The role of photography in dermatology research.

This article discusses the role of clinical photography in dermatology research and the value of healthcare professionals engaging with clinical photographers when planning and undertaking clinical photography. It is not always feasible to use a clinical photographer, or clinicians may not have access to such a service, but with advice, support and training from clinical photographers, clinicians can take good clinical photographs with easy-to-use low cost equipment. This article provides an exemplar where good quality clinical photographs have been obtained of congenital erythropoietic porphyria (CEP) patients for dermatology research. The images have been taken by a dermatologist, with guidance from trained clinical photographers. The photographs played a valuable role in providing a visual, comparative and comprehensive description of this extremely rare multi-system disease.

Macrocephaly-cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita: A case report and review of salient features.

Macrocephaly-cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita is a recently recognized syndrome described mainly in the genetics literature. However, children with macrocephaly-cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita are likely to present first to a dermatologist, with generalized cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita as the main feature. These children are at risk of neurologic abnormalities and life-threatening complications. Therefore it is important for dermatologists to recognize this syndrome to monitor these children for potential complications. We report the case of a 2-year-old boy with macrocephaly-cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita in association with dysmorphic facies, seizures, and facial and limb asymmetry, and we review the salient features of this syndrome.

The cutaneous porphyrias.

The porphyrias are a group of mainly inherited disorders of heme biosynthesis where accumulation of porphyrins and/or porphyrin precursors gives rise to 2 types of clinical presentation: cutaneous photosensitivity and/or acute neurovisceral attacks. The cutaneous porphyrias present with either bullous skin fragility or nonbullous acute photosensitivity. This review discusses the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, laboratory diagnosis, complications, and current approach to porphyria management. Although focusing mainly on their dermatological aspects, the article also covers the management of acute porphyria, which by virtue of its association with variegate porphyria and hereditary coproporphyria, may become the responsibility of the clinical dermatologist.

A multicentre review of the hairdressing allergens tested in the UK.

Allergens used for patch testing in the hairdressing series vary between dermatology centres in the UK. The aim of our study is to ascertain the hairdressing allergens currently in use and their test results in several dermatology centres in the UK. Data were obtained from databases in 9 dermatology departments. The allergens with positive results and current/past relevance were included in a new hairdressing series based on collective experience, for wider use and further evaluation.

A multicentre review of the footwear allergens tested in the UK.

Footwear allergens used for patch testing vary between dermatology centres in the UK. The aim of our study is to ascertain the footwear allergens currently in use and their test results in several dermatology centres in the UK. Data were obtained from databases in 9 dermatology departments. A new footwear series consisting of 19 allergens including those with positive results and current/past relevance in this study based on collective experience is proposed for wider use and further evaluation.