Allergic contact dermatitis caused by topical herbal remedies: importance of patch testing with the patients' own products.

BACKGROUND: Natural ingredients have variable compositions, so their allergenic potencies may differ. OBJECTIVES: To retrospectively analyse subjects reacting to herbal remedies over the past 27 years, with the aim of (i) evaluating demographic characteristics and lesion locations, (ii) describing the frequencies of positive patch test reactions, (iii) identifing sensitization sources, and (iv) studying concomitant sensitivity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In total, 15980 patients were patch tested between 1990 and 2016 with the European baseline series and/or other series, product(s) used, and, whenever possible, the respective ingredients. RESULTS: Altogether, 8942 (56%) of 15 980 patients presented with at least one positive reaction. Reactions to topical herbal medicines, most often applied to treat an eczematous condition, leg ulcers, or other wounds, were seen in 125 (0.8%), that is, 1.4% of the contact-allergic subjects. Hands, legs and feet were the most frequently affected body sites. Twenty-one botanical allergens were identified, the commonest being Myroxylon pereirae (balsam of Peru), Compositae plants, and tincture of benzoin. Many patients presented with multiple positive test reactions, and some did not react to the commercial allergens but only to the products used. CONCLUSIONS: Topical herbal remedies should not be applied on damaged skin, as multiple sensitization may develop. Moreover, patch testing with the culprit products is important for the diagnosis.

Necrolytic acral erythema: a rare skin disease associated with hepatitis C virus infection.

Necrolytic acral erythema is a rare skin disease associated with hepatitis C virus infection. We report a case of a 31-year-old woman with hepatitis C virus infection and decreased zinc serum level. Physical examination revealed scaly, lichenified plaques, well-demarcated with an erythematous peripheral rim located on the lower limbs. After blood transfusion and oral zinc supplementation the patient presented an improvement of lesions.

Necrolytic acral erythema: a rare skin disease associated with hepatitis C virus infection

Abstract: Necrolytic acral erythema is a rare skin disease associated with hepatitis C virus infection. We report a case of a 31-year-old woman with hepatitis C virus infection and decreased zinc serum level. Physical examination revealed scaly, lichenified plaques, well-demarcated with an erythematous peripheral rim located on the lower limbs. After blood transfusion and oral zinc supplementation the patient presented an improvement of lesions.

Eritema ab igne / Erythema ab igne

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Disfiguring scarring following mesotherapy-associated Mycobacterium cosmeticum infection.

Mesotherapy is a popular procedure that poses risks that include scarring, contour changes and bacterial infections. The benefits of the procedure remain to be objectively delineated in a placebo-controlled, blinded study. Despite the lack of evidence to support its use, it is marketed as a "nonsurgical and safe" way to remove fat. The authors report a case of mycobacterial infection resulting from mesotherapy. This infection should be considered when a patient presents with a mesotherapy complication and should be discussed with the patient prior to the procedure. Options for treatment of the scarring are considered.

Successful management of a delayed and persistent cutaneous reaction to jellyfish with pimecrolimus.

The contact with a jellyfish is usually followed by acute inflammatory lesions, characterized by erythema, swelling, vesicles, and bullae, accompanied by burning and pain sensation. The pathogenesis is due to the direct toxic effect of the fluid contained in jellyfish tentacles. Sometimes, jellyfish may induce delayed cutaneous lesions. Delayed cutaneous reaction to jellyfish represents a clinical entity where eczematous lesions develop after days or months after contact with the invertebrate. We report the case of a patient with a delayed and persistent skin reaction due to jellyfish envenomation successfully treated with pimecrolimus.

Allergic contact dermatitis to Plectranthus amboinicus masquerading as chronic leg ulcer.

This report discusses a case of a 69-year-old woman who developed chronic non-healing leg ulcers after long-term topical use of Plectranthus amboinicus. The ulcer was proven to be allergic contact dermatitis to P. amboinicus by a patch test. The ulcer healed after discontinuation of P. amboinicus. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of allergic contact dermatitis to P. amboinicus masquerading as chronic leg ulcer.

A case of calciphylaxis and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia.

