Am J Clin Dermatol
February 2020
Herpes zoster (HZ) is a common cutaneous entity with protean clinical presentations, management options, complication rates, and prevention strategies, all of which are rife with dogma. During an inpatient consultation for HZ, have you ever been approached by a frantic staff or family member, worried that a pregnant, elderly, or infant contact will be 'infected' if they get too close? Have your patients ever asked you about their risk of having HZ twice, or claimed that they have frequent 'recurrences'? In what timeline should antiviral therapy be employed? Is there evidence for prednisone or gabapentin in acute HZ treatment? Who should be vaccinated against HZ and what are the benefits and risks? In case-based form, these and other complex but common scenarios will be examined using clinical and viral mechanistic clues, along with updated treatment and prevention guidelines, to provide a modern HZ case management compendium, comprehensive of the diverse age and health populations now presenting with this condition.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTotal-body skin examination (TBSE) is the bedrock on which most general dermatologists' clinic days are built. Primarily performed for all-cause skin cancer detection and prevention, the clinical data gained and advice imparted during the patient visit disseminate safety guidelines and behavioral patterns that can shape a community's approach to its risk factors and screening practices. Nonetheless, TBSE technique, frequency, and data-driven evidence of improvement in population morbidity and mortality comprise ongoing debate.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAcne and rosacea are common inflammatory processes historically classified in the same disease category, but evolving understanding of their disparate pathophysiology and exacerbating factors have generated an enormous armamentarium of therapeutic possibilities. Patients seek over-the-counter therapies first when managing cutaneous disease; therefore, this review defines ingredients considered to be effective over-the-counter acne and rosacea products, their mechanisms, and safe formulations, including botanical components, oral supplements, and other anecdotal options in this vast skin care domain.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFScabies infestation in humans is a complex interplay between mite, host, and host environment. New techniques for diagnosis, treatment, and eradication are constantly in flux due to varying presentations of scabetic eruptions, a dearth of especially sensitive and specific measures for diagnosis, resistances to pharmacologic therapy, and disparate regional resources. This review will provide an update on the clinical variations, detection methods, and management options.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSebum production is key in the pathophysiology of acne, an extremely common condition, which when severe, may require treatment with isotretinoin, a known teratogen. Apart from isotretinoin and hormonal therapy, no agents are available to reduce sebum. Increasing our understanding of the regulation of sebum production is a milestone in identifying alternative therapeutic targets.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF