Managing Contact Dermatitis Without Patch Testing.

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a common skin condition caused by contact with an exogenous agent that elicits an inflammatory response. Patch testing (PT) is considered the gold standard for diagnosing ACD. Unfortunately, PT may not be available to some patients due to insurance and financial limitations, contributing to health care disparity and leaving patients with undiagnosed, incompletely managed dermatitis that can have further detrimental health and occupational effects.

Patient-Centered Communication Tools for the Patch Test Clinic.

Patient-centered communication positively impacts the clinical encounter. Multiple strategies exist to improve communication between providers and their patients; the application and impact of these strategies have been studied in multiple specialties, though little exists regarding communication best practices in the patch test clinic. Because the procedural components of patch testing often span the course of an entire week, effective communication with patients during the patch testing visit is important for not only technical success, but also patient understanding and experience.

The Role of Patch Testing in Evaluating Delayed Hypersensitivity Reactions to Medications.

Confirming drug imputability is an important step in the management of cutaneous adverse drug reactions (CADR). Re-challenge is inconvenient and in many cases life threatening. We review the literature on ideal patch testing technique for specific CADRs.

Update on Contact Sensitization in the Older Adult Population.

Background: Little is known about the epidemiology of allergic contact dermatitis in the aging US population.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe patch test results in a cohort of older adult patients evaluated in a patch testing clinic in a tertiary medical center.

Methods: This study was a retrospective analysis of patch test results of adults 65 years and older from February 2013 to December 2019.

Allergic Contact Dermatitis of the Vulva.

Allergic contact dermatitis is an important diagnostic consideration in the evaluation of patients presenting with vulvar complaints. The high prevalence of contact sensitization in the vulvar region is likely multifactorial. We review the extant literature regarding key predisposing factors in the pathogenesis of vulvar allergic contact dermatitis, as well as the most commonly implicated allergens as identified by a number of retrospective studies and case series.

Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Guide for the Practicing Physician.

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory disease of apocrine gland-bearing skin. Although immunologic derangements, genetic predisposition, obesity, and smoking are likely important factors, the pathogenesis of the disease and the effect of available treatments on disease course have not been fully elucidated. In the absence of proper treatment, chronic inflammation results in diffuse scarring and a wide array of complications, including the development of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

Accuracy of Clinical Suspicion and Pathologic Diagnosis of Kaposi Sarcoma in East Africa.

Background: HIV-associated Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is one of the most common malignancies in sub-Saharan Africa. The diagnosis is often based on clinical suspicion, without histopathologic confirmation. When biopsies are performed, the accuracy of interpretation by local pathologists is poorly understood.