Scalp psoriasis: synergy between the Malassezia yeasts and skin irritation due to calcipotriol.

To investigate if there is a synergy between the presence of the Malassezia yeasts and the adverse reaction during treatment of scalp psoriasis with calcipotriol scalp solution, patients were treated with itraconazole to reduce the number of Malassezia yeasts. This study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel group study between oral itraconazole or placebo for 8 weeks in patients with scalp psoriasis. After 2 weeks, calcipotriol scalp solution was applied twice daily for 6 weeks.

An open study of efficacy and safety of long-term treatment with mometasone furoate fatty cream in the treatment of adult patients with atopic dermatitis.

Background: Atopic dermatitis is a severe chronic skin disease often deteriorated by the presence of microorganisms and often responds well to treatment with potent corticosteroids. However, the long-term use of potent topical corticosteroids are accompanied by side-effects such as skin atrophy.

Objective: To study the effect and safety of prophylactic treatment with mometasone furoate fatty cream (contains hexylene glycol) for 6 months in patients with atopic dermatitis.

Pityriasis versicolor: clinical experience with Lamisil cream and Lamisil DermGel.

Pityriasis versicolor is a chronic superficial fungal disease usually located on the upper trunk, neck or upper arms. Terbinafine is an orally and topically active allylamine antifungal derivative with a broad antifungal spectrum. Several studies have documented the high activity of terbinafine (Lamisil) cream in the treatment of pityriasis versicolor, with cure rates of 79-100% after 2-4 weeks of treatment.

An epidemic of tinea corporis caused by Trichophyton tonsurans among wrestlers in Sweden.

An epidemic of tinea corporis due to Trichophyton tonsurans among wrestlers in Sweden is described. Totally 19 patients, 14 patients from Malmö and 5 from Gothenburg, were found. The suspected source of this epidemic was from a wrestlers' team from the USA visiting Sweden in April, 1993.

Double-blind, parallel-group comparison of terbinafine and griseofulvin in the treatment of toenail onychomycosis.

Background: Griseofulvin has been used in the treatment of toenail onychomycosis with limited success. Evidence suggests that terbinafine may be more effective.

Objective: In a double-blind, parallel-group study we compared 250 mg/day terbinafine for 16 weeks with 500 mg/day griseofulvin for 52 weeks (or for shorter periods in cured patients) in patients with toenail onychomycosis.

Cryosurgery of eyelid basal cell carcinomas.

One hundred and twenty-one patients have been treated for eye lid basal cell carcinomas with cryosurgery during the last 7 years. The condition resolved completely after treatment in all patients with no recurrences observed so far. Most patients have been followed for more than 2 years.

Terfenadine in chronic urticaria: a comparison with clemastine and placebo.

Terfenadine, a new specific and peripherally acting antihistamine, was compared with clemastine and placebo in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, crossover study of the treatment of chronic urticaria. Sixty patients with chronic urticaria participated in this multicenter trial. The treatment time was two weeks per drug treatment, totalling six weeks.

Changes in laboratory variables induced by isotretinoin treatment of acne.

During a trial of isotretinoin (0.5 mg/kg body weight/day for 3 months) in 90 patients with severe acne, the leucocyte (WBC) count, and particularly the number of neutrophils, decreased significantly. In patients with a good response the mean WBC count fell by 24% and the neutrophils by 33%, whereas in those with a poor response these variables decreased by 8% and 14%, respectively.

Treatment of recurrent genital herpes simplex infections with oral acyclovir.

A total of 113 patients with recurrent genital herpes were enrolled in a multicentre cross-over study. Two consecutive recurrences were treated with either oral acyclovir 200 mg or matching placebo five times daily for five days. Acyclovir significantly reduced the time to crusting and healing and the duration of new lesions and symptoms.

Long-term ketoconazole treatment of chronic acral dermatophyte infections.

Ketoconazole 200-400 mg was given once daily for a maximum period of 12 months to 31 patients with chronic (mean duration, 12 years) dermatophyte infections of the hands and/or feet. Griseofulvin had previously been withdrawn due to intolerance or lack of effect. All skin and nail infections improved clinically.

An epidemic of scabies with unusual features and treatment resistance in a nursing home.

An epidemic of scabies affecting elderly patients on one ward of a nursing home is described. The outbreak was characterized by a high degree of contagion and treatment resistance among patients suffering from malignant diseases and receiving immunosuppressive therapy. The clinical picture was unusual, with papules surmounted by scabies burrows and a high percentage of persistent nodular lesions.

Oral lichen planus: hypersensitivity to dental restoration material.

67 patients with oral lichen planus of the atrophic-erosive or reticular plaque type were examined. Dental amalgam in contact with mucosal lesions was present in 64 patients, and gold fillings in 33. Patch testing with a standard procedure was performed with components of dental fillings.

Severe oral lichen planus: remission and maintenance with vitamin A analogues.

Twenty-five patients with chronic oral lichen planus, usually of the atrophic-erosive type, were treated for 2 months with Etretinate 0.6 mg/kg b.w.

Hyperkeratotic dermatitis of the palms.

Thirty two adult patients who presented with a sharply marginated, hyperkeratotic dermatitis of the palms (HDP), but with no skin lesions elsewhere, have been re-examined approximately 10 years later. Topical treatments had had limited effect. The morphological appearance and localization had remained unchanged, except in two individuals who were free from symptoms.

Once daily application of diflorasone diacetate ointment compared with betamethasone valerate ointment twice daily in patients with eczematous dermatoses.

The clinical efficacy of 0.05% diflorasone diacetate applied once daily, for eczematous dermatoses, was compared with the twice daily application of betamethasone valerate. Both agents were supplied as ointments.

Severe oral lichen planus: treatment with an aromatic retinoid (etretinate).

A double-blind study of twenty-eight patients with severe oral lichen planus treated with etretinate (75 mg daily) or a placebo for 2 months, showed that the oral retinoid had a marked beneficial effect. Nine non-responders who had received only placebo then entered an open cross-over study and they responded well to etretinate. Etretinate thus provided effective symptomatic relief for severe oral lichen planus, but side-effects were common, and six patients stopped treatment because of them.

Uses of dextranomer absorbent pads after cryosurgery of cutaneous malignancies.

Secretion from wounds after cryosurgery of cutaneous malignancies may be excessive and may constitute a problem in management. It was found possible to collect and quantitate such discharges by use of highly hydrophilic dextranomer beads (Debrisan). They were applied in convenient, small "tea-bag" pads.

Basal cell carcinoma in children. Case report.

Clinical and pathoanatomic features of two children with basal cell carcinoma, an extremely uncommon disease in childhood, are reported. Clinically these lesions had a benign appearance, similar to a foreign body granuloma and an intradermal naevus, respectively, but histological examination showed a picture typical of basal cell carcinoma. The tumours were radically treated and no recurrence occurred during an observation time of 12 and 42 months, respectively.