Ipilimumab-induced Sweet's Syndrome

Sweet’s syndrome is a neutrophilic dermatosis of unknown etiology which presents as “mountain-like” papulesand is often accompanied by systemic symptoms such as fever, myalgia, asthenia and malaise. The cause is often not found but includes: infections (respiratory, gastrointestinal), autoimmune conditions (lupus, rheumatoid, arthritis), vaccination, neoplasia (solid and non solid), drugs (NSAIDS, cotrimoxazole, antiiotics, carbamazepine…) pregnancy,…

Vancomycin-induced Neutrophilic Dermatosis

Vancomycin is an antibiotic used for intravenous treatment of bacterial infections, particularly hospital (nosocomial) acquired ones such as with Methicillin Resistant Staphlococcus Aureus (MRSA) infections, which are resistant to penicillin. Vancomycin is known to create neutropenia but the following case report reports the occurrence of a neutrophilic dermatosis mimicking cryptococcus. No organism was found and…

Etanercept-induced Lichen Striatus

Lichen Striatus is a dermatosis along Blaschko lines and its etiology is unknown. It would occurr secondarily to a cytotoxic reaction because of a stimulation of the immune system. The authors report lichen striatus occurring after etanercept (50mg/d) in a 70 year old patient treated for rheumatoid arthritis. For full access to the free article…

Acne Treatment: combine isotretinoin with an antihistamine to enhance results and reduce side-effects

Isotretinoin remains the gold standard in the treatment of Acne Vulgaris especially since tolerable doses nowadays focus on low doses. However, even with this, patients can have difficulty tolerating them because of the occurrence of side effects such as xerosis of the skin and mucous membranes. Also, even here, isotretinoin can have adverse effect on…

Dengue Fever and the skin

Up to 100 million individuals may be infected by the dengue virus each year. The virus is transmitted through arthropod bites (usually mosquitoes). Population increase makes control of mosquito population difficult as breeding sites (stagnant waters) are more numerous and less detectable (roofs…). Infection ranges from asymptomatic infection to dengue fever with/without hemorrhagic fever and…

Cannabis to treat Acne ?

The authors sought to measure the effects of Cannabis sativa, (-)-cannabidiol (CBD) (a recreational drug) Results of the study show that: administration of CBD to cultured human sebocytes (cells that secrete sebum) and human skin organ culture inhibited the lipogenic actions of various compounds, including including testosterone. CBD suppresses sebocyte proliferation via the activation of…

Mole checks and Melanoma detection

Strategies for early melanoma detection: Approaches to the patient with nevi. Goodson AG, Grossman D. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009 May;60(5):719-35; quiz 736-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2008.10.065. Mole checks are the “bread and butter” of many dermatologists. The article summarizes the concepts of practical situations that arise when checking the skin or moles for melanoma: Should we…