Dermatology of the head and neck: skin cancer and benign skin lesions.

Skin lesions are extremely common, and early detection of dangerous lesions makes skin cancer one of the most highly curable malignancies. By simply becoming aware of common lesions and their phenotypic presentation, dental professionals are empowered to detect suspicious dermatologic lesions in unaware patients. This article serves as an introduction to skin cancer and benign skin lesions for dental professionals.

Ecthyma gangrenosum caused by Escherichia coli bacteremia: a case report and review of the literature.

Ecthyma gangrenosum (EG) is a serious and well-recognized cutaneous condition. Development of EG is most commonly associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa septicemia. Other organisms, such as Escherichia coli, have been identified less often as the cause of EG.

The combined use of forced cold air and topical anesthetic cream for analgesia during the treatment of palmar hyperhydrosis with botulinum toxin injections.

Background: Palmar hyperhidrosis is an uncomfortable condition that can severely affect a patient's quality of life. Injections of botulinum toxin have proven to be an efficient treatment modality, however the pain associated with palmar injections has limited the use of this therapy.

Objective: The authors describe a novel method of analgesia combining topical analgesic cream and forced cold air during botulinum injection treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis and intravenous immunoglobulin: a review.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN, Lyell's syndrome) is a rare, life-threatening hypersensitivity reaction to certain medications, such as sulfonamides, antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and anti-convulsants. The incidence of TEN is 0.4-1.

Community-acquired methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus skin infection.

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common pathogens in skin and soft tissue infections, as well as in potentially serious nosocomial infections in patients who acquire it when hospitalized. Penicillin was introduced in the 1940's as an effective treatment against S. aureus.

Open-label pilot study of alitretinoin gel 0.1% in the treatment of photoaging.

Alitretinoin (9-cis-retinoic acid) is an FDA-approved topical therapy for the treatment of Kaposi sarcoma. Alitretinoin is a naturally occurring endogenous retinoid that binds to and activates all known intracellular retinoic acid receptor (RAR) subtypes alpha, beta, and gamma and retinoic X receptor (RXR) subtypes alpha, beta, and gamma. Photoaging of the skin is the result of accumulated exposure to solar UV radiation.

Pilot study of the safety and efficacy of Myobloc (botulinum toxin type B) for treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis.

Background: Botulinum toxin type B (BTX-B, Myobloc, San Francisco, CA, USA) was FDA-approved for the treatment of cervical dystonia in December 2000. It has since been used off-label for the treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis. However, there are sparse data in the medical literature evaluating the safety and efficacy of Myobloc (botulinum toxin type B) for this indication.

Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study of the safety and efficacy of Myobloc (botulinum toxin type B) for the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis.

Background: Palmar hyperhidrosis is a problem of unknown etiology that affects patients both socially and professionally. Botulinum toxin type B (Myobloc), approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the treatment of cervical dystonia in the United States in December 2000, has subsequently been used effectively in an off-label indication to treat hyperhidrosis. There are sparse data, however, in the literature evaluating the safety and efficacy of BTX-B for the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis.

Botulinum toxin-B and the management of hyperhidrosis.

A new serotype of botulinum toxin has recently arrived in the US. Botulinum toxin type B (BTX-B), known as Myobloc in the United States and as Neurobloc in Europe, is one of seven different antigenic members of the botulinum toxin family, five of which the human nervous system is susceptible to. Like botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A), BTX-B has been used for a myriad of both dermatologic and nondermatologic problems since its recent approval by the FDA for the treatment of cervical dystonia in December 2000.

Cryoanalgesia with dichlorotetrafluoroethane lessens the pain of botulinum toxin injections for the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis.

Background: Hyperhidrosis is a troublesome problem that can be embarrassing in both social and professional situations. Botulinum toxin injections have proven efficacious in the treatment of hyperhidrosis. However, when treating palmar hyperhidrosis, pain at the injection site limits this therapy.

A double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study of the safety and efficacy of Myobloc (botulinum toxin type B)-purified neurotoxin complex for the treatment of crow's feet: a double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.

Crow's feet develop with age and are one of the earliest signs of the normal aging process. Botulinum toxin type A, approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of glabellar wrinkles in April 2002, has been used off-label to treat facial wrinkles since 1981. Botulinum toxin type B (BTX-B, Myobloc) was Food and Drug Administration-approved for use in cervical dystonia in the United States in December 2000 and has subsequently been used in an off-label indication to treat facial wrinkles.

Lip silicone granulomatous foreign body reaction treated with aldara (imiquimod 5%).

We report a case of a lip granulomatous reaction after injection of silicone being treated successfully with topical Aldara (Imiquimod 5%). Silicone granulomas and the inflammatory foreign body reaction that can occur are some of the complications that arise from using silicone for cosmetic enhancement. The inflammatory reaction of this patient first appeared shortly after silicone injection of both the upper and lower lips.