fluorescein-tagged antibodies to human immunoglobulin are applied and the specimen is examined under fluorescence microscopy.

Almost all patients with pemphigus will have circulating antibodies directed toward desmosomal-related antigens on the outer surface of epithelial cell membranes. Approximately 80% of patients with pemphigoid will have circulating antibody directed against hemidesmosomal-related antigens present within the basement membrane zone of the dermal-epidermal junction. Most patients with primary syphilis and all patients with secondary syphilis will have circulating antibodies that will bind to T. pallidum fixed on microscopic slides (the FTA-Abs test). More than 95% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and a varying proportion of those with other types of lupus erythematosus will have antibodies that bind to one or more antigens present within cell nuclei. This latter test is known as the fluorescent antinuclear antibody (FANA) test. All of the above indirect immunofluorescent tests can be titered in order to estimate the amount of antibody that is present. Antibody titer is very roughly correlated with the severity of the disease, and in some instances, the clinician can judge the results of therapy by following the decline in antibody titer.


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