Tungiasis: a case report and review of the literature

Tungiasis is a cutaneous parasitic infection caused by the sand flea Tunga penetrans. This infection is endemic to Central and South America, the Caribbean, and sub-Saharan Africa and is more prevalent in resource-poor communities. Increased air travel, emigration from, and immigration to these countries can lead to the import of T. penetrans to travelers’ hometowns. In recent times, dermatologists have encountered many such tropical cutaneous infections, and they should promptly diagnose the condition to prevent complications. We report a case of tungiasis imported from Brazil and review the related literature

Report of two cases of cutaneous Mycobacterium abscessus infection complicating professional decorative tattoo

Two healthy middle-aged men presented with extensive skin eruptions of erythematous papules and plaques associated with tattoo pigments of multiple colors. Diagnosis of cutaneous Mycobacterium abscessus infection was made based on the clinical and histological findings and culture results. Both of the patients were successfully treated with clarithromycin. In addition to the two patients, nine other clients in the same tattoo parlor also suffered from similar symptoms. A local outbreak of M. abscessus infection after tattooing in Taiwan was suspected. We report two cases of M. abscessus infection after tattooing and review the literature

Salvianolic Acid B in Microemulsion Formulation Provided Sufficient Hydration for Dry Skin and Ameliorated the Severity of Imiquimod-induced Psoriasis-like Dermatitis in Mice

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder with a pathogenesis involving the interleukin-23/interleukin-17 axis. Salvianolic acid B exerts several pharmacological effects, such as antioxidation, anti-inflammation, and antitumor effects. The anti-psoriatic effects of salvianolic acid B have not been reported. In this study, we aimed to determine the optimum vehicle for salvianolic acid B, investigate its therapeutic effect on psoriatic-like skin conditions, and explore its underlying mechanisms of action. BALB/c mice were administered topical imiquimod to induce psoriasis-like skin and were then randomly assigned to control, vehicle control, salvianolic acid B in vehicles, and 0.25% desoximetasone ointment treatment groups. Barrier function, cytokine expression, histology assessment, and disease severity were evaluated. The results showed that salvianolic acid B-containing microemulsion alleviated disease severity, reduced acanthosis, and inhibited interleukin-23/interleukin-17 (IL-23/IL-17) cytokines, epidermal proliferation, and increased skin hydration. Our study suggests that salvianolic acid B represents a possible new therapeutic drug for the treatment of psoriasis. In addition, such formulation could obtain high therapeutic efficacy in addition to providing sufficient hydration for dry skin