Acute onset traction-associated ulceration and alopecia.

Traction alopecia is a protracted form of hair loss resulting from persistent tension on the hair follicle . We report a case of a 9-year-old African American girl who presented with extensive scalp ulceration and alopecia 11 days after placement of a synthetic hair braid. Over a period of months, with consistent wound care and low-tension hairstyling, most of the hair regrew. We propose that the ulceration and hair loss in this case represents an acute variant of traction alopecia due to pressure-induced ischemia and necrosis.

Fatal disseminated Trichosporon asahii fungemia in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and a morbilliform eruption.

Trichosporonosis is a rare, life-threatening, opportunistic fungal infection that affects immunocompromised individuals with neutropenia, particularly those with underlying hematologic malignancies. We present the case of a 10-year-old boy with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who developed a diffuse, morbilliform eruption in the setting of fever and pancytopenia. He was found to have Trichosporon asahii fungemia with widespread visceral dissemination, and his condition rapidly deteriorated despite treatment. It is important to consider trichosporonosis in the evaluation of a critically ill individual with neutropena and a rash, because the initial cutaneous presentation may appear benign and delayed therapy results in death.

Bumps in the Road: Panniculitis in Children and Adolescents Treated with Vemurafenib.

Vemurafenib is increasingly being used to treat nonmelanoma tumors that are positive for the BRAF V600E mutation. We report three children who presented with panniculitis induced by vemurafenib while undergoing treatment for central nervous system tumors and review the literature.

Photoprotection counseling of non-white ethno-racial groups: a survey of the practice of expert dermatologists.

The morbidity of skin cancer in non-white, ethno-racial populations is well established, yet no specific guidelines exist addressing the manner in which this population should be counseled on photoexposure. We conducted a 20-item survey to assess the behavior of specialized dermatologists when providing photoprotection recommendations to non-white, ethno-racial patients as well as the perceived relevance of counseling for this group. Our study demonstrated that key opinion leaders within the fields of photodermatology and ethnic dermatology believe that photoprotection counseling is beneficial for ethno-racial minorities. Based on these preliminary data and other recently published reports, the development of photoprotection guidelines specific to non-white, ethno-racial groups may be warranted.

Common Pediatric Skin Lesions: A Comprehensive Review of the Current Literature.

The timely diagnosis and treatment of dermatologic disease in the pediatric population can be challenging. A basic, yet comprehensive knowledge of common lesions is essential for a successful practice in plastic surgery. In this article, the authors describe vascular, cystic, and pigmented cutaneous lesions that are commonly encountered in the pediatric population. Epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical course, and management options are discussed for each.