Psychocutaneous disorders: a survey study of psychiatrists' awareness and treatment patterns.

Objective: To assess the level of training, awareness and attitude about psychocutaneous disorders among psychiatrists.

Methods: A mail-in survey was sent to all members of the Washington State Psychiatric Association and the Washington State Council on Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Survey respondents were asked about demographic variables, level of training, skills, and degree of comfort in managing psychodermatological disorders, referral patterns, knowledge of patient and family resources on psychodermatology, and interest in continuing medical education on psychocutaneous disorders.

The knowledge, awareness, and practice patterns of dermatologists toward psychocutaneous disorders: results of a survey study.

Background: To assess the level of training in, and awareness and attitude about, psychocutaneous disorders among dermatologists.

Methods: A mail-in survey was sent to all members of Washington State Dermatology Society, who were requested to provide information on demographic variables; level of training, skills, and degree of comfort in managing psychodermatologic disorders; referral patterns, knowledge of patient and family resources on psychodermatology; and interest in continuing medical education on psychocutaneous disorders.

Results: Of 237 mailed surveys, 102 were returned for analysis.

Trichodaganomania: the compulsive habit of biting one's own hair.

A 17-year-old male presented with patches of hair loss on both forearms with comorbid depression and anxiety disorders. He had irresistible urges to bite his hair on easily approachable sites and endorsed biting his hair during periods of severe anxiety and boredom, resulting in noticeable patches of hair loss. There was no evidence of trichotillomanic behavior or any other skin pathology resulting in loss of hair at those sites.

Winnie the Pooh and psoriasis too: an isomorphic response of guttate psoriasis in a tattoo.

Since Koebner's first observance of the isomorphic response of psoriasis in a tattoo in 1872, a paucity of written reports has appeared in the literature describing this phenomenon, although it appears to be common knowledge among dermatologists. We report a strep-induced guttate psoriasis isomorphic response in a Winnie the Pooh tattoo in a 19-year-old.

Tanning device usage: what are parents thinking?

Tanning device usage is prevalent among adolescents. Few studies have assessed the role of parental influence on children's use of indoor tanning facilities. Our objective was to determine if children's tanning device usage is affected by parental knowledge of risks of indoor tanning or by parental tanning practices.

Skin cancer prevention in the primary care setting: assessment using a standardized patient.

Our objective was to utilize the standardized patient technique in assessing the ability of primary care physicians to identify and counsel primary prevention for patients at high risk for skin cancer. A secondary goal was to test the feasibility of this technique as a measure of actual physician behaviors in the outpatient setting. We used a convenience sample of 15 primary care physicians.

Neonatal lupus.

An otherwise healthy 5-week-old infant with erythematous plaques predominantly on the face and scalp presented to our dermatology clinic. The mother had been diagnosed with lupus erythematosus 2 years earlier but her disease was quiescent. Neonatal lupus is a rare condition associated with transplacental transfer of IgG anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La antibodies from the mother to the fetus.

UV light abuse and high-risk tanning behavior among undergraduate college students.

Background: The failure of skin cancer prevention efforts to alter tanning behaviors may be a result of the addictive nature of UV light.

Objective: This study attempts to determine the prevalence of UV light substance-related disorder (SRD).

Methods: A survey was administered to undergraduate college students.

Skeletal changes in epidermal nevus syndrome: does focal bone disease harbor clues concerning pathogenesis?

Epidermal nevus syndrome (ENS) is a rare, sporadic, congenital disorder of unknown etiology featuring a complex and highly variable phenotype that can include focal or generalized skeletal disease. We describe a young man with ENS manifesting right-sided linear skin lesions, generalized weakness, diffuse osteopenia associated with hypophosphatemic rickets, and distinctive focal bone lesions ipsilateral to the skin findings. Review of the literature concerning ENS-associated skeletal disease suggested such focal bone defects are fibrous dysplasia, but our patient did not have the typical radiographic or histopathologic findings of fibrous dysplasia.

Hemangiomas of infancy: treatment of ulceration in the head and neck.

Ulceration is a common complication of hemangiomas of infancy and presents a therapeutic dilemma for the head and neck-facial plastic surgeon. Multiple therapies are available, further complicating treatment of patients. We review the common characteristics of ulcerated hemangiomas and discuss the treatment modalities available.

Neonate with a fibrosarcoma and consumptive coagulopathy.

We report a case of a neonate with a congenital tumor on the left palm. The patient had a grapefruit-sized tumor and coagulopathy at birth and was presumed to have a hemangioendothelioma with associated Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon. When the tumor failed to respond to systemic steroids, a biopsy specimen was taken, revealing a fibrosarcoma.

Tanning facility use: are we exceeding Food and Drug Administration limits?

Background: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends exposure limits for tanning bed use. Tanning patrons may not be following these recommendations and may be overexposed to damaging ultraviolet radiation (UV).

Objective: This study was conducted to assess tanning patrons' adherence to FDA-recommended exposure limits and to measure the amount of UVA and UVB radiation emitted by tanning beds.

Halo scalp ring: a case series and review of the literature.

Background: Halo scalp ring is an uncommonly reported alopecia of the scalp that arises perinatally.

Objectives: To describe 5 new cases of halo scalp ring, and to review the literature.

Setting: An outpatient dermatology clinic in an urban area; patients diagnosed in a 2-year period were included in the study.