A blog about dermatology and its related topics. Guide to cope up with dermatology disorders and some dermatology treatments.
In almost all instances, allow for placement of an unknown disease into one of the 10 major disease groups . Years of using the algorithm have convinced me that this problem-oriented approach is readily learned and is surprisingly accurate. I would, however, like to offer several caveats. First, algorithms, when applied too dogmatically, are inherently […]
Group Identification
Lesions assigned to the brown, blue, and black lesion group must be darker than the surrounding, normal skin. Colors appropriately considered for the lesions in this group include tan, brown, black, and blue. When the lesions are brown, particularly in a dark-skinned person, a careful search for underlying red hues should be undertaken. If […]
Most often, urticaria, erythema multiforme, erythema nodosum, and lcukocytoclastic vasculitis develop as a result of immunologic reactions to antigens. For example, when erythema multiforme occurs as a result of herpes simplex infection, the eruption is due to the antigenic rather than infective properties of the virus. Thus, the herpes simplex virus can cause vesicles of […]
Diagnostic Hallmarks
Distribution - elbows, knees, sacrum, and scapular areas
Herpetic-like clustering of vesicles
Immunofluorescent biopsy studies: granular deposits of immunoglobulin A (IgA) in the papillary dermis
Rapid response to dapsone therapy
Clinical Presentation
As its name “herpetiform” implies, the very uncommon condition, dermatitis herpetiformis, is characterized by the presence of clustered, small vesicles. The individual vesicles are usually […]
Keratinocytes account for 95% of the cells of the epidermis. These cells are mainly responsible for the production of the family of fibrillar proteins known as keratins, but other proteins and sterols are, to a lesser degree, also synthesized. Keratinocytes begin their life as germinative, undifferentiated cells at the dermal-epidermal junction. These cells are termed […]
Diagnostic hallmarks
Distribution - perioral, genital, and perigenital skin
Tight clustering of small vesicles
Recurrent episodes in the same location
Clinical Presentation
Cutaneous infection with Herpesvirus hominis (HSV 1 and HSV 2) results in the appearance of small vesicles of uniform size and shape. Two clinical patterns are commonly seen, herpes labialis and herpes genitalis.
Herpies labialis consists of […]
Diagnostic Hallmarks
Distribution: plantar aspect, especially instep, of the foot
Associated fungal infection of the toenails and web space
Positive potassium hydroxide (KOH) preparation from vesicle roof
Clinical Presentation
Fungal infections can occur anywhere on the body, but blister formation as a component of fungal infection occurs only on the plantar surfaces of the feet. The vesicles of […]
Fingernails and toenails can, in a way, be viewed as arising from a “follicle” analogous to that of the hair follicle . The orientation of this “follicle,” of course, lies parallel rather than vertical to the surface of the skin.The nail matrix from which the nail plate grows lies deep to the posterior nail fold. […]
Diagnostic Hallmarks
Distribution: exposed areas, unilateral or asymmetrical location
History of specific trauma
Clinical Presentation
Traumatic bullae occur as a result of friction, thermal burns, or long-term constant pressure (”coma blisters”). A history of friction or burn is ordinarily apparent, but this history may not be given in cases of child abuse. Likewise, a useful, spontaneously given history […]
Diagnosis Hallmarks
Disttibution - chest, back, and face
Square shouldered, sharp margination
“Stuck on” appearance
Clinical Presentation
Seborrheic keratoses are flat-topped, brown papules 5 to 20mm in diameter. They are sharply marginated and squareshouldered in cross section. They are always wider than they are tall, and their superficial, exophytic growth pattern gives them a “stuck on” appearance. Early, […]