ABSTRACT
Large or giant congenital melanocytic nevi are rare. They are associated with a risk of melanoma, which is poorly quantified, and often represent a major cosmetic problem. Surgical intervention is the most common treatment, although dermabrasion or curettage in the first weeks of life is used in some centers. When these nevi occur in the scalp, the risk of melanoma has been reported to be lower. Here we describe a series of children in whom large congenital melanocytic nevi on the scalp appeared to spontaneously involute. Therefore, our findings indicate that these nevi also have a better prognosis cosmetically. It is suggested that the decision about surgical treatment should be deferred until the maximal improvement in appearance has occurred during the first 2 years of life.
Subject(s)
Nevus, Pigmented/congenital , Nevus, Pigmented/pathology , Scalp Dermatoses/congenital , Scalp Dermatoses/pathology , Skin Neoplasms/congenital , Skin Neoplasms/pathology , Aging , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Nevus, Pigmented/physiopathology , Remission, Spontaneous , Scalp Dermatoses/physiopathology , Skin Neoplasms/physiopathologySubject(s)
Anthralin/adverse effects , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/adverse effects , Dermatitis, Allergic Contact/diagnosis , Pregnancy Complications/diagnosis , Adult , Clothing/adverse effects , Dermatitis, Allergic Contact/etiology , Dermatitis, Allergic Contact/pathology , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Male , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications/chemically induced , Pregnancy Complications/pathology , Pregnancy Trimester, Third , SpousesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To date, only a few cohorts of patients with allergic cheilitis have been described, most of them from Australia and Asia. OBJECTIVE: To establish the prevalence of cheilitis in a UK specialist contact dermatitis clinic and to identify the most common allergens. METHOD: We analyzed our patch-test database in a tertiary referral center in the United Kingdom, retrospectively. All patients presenting with cheilitis over a 19-year period (1982 to 2001) were included. RESULTS: Data were available from a total of 146 patients. A positive allergic patch-test reaction was thought to be relevant in 15% of the patients (n = 22) and to be of possible relevance in 6.8% (n = 10). Of the 22 patients with relevant allergic results, 95% (n = 21) were women. The most common allergens included fragrance mix (mainly cinnamaldehyde, oak moss, and isoeugenol) in 41% of patients, shellac in 18%, colophony in 18%, and Myroxylon pereirae in 14%. For half of the patients, the allergen was believed to stem from lipsticks or lip products. Eighteen percent of patients with allergic cheilitis reacted to only their own products. CONCLUSIONS: Patients should be tested to extended lipstick/cosmetic vehicle series in addition to standard series. As a significant percentage of patients react to their own products only, a thorough clinical history and testing to patients' own products are important.
