Postpartum Telogen Effluvium Unmasking Traction Alopecia.

Introduction: Telogen effluvium (TE) is a type of diffuse hair shedding that occurs 2-3 months after an exposure or trigger. The excessive hair loss may "unmask" underlying hair loss disorders such as female pattern hair loss. Case Presentation: This is a case series of 3 patients with postpartum TE in which an underlying traction alopecia (TA) was revealed. Conclusion: TE can unmask underlying TA. Awareness of this phenomenon is critical to appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

Nocturnal Traction: Techniques Used for Hair Style Maintenance while Sleeping May Be a Risk Factor for Traction Alopecia.

BACKGROUND: Traction alopecia (TA) is a preventable form of hair loss that most commonly affects women. It is the result of chronic use of hairstyles that put tension on hair. Public health efforts to increase awareness of this condition are critical. Early recognition by health care providers, along with counseling and cessation of offending hair care practices can impact severity of hair loss. OBJECTIVES: In a patient with patchy hair loss, having a high index of suspicion for TA and looking for clues in the history and exam, can help establish an accurate diagnosis. METHODS: Patients with afro-textured or curly hair may use various techniques to maintain their hairstyles while sleeping in order to avoid time-consuming and/or expensive hair care. This behavior is not commonly recognized or addressed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Increased awareness of "nocturnal traction" and asking patients "How do you wear your hair when you sleep?" may help identify at-risk patients.

Gram-negative infections in patients with folliculitis decalvans: a subset of patients requiring alternative treatment.

Background Folliculitis decalvans is a neutrophilic cicatricial alopecia whose etiology remains unknown. It is frequently associated with staphylococcal infections. We aimed to determine the rate of gram-negative infections in patients with folliculitis decalvans. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed of patients with biopsy-proven folliculitis decalvans seen at a tertiary hair referral center. The results of bacterial cultures were evaluated. Subjects were determined to have no infection, gram-positive infections, gram-negative infections, or mixed infections. Results Thirty-nine subjects were included in the study. Ninety-three cultures were performed. The majority of cultures were positive for staphylococci. Eleven patients (28%) had gram-negative infections of the scalp. Gram-negative infections comprised one-third of all cultures (33%). Conclusion We present the largest cohort of folliculitis decalvans patients with gram-negative infections, suggesting the need for routine bacterial cultures in patients who are not responsive to standard anti-staphylococcal antibiotics. Awareness of the incidence of these infections may lead to better therapeutic outcomes.

Composite hemangioendothelioma: An unusual presentation of a rare vascular tumor.

OBJECTIVES: Composite hemangioendothelioma (CHE) has been recently recognized as a low- to intermediate-grade vascular tumor. CHEs are rare vascular tumors that are clinically similar to more common vascular tumors but histologically exhibit a composite of hemangioendothelioma variants. We report the first case of a CHE on the scalp and the fifth case to show findings supportive of regional metastasis. METHODS: Our patient had a multilobulated, violaceous scalp nodule, which on histologic examination revealed epithelioid, retiform, and spindle-cell components and rare foci of intermediate-grade mitotic activity consistent with CHE. RESULTS: Imaging studies were performed and revealed an abnormal uptake of contrast media in a posterior neck nodule that, when examined via fine-needle aspiration, revealed clumps of atypical cells. CONCLUSIONS: This unique case presentation is representative of the variability seen in the presentation of CHE and highlights the importance of considering CHE on the clinical and histologic differential of vascular tumors.

Pharmacotherapeutic management of actinic keratosis: focus on newer topical agents.

Actinic (solar) keratoses (AK) have the potential for malignant transformation and are the second most common diagnosis in dermatologic practices. No well-established clinical criteria are available to determine which AK are more likely to undergo malignant transformation; therefore, many dermatologists utilize field-directed approaches to treat all visible and subclinical AK on an affected skin surface. Current topical therapeutic agents require lengthy treatment regimens and are less well tolerated than many newer and investigational agents. We review and compare the efficacy and tolerability of well-established topical agents for the management of AK in the United States including 5-fluorouracil, imiquimod 5% cream as well as the newer 2.5 and 3.75% formulations, diclofenac 3% gel, photodynamic therapy, and the recently approved ingenol mebutate gel and discuss the therapeutic potential of investigational agents. Cryotherapy and 5-fluorouracil are efficacious at treating AK but less tolerable than imiquimod cream, particularly at its lower concentrations. The newer agents, diclofenac gel and ingenol mebutate, appear to be more tolerable than cryotherapy and 5- fluorouracil; however, comparative studies regarding efficacy are not available.

Bone mineral density in patients with alopecia areata treated with long-term intralesional corticosteroids.

BACKGROUND: Intralesional corticosteroid injections are a common treatment for patchy alopecia areata, the most prevalent subtype of this autoimmune hair disorder. To date, no studies have examined the potential adverse effects of this therapy on bone mineral density (BMD). METHODS: In this retrospective, cross-sectional case series, 18 patients with patchy alopecia areata treated at 4- to 8-week intervals with intralesional triamcinolone acetonide for at least 20 months were evaluated for BMD using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Follow-up DXA measurements were obtained in those with abnormal findings. RESULTS: Nine out of 18 patients (50%) had abnormal DXA results. Patients with the following risk factors were more likely to have abnormal BMD: age older than 50 years, body mass index less than 18.5 kg/m2, lack of weight-bearing exercise, smoking history, postmenopausal status, past stress fracture, family history of osteopenia or osteoporosis, and a cumulative intralesional triamcinolone acetonide dose of greater than 500 mg. CONCLUSION: Patients with patchy alopecia areata who receive chronic intralesional triamcinolone acetonide therapy should be counseled on preventive measures for osteoporosis and monitored for effects on BMD.

