[Follow-up on an outbreak in Venezuela of soft-tissue infection due to Mycobacterium abscessus associated with Mesotherapy].

Introduction: Skin and soft tissue infections caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NMT) are reported to be associated with injections, liposuction, plastic surgery, and acupuncture. Herein, we describe an outbreak of soft tissue infection due to NMT following mesotherapy, a cosmetic procedure involving injection of poorly defined mixtures alleged to reduce local adiposity.

Methods: Patients with skin lesions and a history of mesotherapy treatment, who visited the dermatology department of the public hospital in Barinas, Venezuela, from November 2004 to February 2005 were interviewed.

[Trichotillomania: three cases presentation and diagnosis tests review].

Trichotillomania represents a chronic disorder in which patients traumatically remove their own hair in a bizarre pattern. Like obsessive-compulsive disorder, the hair-pulling behavior is recognized as senseless and undesirable, but is performed in response to several emotions and affects, such as increasing anxiety, or unconscious conflicts with a resultant tension relief. The condition may be episodic, but is usually chronic and difficult to treat.