Derm Topics

Naltrexone for Pruritus – Therapeutic Cheat Sheet
Naltrexone for pruritusPruritus, whether related to inflammatory skin conditions or systemic disease, can be debilitating for patients. In order to improve quality of life for patients suffering from severe pruritus, dermatologists often resort to off-label use of systemic medications. In this month’s installment of our Therapeutic Cheat Sheet Series, we will discuss use of naltrexone for treatment of pruritus. Naltr …
Naltrexone for pruritus
A Spectrum of Skin Tones: An Interview with Drs. Vatanchi & Carrington
A Spectrum of Skin TonesSkin of color is often interpreted simply as “non white” when in fact it should be viewed as a variety of hues on a spectrum. It is important for dermatologists to be equipped with the necessary skills to treat an array of skin tones because one finite mistake can cause unfavorable results depending on the amount of pigment in a patient’s skin. I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Marjon V …
A Spectrum of Skin Tones
Coma Bullae – Friday Pop Quiz 5/28
Coma Bullae A 6-month old infant develops tense blisters on the distal extremities which develop on normal-appearing skin. He has a neurologic disease and has been immobilized for a long period of time. The blisters spontaneously heal within 1-2 weeks. You suspect a diagnosis of coma bullae. Which of the following is the key characteristic histologic feature that would assist you in making this diagnosis? …
Coma Bullae
Melanonychia: Clues for Diagnosis and the Importance of Histology
Melanonychia Just as pigmented lesions on the skin can vary widely from freckles to lentigines to nevi to melanoma, similar pigmented lesions can be seen in nails. Melanonychia, brown or black pigmentation in the nail plate, can frequently present a diagnostic challenge for the dermatologist. While most causes of melanonychia are benign, it is important to recognize when the diagnosis is malignant or uncerta …
Melanonychia
Treatment of Periorificial Dermatitis With Novel Narrow Spectrum Sarecycline
Periorificial DermatitisBroad spectrum tetracyclines are a well-known, widely used, and often successful treatment for use in inflammatory skin pathologies such as acne and rosacea. However, the steady rise of antibiotic resistance and gut dysbiosis associated with broad spectrum tetracyclines emphasizes the importance and responsibility of antibiotic stewardship. Narrow spectrum antibiotics have become increasingly impo …
Periorificial Dermatitis