ABSTRACT
Premature graying is an important cause of low self-esteem, often interfering with socio-cultural adjustment. The onset and progression of graying or canities correlate very closely with chronological aging, and occur in varying degrees in all individuals eventually, regardless of gender or race. Premature canities may occur alone as an autosomal dominant condition or in association with various autoimmune or premature aging syndromes. It needs to be differentiated from various genetic hypomelanotic hair disorders. Reduction in melanogenically active melanocytes in the hair bulb of gray anagen hair follicles with resultant pigment loss is central to the pathogenesis of graying. Defective melanosomal transfers to cortical keratinocytes and melanin incontinence due to melanocyte degeneration are also believed to contribute to this. The white color of canities is an optical effect; the reflection of incident light masks the intrinsic pale yellow color of hair keratin. Full range of color from normal to white can be seen both along individual hair and from hair to hair, and admixture of pigmented and white hair is believed to give the appearance of gray. Graying of hair is usually progressive and permanent, but there are occasional reports of spontaneous repigmentation of gray hair. Studies evaluating the association of canities with osteopenia and cardiovascular disease have revealed mixed results. Despite the extensive molecular research being carried out to understand the pathogenesis of canities, there is paucity of effective evidence-based treatment options. Reports of repigmentation of previously white hair following certain inflammatory processes and use of drugs have suggested the possibility of cytokine-induced recruitment of outer sheath melanocytes to the hair bulb and rekindled the hope for finding an effective drug for treatment of premature canities. In the end, camouflage techniques using hair colorants are outlined.
Subject(s)
Aging/pathology , Aging/physiology , Bone Diseases, Metabolic/complications , Coronary Artery Disease/complications , Hair Color/physiology , Hair Diseases/etiology , Hair Diseases/pathology , Hair Diseases/physiopathology , Humans , Melanocytes/pathology , Melanocytes/physiologyABSTRACT
La alopecia es un motivo de preocupación muy frecuente en hombres y mujeres. Desde hace muchos años se ha intentado encontrar, con escaso éxito, un tratamiento eficaz. Este artículo describe las causas y las formas de detectarlas a través del interrogatorio y el examen físico, para poder emplear con seguridad los mejores tratamientos disponibles para el tratamiento de la alopecia androgenética: minoxidil tópico y finasteride oral.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Alopecia/diagnosis , Alopecia/drug therapy , Alopecia/therapy , Hair Diseases , Hair Diseases/etiology , Finasteride/administration & dosage , Minoxidil/administration & dosageABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Chronic renal failure (CRF) presents with an array of cutaneous manifestations. Newer changes are being described since the advent of hemodialysis, which prolongs the life expectancy, giving time for these changes to manifest. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of dermatologic problems among patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) undergoing hemodialysis. METHODS: One hundred patients with CRF on hemodialysis were examined for cutaneous changes. RESULTS: Eighty-two per cent patients complained of some skin problem. However, on examination, all patients had at least one skin lesion attributable to CRF. The most prevalent finding was xerosis (79%), followed by pallor (60%), pruritus (53%) and cutaneous pigmentation (43%). Other cutaneous manifestations included Kyrle's disease (21%); fungal (30%), bacterial (13%) and viral (12%) infections; uremic frost (3%); purpura (9%); gynecomastia (1%); and dermatitis (2%). The nail changes included half and half nail (21%), koilonychia (18%), onychomycosis (19%), subungual hyperkeratosis (12%), onycholysis (10%), splinter hemorrhages (5%), Mees' lines (7%), Muehrcke's lines (5%) and Beau's lines (2%). Hair changes included sparse body hair (30%), sparse scalp hair (11%) and brittle and lusterless hair (16%). Oral changes included macroglossia with teeth markings (35%), xerostomia (31%), ulcerative stomatitis (29%), angular cheilitis (12%) and uremic breath (8%). Some rare manifestations of CRF like uremic frost, gynecomastia and pseudo-Kaposi's sarcoma were also observed. CONCLUSIONS: CRF is associated with a complex array of cutaneous manifestations caused either by the disease or by treatment. The commonest are xerosis and pruritus and the early recognition of cutaneous signs can relieve suffering and decrease morbidity.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Child , Female , Hair Diseases/etiology , Humans , Kidney Failure, Chronic/complications , Male , Middle Aged , Mouth Mucosa/pathology , Nail Diseases/etiology , Pigmentation Disorders/etiology , Pruritus/etiology , Renal Dialysis , Skin Diseases/etiology , Skin Diseases, Infectious/etiologyABSTRACT
