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. [...]
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 [...]
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. [...]
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. [...]
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, [...]
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 [...]