A pilot study of an oral phosphodiesterase inhibitor (apremilast) for atopic dermatitis in adults.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the preliminary safety and efficacy of apremilast, an oral phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, for atopic dermatitis. DESIGN: This investigator-initiated, open-label pilot study evaluated 2 doses of apremilast in patients with atopic dermatitis. Differential gene analysis was performed from peripheral whole blood using data before and after treatment. SETTING: University-based dermatology clinical research unit. PATIENTS: Sixteen adult patients with atopic dermatitis. INTERVENTION: A specific phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, apremilast. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was incidence of adverse events. Secondary outcomes included the differences in pruritus, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), and Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) scores between the baseline visit and end-ofstudy visit for each cohort. RESULTS: The group receiving apremilast, 20 mg twice daily, displayed a significant reduction from baseline of pruritus (P=.02) and the DLQI (P=.003) at 3 months. The group receiving apremilast, 30 mg twice daily, displayed a significant reduction of the EASI (P=.008) and the DLQI (P=.01) at 3 months. At 6 months, there was a significant reduction of the EASI (P=.002), the visual analog scale (P=.03), and the DLQI (P=.03). Gene ontologic analyses comparing baseline with samples during treatment revealed alterations in immune response pathways, especially those related to cyclic adenosine monophosphate­mediated signaling. CONCLUSIONS: These results support further development of apremilast for treatment of atopic dermatitis. Larger randomized controlled studies are needed to more adequately evaluate both safety and efficacy. Limitations include the small sample size and absence of a control. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01393158.

A double-blind, randomized, bilateral comparison of skin irritancy following application of the combination acne products clindamycin/tretinoin and benzoyl peroxide/adapalene.

BACKGROUND: The use of topical medications for acne vulgaris is often limited by their irritant properties. Newer combination preparations are available and offer convenience, but irritant potential may still be a hindrance, perhaps more so with the combination of 2 agents. Few studies have compared these formulations directly for tolerability. OBJECTIVE: We sought to compare the tolerability of 2 combination topical acne products, clindamycin 1.2%-tretinoin 0.025% (CLIN/RA) gel and benzoyl peroxide 2.5%-adapalene 0.1% (BPO/ADA) gel. METHODS: CLIN/RA and BPO/ADA were applied daily to opposite sides of a subject's face for 21 days in a double-blinded fashion. Investigators' Global Assessments and study subject self-assessments of burning/stinging, itching, erythema, and dryness/scaling were collected. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was also measured as an objective measure of skin irritation. A mixed model analysis and repeated-measures analysis of variance were used to compare outcomes for both acne formulations. RESULTS: CLIN/RA produced significantly less burning/stinging than BPO/ADA (P<.001) as well as significantly less pruritus than BPO/ ADA (P<.001). BPO/ADA caused significantly more TEWL than CLIN/RA (P=.005). There was no significant difference in the amount of erythema or the amount of dryness/scaling caused by either formulation. CONCLUSION: CLIN/RA produced significantly less skin irritancy and TEWL than BPO/ADA.

The "Fringe Sign" - A useful clinical finding in traction alopecia of the marginal hair line.

INTRODUCTION: Traction alopecia is hair loss caused by prolonged or repetitive tension on the hair. Diagnostic challenges are encountered when the clinical suspicion is not high and when a history of traction is remote or not obtained. We have made the observation that the presence of retained hairs along the frontal and/or temporal rim, which we termed the "fringe sign," is a finding seen in both early and late traction alopecia, and may be a useful clinical marker of the condition. METHODS: This was a retrospective single-center review to determine the frequency of the fringe sign in patients with traction alopecia. RESULTS: Over a 3.5-year period the diagnosis of traction alopecia was made in 41 women. Twelve of the 41 patients were Hispanic (29%). Thirty-five (85%) of all women and 100 percent of women who had traction involving the marginal hairline had the fringe sign. Fourteen biopsies (58%) were available for review. Histopathologic findings included retained sebaceous glands (100%), an increase in vellus-sized hairs (50%), a decrease in terminal hairs (100%), fibrotic fibrous tracts (100%), and sparse lymphocytic inflammation (57%). CONCLUSIONS: The fringe sign is a sensitive and specific clinical feature of traction alopecia when it involves the marginal hairline.

Granular parakeratosis: response to calcipotriene and brief review of current therapeutic options.

A 34-year-old Hispanic woman presented with an 18-month history of an intermittent, asymptomatic eruption that began on her left axilla after using a depilatory cream containing corn starch and thioglycolate (Figure 1A). The eruption then spread to her right axilla and lower abdomen (Figure 1B). She reported worsening with deodorant use, but had been using the same deodorant for many years and had continued using it twice a day. Treatment with topical corticosteroids had not helped. The patient coincidentally had been started on isotretinoin 5 months previously for acne, but it had no effect on her axillary or abdominal lesions. Physical examination revealed multiple dark brown and black papules with a "stuck-on" appearance in both axillae and on the lower right abdomen. A biopsy of the left axilla revealed a thickened parakeratotic stratum corneum with retention of keratohyalin granules within the parakeratoric cells, which is considered diagnostic of granular parakeratosis (Figure 2). The patient was prescribed calcipotriene cream twice daily. After 2 weeks, she had complete resolution of the axillary lesions, but the abdominal lesions persisted. She has since had mild recurrences while using calcipotriene.