A 70-year-old woman presented for evaluation of symmetric necrotic ulcers of the lower extremities. Biopsy results revealed changes consistent with calciphylaxis. The predisposing factors in this patient included calcium supplementation, obesity, female gender, viscous blood, renal failure, and diabetes mellitus. To our knowledge, this is the first report of calciphylaxis occurring in the setting of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. We discuss the history, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of calciphylaxis.

Telangiectasia macularis eruptiva perstans with an associated myeloproliferative disorder.

Telangiectasia macularis eruptiva perstans (TMEP) is a cutaneous form of mastocytosis. It has been rarely associated with an underlying myeloproliferative disorder. We report the case of a patient, while receiving treatment for thrombocytosis, with both platelet production and function inhibitors presented with TMEP. TMEP is often refractory to therapy; however, our patient responded to treatment with PUVA.

Disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis associated with topical PUVA.

Disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis (DSAP) is associated with sun exposure and tanning bed usage and has been rarely reported in association with systemic PUVA. We report the first case of DSAP occurring after topical foot PUVA.

[Scurvy presenting with ecchymotic purpura and hemorrhagic ulcers of the lower limbs]. / Scorbut révélé par un purpura ecchymotique et des ulcères hémorragiques des membres inférieurs.

INTRODUCTION: The risk of vitamin C deficiency is underestimated in industrialized countries and is only disclosed in rare cases of severe scurvy. CASE REPORT: We report three cases of scurvy presenting with ecchymotic purpura and hemorrhagic ulcerations of the lower limbs. Vitamin C supplementation led to rapid improvement of the skin lesions. DISCUSSION: Clinical diagnosis of low-grade deficiency can be difficult. Biological diagnosis requires special care in sample taking and transport.

Solar urticaria. A report of 25 cases and difficulties in phototesting.

BACKGROUND: Solar urticaria is a rare photosensitive disease, and its differential diagnosis with respect to polymorphous light eruption is sometimes difficult. We report our experience with 25 cases of solar urticaria and discuss the pitfalls in phototesting such patients. OBSERVATION: The most important locations in this patient series are the V of the neck and the arms, which are similar to those of polymorphous light eruption. In all of the patients, however, the lesions appeared within 30 minutes of sun exposure or phototesting and disappeared within 24 hours. Notably, 12 (48%) of the patients had a history of atopy. Phototesting helps confirm the diagnosis, but, in some patients, this was difficult. CONCLUSIONS: A negative phototest result from a single light source does not necessarily exclude a diagnosis of solar urticaria. In patients in whom phototesting elicits negative reactions, other light sources should be used, and, if the phototest result is still negative, a provocative test with natural sunlight should be done. Histamine1-receptor antihistamines are a useful first-line therapy, although more severely affected persons may require prophylactic courses of phototherapy or photochemotherapy. The main problem is maintenance treatment.

Olive oil--contact sensitizer or irritant?

Adverse cutaneous reactions to topically applied olive oil are seldom reported, and positive patch tests to it are mostly regarded as allergic. To evaluate such "positive" patch test reactions, 77 female (mean age: 44 years) and 23 male eczema patients (mean age: 46 years) were prospectively patch tested with freshly prepared olive oil. Tests were performed openly (including ROAT) as well as using Al-tests and Finn Chambers on Scanpor. 5 patients (2 male) showed "positive" test reactions (all patients at the Al-test site, 3 at the Finn Chamber site, 1 with ROAT). In only 1 patient could the reaction be classified as probably allergic, in contrast to previous reports. In conclusion, olive oil is very weakly irritant in general, but bears relevant irritant capacity when applied under occlusive conditions. Therefore, olive oil appears to be less than suitable for the topical therapy of patients with venous insufficiency and associated eczema of the lower extremities.

Recurrent dermatitis from jellyfish envenomation.

Jellyfish envenomation can cause an immediate local skin reaction, which is usually a painful linear vesiculourticarial eruption. Persistent, delayed, or recurrent dermatitis is less common. Because jellyfish sting reactions and their management are unfamiliar to family physicians, we describe a case of recurrent local dermatitis after jellyfish envenomation and suggest appropriate treatment.