Treatment of Sebaceous Hyperplasia by Laser Modalities: A Review of the Literature and Presentation of Our Experience With Erbium-doped Yttrium Aluminium Garnet (Er:YAG).

INTRODUCTION: Sebaceous hyperplasia (SH) is a common skin presentation in adults. Due to their unwanted yellow papular appearance, patients may desire their removal. Although several treatment modalities have been reported, the full range and efficacy of options are unclear. OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of laser modalities in the treatment of SH. The authors will also specifically assess the efficacy, recurrence rate and side effect profile of SH treatment with Er:YAG wavelength using a variable long pulsed (VLP) Er:YAG laser (SP Dynamis Fotona laser, Ljubljana, Slovenia) Methods & Materials: A comprehensive literature search was performed through PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science, using the search terms [(sebaceous hyperplasia)] and [(laser[s], Er:Yag, Er:Glass, Fraxel, CO2, PDL, Pulse dye laser, Diode, Xe-Cl, Excimer, Argon, KTP, Ruby, Alexandrite or Nd:YAG)]. The search yielded a total of 119 results and 8 were identified as relevant to this reviewResults: Pulse dye laser (PDL) provides a wide range of treatment results from complete reduction to flattening of the SH without significant adverse events; recurrence rates were unreported. Short PDL showed faster treatment response than long PDL. CO2 laser can produce considerable positive cosmetic outcomes with marked clinical improvement without any recurrence, but significant adverse effects have been reported. The 1450-nm diode laser has been described to produce good (75%) clinical improvement and lesion shrinkage ranging from 50% to greater than 75% without lasting adverse effects. In our clinic, Er:YAG has provided very significant cosmetic outcomes with a low recurrence rate and minimal adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: Laser modalities can provide satisfactory results for removing SH. It is crucial that the laser is being used by an expert who is familiar with the device as well as understand the laser tissue interaction to minimize patient adverse effects while providing the best cosmetic outcome. In our experience, Er:YAG laser can provide a safe and highly effective solution for SH.

Clinical and Dermoscopic Features of Pigmented Disseminated Superficial Actinic Porokeratosis: Case Report and Literature Review.

INTRODUCTION: Porokeratosis is a benign hyperkeratotic skin tumour due to a clonal proliferation of keratinocytes and is characterised by a telltale annular threadlike configuration along the border of a skin-colored to erythematous papule that can expand centrifugally. CASE PRESENTATION: We are presenting a clinical and dermoscopic case of pigmented disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis (DSAP) limited to the upper trunk of a white man with sun-damaged skin. Literature Review and Conclusion: A thorough review of PubMed failed to identify any previous reports on the dermoscopic appearance of pigmented porokeratosis. On dermoscopy, the presence of black dots limited to the periphery of the lesions is due to pigment incontinence and melanophages within the superficial papillary dermis limited to the area below the cornoid lamella. Pigmented DSAP is a unique morphological presentation of porokeratosis, and it is essential to be familiar with its clinical and dermoscopic presentation.

Hidradenitis Suppurativa and the Association With Hematological Malignancies.

BACKGROUND: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting skin sites with a high density of apocrine glands. HS commonly presents after puberty, with most patients diagnosed in the second decade of their life. Several studies have investigated smoking, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia as possible underlying risk factors for HS. However, we encountered 2 patients with a long-standing history of untreated leukemia who developed late-onset HS. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the presence of malignancy as an underlying risk factor for development of HS. METHOD: The PubMed and Scopus databases were searched for keywords such as hidradenitis suppurativa, malignancy, cancer, and epidemiology. OBSERVATION: Only 1 retrospective Swedish study with 2119 patients investigated the prevalence of cancer, including 6 hematopoietic malignancies, in HS patients. However, the study did not assess the timeline of developing HS in relation to the cancer diagnosis. We report 2 patients with a long-standing history of hematopoietic cancers who received no continuous treatments for their malignancies and developed late-onset HS: a 60-year-old male patient with hairy cell leukemia and a 68-year-old male patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who developed HS later in life. CONCLUSION: Multiple epidemiologic studies found the average age of HS diagnosis to be well prior to the fourth decade of life. The latency of the HS diagnosis as well as the presence of long-standing leukemia in both of our patients raises the necessity for assessing the possibility of malignancy, especially hematopoietic cancer, as a risk factor for HS. LIMITATION: This is a small retrospective analysis including only 2 patients. Larger studies would better assess the role of malignancy, leukemia in particular, as a possible risk factor for development of HS.

Buffering capacity of human skin layers: in vitro.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The skin possesses buffering capacity to resist acidic/alkaline aggression. Skin components contribute differently to this buffering capacity. This study investigates buffering capacity in three skin layers: intact stratum corneum (SC), epidermis and dermis. METHODS: Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) solutions at 0.025, 0.05 and 0.1 N were applied to skin (3.18 µL/cm(2)). After 30 min, the skin was washed with 1 mL de-ionized water. TEWL and pH measurements were conducted at baseline (before contact with acid or base), 0, 10 and 30 min post exposure, and continued at 0, 10 and 30 min post washing. RESULTS: Data indicate that immediately following acid or base exposures, the dermis demonstrates the highest buffering capacity, while with time, intact stratum corneum predominates. CONCLUSION: These findings potentiate advanced understanding of skin's buffering capacity as related to dermatopharmacology and dermatotoxicology.

Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: An Emerging Epidemic.

Since the initial description of frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) in 1994, increasingly more cases of FFA have been reported in literature. Although clear epidemiologic data on the incidence and prevalence of FFA is not available, it is intriguing to consider whether FFA should be labeled as an emerging epidemic. A medline trend analysis as well as literature review using keywords "alopecia," "hair loss," and "cicatrical" were performed. Medline trend analysis of published FFA papers from 1905 to 2016 showed that the number of publications referenced in Medline increased from 1 (0.229%) in 1994 to 44 (3.5%) in 2016. The number of patients per published cohort also increased dramatically since the first report of FFA. Over the time period of January 2006-2016, our multi hair-referral centers collaboration study also showed a significant increase in new diagnoses of FFA. At this juncture, the cause for the rapid rise in cases is one of speculation. It is plausible that a cumulative environmental or toxic factor may trigger hair loss in FFA. Once perhaps a "rare type" of cicatricial alopecia, FFA is now being seen in a frequency in excess of what is expected, thus suggestive of an emerging epidemic.

Disfiguring ulcerative neutrophilic dermatosis secondary to doxycycline and isotretinoin in an adolescent boy with acne conglobata.

Acne fulminans is an uncommon and debilitating disease that presents as an acute eruption of nodular and ulcerative acne lesions in association with systemic symptoms. It occurs commonly during treatment of severe acne (eg, acne conglobata) with isotretinoin in young adolescent male patients. Isotretinoin and doxycycline also can potentially induce development of neutrophilic dermatoses in patients with severe acne lesions, which are characterized by the acute appearance of painful ulcerative papulonodules accompanied by systemic symptoms including fever and leukocytosis. We report a challenging case of a 13-year-old adolescent boy who acutely developed hundreds of ulcerative plaques as well as systemic symptoms after being treated with doxycycline and isotretinoin for acne conglobata. He was treated with prednisone, dapsone, and colchicine and had to switch to cyclosporine to achieve relief from his condition.

Psoriasis in children.

The clinical presentation, disease associations, and diverse treatment modalities in overcoming the challenges of managing pediatric psoriasis have been extensively summarized in this article. An extensive literature review revealed the differences in presentation of psoriasis during infancy, childhood, and adolescence. We also summarized the latest topical, systemic, and biological modalities in treating recalcitrant psoriasis. The association of psoriasis with juvenile arthritis and obesity and the significant influence of the disease on the children's quality of life were explored. The clinical presentation of psoriasis can evolve during the child's lifespan. While many treatment modalities already exist for treating pediatric psoriasis, some of the new biologics that are approved for adult patients have not been investigated in the pediatric population and no algorithm exists for their use in this population. Large clinical studies in the future will enhance our understanding with regards to their safety and potential implications in pediatric populations.

Efficacy of Topical Calcineurin Inhibitors in Oral Lichen Planus.

BACKGROUND: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is associated with severe pain and significant impairment for patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCI) in the treatment of OLP. METHODS: Medline and the Cochrane Database were searched using the keywords "calcineurin inhibitor OR tacrolimus OR pimecrolimus" AND "oral lichen planus." RESULTS: Four retrospective studies that looked at the effects of tacrolimus on OLP; 4 randomized, double-blind clinical trials (RDBCT) comparing tacrolimus with topical corticosteroids; and 5 RDBCT comparing pimecrolimus with placebo or triamcinolone were noted. Six open prospective and multiple case reports assessing the efficacy of calcineurin inhibitor for treatment of diverse types of OLP were found. CONCLUSION: There is strong evidence to suggest that the use of tacrolimus 0.1% ointment and pimecrolimus 1% cream is superior or equally efficacious as traditional therapies for OLP. Topical calcineurin inhibitors are well tolerated, with no significant systemic adverse effects.

IgA Cutaneous Purpura Post-Renal Transplantation in a Patient With Long-Standing IgA Nephropathy: Case Report and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: IgA vasculitis is a small-vessel vasculitis caused by deposition of IgA antibodies in tissues. IgA nephropathy and IgAV have long been considered related conditions. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and implications of new-onset Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) after renal transplant in patients with underlying IgA nephropathy. METHODS: The PubMed database was searched for keywords such as IgAV, IgA vasculitis, Henoch-Schönlein purpura, HSP, IgA nephropathy, and renal transplant. RESULTS: Two cases of new-onset IgA vasculitis post-renal transplant after stopping the prednisone or receiving seasonal influenza vaccine have been reported. We report the case of new-onset IgA cutaneous vasculitis in a renal transplant patient with IgA nephropathy after reduction in his prednisone dosage. CONCLUSION: The new development of cutaneous IgA vasculitis is unusual in renal transplant patients with IgA nephropathy. Despite these patients' being immunosuppressed, the presence of IgA vasculitis could signal the recurrence of IgA nephropathy.

Noninvasive test methods for epidermal barrier function.

New bioengineering techniques provide noninvasive opportunities to evaluate clinically the application of various products on the skin. The skin barrier function and its integrity can be studied by transepidermal water loss, stratum corneum water content, transcutaneous flux of carbon dioxide and oxygen, and transepidermal movement of ions, particularly chloride, potassium, and hydrogen ions. The benefits of noninvasive techniques are due not only to their lack of skin barrier destruction but also to their potential for early detection of any subclinical effects not detected by the naked eyes.