This is a cancer of the pigment cells of the skin. It is a highly malignant skin cancer. It presents as dark brown or black skin growth or ulcer. It may look like ordinary moles. But unlike the common mole: it grows rapidly its surface has several shades of red, black or blue colours its…
The cause of seborrhoeic dermatitis is unknown. A yeast called Malassezia which is present in the normal skin flora could be implicated. There are two types of seborrhoeic dermatitis: (i) infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis – commonly seen in newborns and babies (ii) adult seborrhoeic dermatitis – commonly seen in middle-aged adults. Seborrhoeic dermatitis presents with yellowish,…
There is another vascular birthmark. They present as flat red patches on the eyelids and the skin of the cheek at birth. Unlike strawberry naevus, portwine stains never disappear spontaneously as the child grows older: The vascular birthmarks increase in thickness and small blebs of blood vessels may be seen. Agsin, these growths do not…
These are vascular birthmarks. It can appear as a large red soft growth on any part of the body. The growth will continue to enlarge and grow as the baby grows old but the growth will slowly regress spontaneously when the child is 3-4 years old: If the vascular growths are small, they can be…
Hypercholesterolemia is the presence of high amounts of cholesterol in the blood; in the USA alone, 70 million individuals are affected. It is a risk factor for heart conditions such as myocardial infection. Causes are genetic, dietary, endocrinological (hypothyroidism, diabetes)… There are different types of circulating derivatives of cholesterol: HDL (High Density Lipoprotein) also known…
Skin conditions associated with elevated cholesterol: androgenic alopecia (androgenetic alopecia)(Male pattern hair loss) “blue toe” syndrome (due to cholesterol emboli) cutaneous reactive angiomatosis (due to cholesterol emboli) (Kaposi-like) gangrene (due to cholesterol emboli) livedo reticularis (due to cholesterol emboli) (livedo racemosa) psoriasis skin necrosis (due to cholesterol emboli) skin tags (along with the other cardiovascular…
Drugs used by dermatologists which which can elevate cholesterol levels: Vitamin A derivatives: Acitretin (and previously etretinate) Alitretinoin Isotretinoin Bibliography Alitretinoin for the treatment of severe chronic hand eczema. Paulden M, Rodgers M, Griffin S, Slack R, Duffy S, Ingram JR, Woolacott N, Sculpher M. Health Technol Assess. 2010 May;14 Suppl 1:39-46. Lipid and teratogenic…
Skin conditions associated with statin (cholesterol lowering drug) (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors) use: chronic urticaria contact dermatitis dermatomyositis erythema multiforme ichtyosis (not specified) lichen planus-like reactions, lichen planus pemphigoides lichenoid drug eruption linear Iga bullous dermatosis polymyositis subacute lupus erythematosus systemic lupus erythematosus Bibliography Chronic urticaria to atorvastatin. Anliker MD, Wüthrich B. Allergy. 2002 Apr;57(4):366. Erythema…
Statins (hypolipaemic or cholesterol lowering drug) (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors) as a new dermatologic drug ? Potential applications include: alopecia areata* allergic contact dermatitis antifungal atopic dermatitis chronic idiopathic urticaria cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (stimulation of lymphoma cell apoptosis through Fas-L expression) (CTCL) cutaneous melanoma (cutaneous apoptosis has been demonstrated in vitro) dermatographism graft-versus-host disease mastocytosis (urticaria…
