ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Progressive symmetrical erythrokeratoderma is characterized by well-demarcated, symmetrically distributed, erythtematous and hyperkeratotic plaques. Treatment options are topical retinoids, emollients, keratolytics and topical corticosteroids with limited or no success. Oral retinoids have been shown to be successful in some cases, but recurrence is to be expected on cessation of therapy. Topical calcipotriol is an established mode of treatment for psoriasis and also reported to be effective in many hyperkeratotic skin diseases. MAIN OBSERVATIONS: A 20-year-old female patient presented with reddish-brown lesions in her axillae, groins, submammary regions and on the eyelids. Clinical and histological findings were consistent with the diagnosis of progressive symmetrical erythrokeratoderma. She had noted that her lesions did not improve with topically applied steroids and emollients. We recommended our patient to use topical calcipotriol and observed a remarkable improvement within two weeks. CONCLUSION: When compared with the other treatment modalities, topical calcipotriol is a safe and effective drug with minimal side effects and it would be a good alternative.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There have been concerns about the association between isotretinoin therapy and depressive symptoms. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to evaluate whether there is an association between isotretinoin therapy and the onset of depression. METHODS: A total of 50 patients with moderate to severe recalcitrant acne and 30 healthy volunteer people were enrolled in the study. Depressive symptoms and anxiety status were assessed at baseline and then 1 and 4 months after the initiation of isotretinoin treatment. RESULTS: We detected improvement in Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scores in acne patients after isotretinoin therapy. Statistically significant improvement in depressive symptoms began at the first month. Improvement in anxiety was detected later than the improvement in depressive symptoms and a statistically significant difference was detected between the first and the second follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide no relationship between isotretinoin use and depression in acne patients.
Subject(s)
Acne Vulgaris/drug therapy , Acne Vulgaris/psychology , Depressive Disorder/epidemiology , Dermatologic Agents/therapeutic use , Isotretinoin/therapeutic use , Adolescent , Adult , Depressive Disorder/chemically induced , Depressive Disorder/diagnosis , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Psychological Tests , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Pityriasis rosea (PR) is an acute, inflammatory disease of unknown cause. Clinical and experimental findings indicate an infectious etiology of PR. Our purpose is to examine the skin lesions and blood samples of PR patients by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of HSV type 1 and 2 DNA. METHODS: The lesional skin biopsies from 10 patients and blood samples from two randomized patients with clinically and histologically confirmed pityriasis rosea were examined by PCR. RESULTS: No HSV 1 and HSV 2 DNA was detected in the lesional biopsy and blood samples. CONCLUSIONS: We could not identify a relationship between HSV 1, HSV 2 and PR.
Subject(s)
DNA, Viral/analysis , Herpesvirus 1, Human/isolation & purification , Herpesvirus 2, Human/isolation & purification , Pityriasis Rosea/virology , Adult , Biopsy , Female , Humans , Male , Pityriasis Rosea/blood , Pityriasis Rosea/pathology , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Skin/pathologyABSTRACT
Porokeratosis is a disorder of keratinization characterized by annular plaques with an atrophic center surrounded by a raised, keratotic wall. It has several clinical forms including a porokeratosis of Mibelli, giant porokeratosis, linear porokeratosis, disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis, palmoplantar porokeratosis and punctate porokeratosis. We report a patient with the rare condition of giant porokeratosis. Several variants of porokeratosis coexist in our patient.
