Goodness, gracious, great balls of fire: A case of transient lingual papillitis following consumption of an Atomic Fireball.

Transient lingual papillitis is a benign condition characterized by the inflammation of one or more fungiform papillae on the dorsolateral tongue. Although it is a common condition that affects more than half of the population, few cases have been reported in the dermatological literature. Therefore, it is a condition uncommonly recognized by dermatologists though it has a distinct clinical presentation that may be easily diagnosed by clinicians familiar with the entity. We report an interesting case of transient lingual papillitis in a 27 year-old healthy woman following the consumption of the hard candy, Atomic Fireball. We describe treatment and resolution of the condition, and its recurrence following re-exposure to the identified culprit. This report further reviews the literature to illustrate the clinical manifestations, etiology, differential diagnosis, course, and treatment of this condition.

A 7-year-old with indurated skin and unilateral progressive joint immobility: A case of stiff skin syndrome.

Stiff skin syndrome is a rare sclerotic condition that presents during infancy or early childhood. It has an insidious chronic course and may lead to significant co-morbidity and reduced quality of life. Often, affected individuals experience impaired ambulation and immobilization related to joint involvement. Clinically, it may resemble other sclerotic diseases, so histopathological evaluation is necessary to establish a diagnosis. As it is a condition with limited treatment options, prompt diagnosis and early initiation of physical therapy is crucial to prevent joint restriction and maintain quality of life. We describe a case of a 7-year-old with stiff skin syndrome, and review the literature to discuss the clinical presentation, histological findings, and management of this condition.

Alopecia: the case for medical necessity.

Although alopecia is one of the most prevalent dermatologic conditions in the United States, it is typically viewed as a benign process with only cosmetic consequences. Androgenic alopecia has an especially strong perception as a cosmetic management issue. This contribution reviews literature gathered through MEDLINE from PubMed to emphasize the value of hair as a part of the system and to illustrate that androgenic alopecia, like psoriasis, can have severe consequences and serve as a risk factor for the development of life-threatening diseases. Individuals with alopecia experience psychosocial and psychiatric illness and may be at risk for cardiovascular disease, prostatic cancer, and squamous cell carcinoma of the scalp. All persons with alopecia should be evaluated and treated by a physician to minimize its psychological effects and reduce the risk of developing other medical conditions and be further assessed for the presence of commonly associated comorbid conditions.