Scalp Psoriasiform Contact Dermatitis with Acute Telogen Effluvium due to Topical Minoxidil Treatment

Topical minoxidil, the only approved treatment for female pattern hair loss (FPHL), has been associated with scalp allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). We report the case of 2 female patients who developed ACD from minoxidil solution with severe telogen effluvium and psoriasiform scalp dermatitis. Scalp dermoscopy was useful to identify the psoriasiform vascular pattern, whereas patch testing made it possible to differentiate the cause of sensitization. In one case, minoxidil was the sole cause of scalp dermatitis, while in the other patient it was only the vehicle, thus permitting the patient to continue the treatment for FPHL

Focus on five patients treated with cyclosporine up to 62 months

Background: Cyclosporine is a validated treatment for moderate to severe psoriasis. Long-term cyclosporine administration may induce toxic effects. The duration of treatment usually ranges from 10 to 16 weeks. However, some patients may take cyclosporine for a longer time. Aim: The objective of the present study is to evaluate the dose, efficacy and safety in long-term cyclosporine therapy. Patients and methods: We studied the hospital records of patients with psoriasis treated with cyclosporine between 1 January 2009, and 30 April 2015. We decided to focus on patients who, for different reasons, have continued cyclosporine for more than 2 years. Results: Five patients (2.69%) had been assuming cyclosporine for up to 62 months and had achieved a substantial response with no toxic effects. All of them were concerned about recurrence and all patients had personal reasons to prefer Cyclosporine over other drugs, including: familiar history of neurodegenerative disease, desire for motherhood, easy availability on prescription, systemic scleroderma, belenophobia. Conclusion: Cyclosporine is an acceptable monotherapy for psoriasis in selected patients. The prompt discontinuation of treatment usually results in resolution of any eventual toxicity

Focus on pemphigoid associated with malignancies

non

Scar reactivation and dry cough.

As far as we know, our case is the first pellagroid skin eruption related to a vitamin PP deficit due to the stopping of supplements during ketogenic diet and anti-epileptic therapy, and emphasizes that an appropriate supplementation of vitamins and oligoelements is mandatory in such cases

Sex and the PASI: Patients affected by a mild form of psoriasis are more predisposed to have a more severe form of erectile dysfunction

Background: Psoriasis is a multi-systemic disease involving the skin and joints, but it is also characterized by endothelial dysfunction, which may cause sexual impotence and erectile dysfunction (ED), an embarrassing disease frequently neglected by dermatologists. Objective: The principal objective was assessing the relationship between the severity of psoriasis and the severity of ED. We also investigated whether severity of psoriasis was related to International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) score, whether genital lesions worsened the IIEF-5 score, whether ED was related to factors such as diabetes, smoking and hypertension, and finally the overall the psychological factors felt by the patient. Methods: We administered two questionnaires (one of which was the IIEF-5, a validated score to assess erectile dysfunction) to three groups of patients: 60 with mild psoriasis, 60 with severe psoriasis (assessed by Psoriasis Area Severity Index, PASI) and a control group including 60 patients without the disease. Results: In the group of mild psoriasis, the patients who suffered from ED were the 56.67%, while in the group of severe psoriasis, ED affected the 46.68% of subjects. In the control group, ED was reported by the 23.33% of patients. The average IIEF-5 score was 18.81 for patients with mild psoriasis and 20.31 for patients with severe form. The difference in the average IIEF-5 scores between psoriatic (mild and severe cases) and control group was not statistically significant. Most patients with sexual dysfunction had also genital lesions; diabetes, smoking and hypertension were not related to lower IIEF-5 scores. The overall psychological profile of psoriatic patients was worse than that of the controls. Conclusion: We concluded that ED was related to psoriasis, in particular to mild forms. Moreover, since ED is a marker of cardiovascular events, also related to negative impact on the quality of life, physicians should always investigate the presence of ED in clinical practice

Survey of bullous pemphigoid in an Italian University hospital: clinical-epidemiological characteristics and follow-up

The clinical-epidemiological characteristics and course of bullous pemphigoid in the general population is not clear. Few studies have been performed to date, and only one in the Italian population more than ten years ago. We decided to evaluate the characteristics and outcome of patients admitted for a bullous pemphigoid at our Hospital in the last 4 years

Azithromycin: A new therapeutical strategy for acne in adolescents

To study the efficacy, safety, and compliance of 500 mg azithromycin thrice weekly for 8 weeks to treat acne vulgaris in adolescents

Pityriasis versicolor during anti-TNF-α monoclonal antibody therapy: therapeutic considerations

Anecdotal reports have shown that tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha inhibition may cause unchecked superficial infection with the microorganisms responsible for pityriasis versicolor (PV). We observed several cases of PV, which is frequently resistant to topical therapies, in psoriatic patients undergoing anti-TNF-α monoclonal antibody therapy. To evaluate the incidence and the therapeutic management of PV in this group of individuals, between 1 January and 27 December 2010, we examined 153 psoriatic patients for the hypopigmented/hyperpigmented macular and scaling lesions associated with PV. All patients positive for PV were given topical therapy with miconazole nitrate cream twice daily for 28 days, after which they were re-evaluated. In patients non-responsive to topical therapy, we started systemic therapy with fluconazole, 300 mg week for 3 weeks. We diagnosed seven cases of PV. At the end of topical treatment, complete healing of lesions was observed in only one patient. In the other six patients, systemic treatment led to complete resolution of the infection. Although the onset of PV during anti-TNF-alpha; therapy is seldom reported, it is not likely to be rare, but rather under-reported because of its limited pathological significance. In our opinion, the therapeutic management of this condition deserves greater consideration, as the use of topical treatments alone is largely ineffective compared with systemic treatment