Pregabalin for Chronic Pruritus | Therapeutic Cheat Sheet
Chronic pruritus affects 8-16% of the general population and has a profound impact on patient quality of life.1-3Although the symptom of pruritus may originate from a number of underlying etiologies, including metabolic derangements and infectious causes, along with neoplastic, inflammatory, or psychiatric conditions, other cases may be idiopathic in nature.4 Given the diversity of underlying cont …
Chronic pruritus affects 8-16% of the general population and has a profound impact on patient quality of life.1-3Although the symptom of pruritus may originate from a number of underlying etiologies, including metabolic derangements and infectious causes, along with neoplastic, inflammatory, or psychiatric conditions, other cases may be idiopathic in nature.4 Given the diversity of underlying cont … Continue reading "Pregabalin for Chronic Pruritus | Therapeutic Cheat Sheet"
On this Mnemonic Monday, we challenge you to remember stains for Mast cells.
"GIMME TO YOUR LEDER"
Giemsa
Toluidine blue
Leder
Remember "rub me and take me to your Leder" as a mnemonic to remember that Leder stain still works after Darier's sign is induced (after de-granulation of mast cells). Side note: Not all stains are included here. Ex: tryptase and c-kit would also stain mast … 
Pruritus, 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 … 
On this Mnemonic Monday, we challenge you to remember immunohistochemical markers for paget cells in Extramammary Paget’s Disease with the following mnemonic:
"EXTRA GROSS LOVE PASSES CANCER"
Extra- Extramammary Paget’s Disease
Gross- Gross cystic disease fluid protein 15 (GCDFP-15)
LOVE- Low molecular weight cytokeratins
PASses- Period acid-Schiff (PAS)
CANCER- CEA
The wo … 
Broad 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 … 