Se presenta un paciente de sexo masculino, de 19 años, que consultó por descamación plantar e intertrigo inguinal. Al examen clínico se comprobó además nódulos blancos en el vello pubiano. El examen directo de esos pelos demostró artrosporos y elementos levaduriformes. En el cultivo creció Trichosporon beigelii. Se efectuó microscopía electrónica de barrido. Los exámenes micológicos diagnosticaron una dermatoficia plantar y eritrasma a nivel inguinal. El tratamiento consistió en depilación de la zona pubiana y griseofulvina oral para la dermatofitosis. Se logró la remisión completa y no se registraron recidivas
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Adult , Dermatomycoses/etiology , Hair Diseases/etiology , Trichophyton/pathogenicity , Genitalia, Male/parasitology , Genitalia, Male/pathology , Griseofulvin/administration & dosage , Griseofulvin/therapeutic use , Groin/pathology , Trichophyton/growth & development , Trichophyton/isolation & purificationABSTRACT
Las enfermedades hepatobiliares se asocian con frecuencia a alteraciones de la piel y anexos. Los cambios cutáneos no son específicos y los más comunes son prurito, ictericia, hiperpigmentación, telangectasias, cambios endocrinos y en los anexos. No hay clara correlación entre los cambios cutáneos y la severidad de la disfunción hepática. Las asociaciones entre piel e hígado son: 1) Manifestaciones cutáneas relacionadas con enfermedades hepatobiliares. 2) Alteraciones cutáneas y disfunción hepática asociada a una enfermedad sistémica
Subject(s)
Humans , Biliary Tract Diseases/complications , Liver Diseases/complications , Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary/diagnosis , Nail Diseases/etiology , Hair Diseases/etiology , Hepatitis B/diagnosis , Hepatitis, Chronic/etiology , Jaundice/etiology , Pruritus/etiology , Skin Manifestations , Pigmentation Disorders/etiology , Vascular Diseases/etiologySubject(s)
Humans , Female , Androgen Antagonists/therapeutic use , Androgens , Hair Diseases/etiology , Hirsutism/etiology , Contraceptive Agents, Female/therapeutic use , Diagnosis, Differential , Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use , Hair/growth & development , Hirsutism/drug therapy , Hirsutism/physiopathology , Ovulation/physiology , PrognosisABSTRACT
Resumo: Rhodotorula rubra é levedura oportunista, esando associada a uma variedade de processos patológicos no homem, é frequêntemente encontrada como contaminante da pele, pulmäo, urina, fezes e sistema nervoso central e com grande significado quando presente no sangue. As determinantes humanas causadas por Rhodotorula têm sido relatadasmas näo documentadas. O presente trabalho relata pela primeira vez em nosso meio, o isolamento desse microrganismo, como agente etiológico de infecçäo de cabelos humanos que ao exame clínico, simula pidra branca. Cabelos apresentando nódulos claros foram colhidos de paciente com 18 anos de idade. Em seguida classificados com KOH a 20 (por cento) entre lâmina e lamínula e observados no microscópio óptico comum e na microscopia eletrônicade varredura. Os cabelos foram semeados em ágar Sabnouraud-glicose contendo 200 mg/l de clonranfenicol, incubados à 25 graus C por 5 dias. Após o isolamento da levedura, a mesma foi identificada utilizando-se técnicas micológicas usuais. O exame microscópico dos pêlos infectados revelou em algumas regiöes o aumento do volume do cabelo, característico da tricorrexe nodosa. Em outras regiöes os pêlos já se apresentavam fragmentados e, com relativa facilidade podia-se observar leveduras arredondadas com brotamento em base estreita. A microscopia eletrônica de varredura pode-se observar mais detalhadamente a descriçäo acima. A levedura isolada foi identificada como Rhodotorula rubra, sem atividade lipolítica. É importante ressaltar que a referida levedura foi isolada repetidas vezes em cultura pura dos cabelos infectados. Este achado clínicoe laboratorial deve seer considerado, assim como deve merecer a devida atençäo dos pesquisadoresos isolamentos de R. rubra os quais permitiräo um correto diagnóstico micológico e terapêutico adequada (au)