Discrete and Coalescing Pustules Masking Severe Recalcitrant Rosacea due to Demodex

We describe a clinical case concerning a 36 year old man with a recalcitrant dermatosis involving the face and neck to demonstrate how multiple pathogenic mechanisms may ultimately prohibit disease resolution. This patient’s disease persisted despite multiple standard treatments for the leading differential diagnoses early in the disease course including: topical/systemic corticosteroids for an initially suspected facial dermatitis followed by minocycline and oral ivermectin for granulomatous rosacea with high Demodex burden. These failed therapies prompted the use of oral prednisone and topical pimecrolimus that resulted in some improvement but worsening flares if therapy was discontinued. The leading differential shifted toward rosacea fulminans or an unusual manifestation of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) in the setting of possible HIV or iatrogenic immunosuppression. An extensive diagnostic workup was completed and showed isolated IgM deficiency (49 mg/dl, normal range 60 to 300 mg/dl), low levels of 25 hydroxyvitamin D (15 pg/mL, normal range 18 to 64 pg/mL), and low ascorbic acid (0.3 mg/dl, normal range 0.6 to 2.0 mg/dl). The rash finally resolved following a tapering course of cyclosporine and vitamin repletion through supplements and dietary alteration. Our case is one with multiple confounding variables that may have contributed to the recalcitrant nature of this dermatosis: (1) presence of Demodex; (2) iatrogenic immunosuppression due to prolonged systemic and topical steroid use; and (3) vitamin deficiency. It is unclear exactly what role each of these factors played but the purpose of our case is to illustrate these variables can be encountered in regular practice and that sometimes the physician must explore and correct all potential vectors of pathogenesis in order to successfully treat recalcitrant dermatoses

Eruptive Disseminated Porokeratosis Associated with Corticosteroid-Induced Immunosuppression

Eruptive disseminated porokeratosis (EDP) is a disease that presents clinically with sudden onset of erythematous papules and plaques, with a ridge-like border histologically represented by a cornoid lamella. We report a case of EDP occurring in a 39-year-old woman 3 days after completion of a 2-week course of oral corticosteroid therapy for an acute asthma exacerbation. The patient was treated with emollients and sun protection. Unlike the more chronic disseminated superficial (actinic) porokeratosis, EDP secondary to immunosuppression from corticosteroid therapy has very rarely been reported in the dermatological literature

Treatment of estrogen-induced dermatitis with omalizumab

In 1945, Drs Bernhard Zondek and Yehuda Bromberg demonstrated intradermal treatment with estrone and estradiol benzoate induced urticarial lesions in some patients.1 Fifty years later, Shelley et al,2 who introduced the concept of progesterone dermatitis several decades prior, defined estrogen dermatitis based on studies of 7 women with premenstrual flares of skin eruptions including papulovesicular, urticarial, or eczematous lesions or generalized pruritus. Previously described therapies for estrogen dermatitis include estrogen desensitization, tamoxifen, leuprolide, and oophorectomy.3 Here we report a case of estrogen-induced dermatitis successfully treated with omalizumab

Pediatric positional sitting dermatitis: a new form of pediatric contact dermatitis

We report on four pediatric patients who presented with localized dermatitis in areas subject to repetitive friction due to their sitting positions. We propose that the cause of the eruption was irritant contact dermatitis due to frequently sitting in a crossed-leg sitting position, an entity for which we have coined the term pediatric positional sitting dermatitis (PPSD). The goal of this report is to raise clinicians' awareness of PPSD, which to our knowledge has not been previously described, and to discuss management of these patients

Rosacea Fulminans Precipitated by Acute Stress: A Case Report Describing an Integrative Approach for a Patient Reluctant to Use Isotretinoin

CONTEXT: Rosacea fulminans is a rare skin disorder with a multifactorial etiology. Stress is one of the common precipitating factors of this condition but is not often targeted in treatment. Isotretinoin is considered part of the first-line therapy for this condition but, in cases where its use is restricted, other therapeutic interventions as part of an integrative approach may be effective. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 38-y-old female presented with rosacea fulminans brought on by an acutely stressful event. After multiple failed therapies, she experienced resolution of her symptoms with a combination of systemic corticosteroids, antibiotics, diet modification, and stress reduction, with the treatment of stress playing a significant role. CONCLUSIONS: Stress management and diet modification are key adjunctive therapies in the treatment of rosacea fulminans and need to be addressed more often in treatment. In cases where patients are reluctant or unable to take isotretinoin, an integrative approach may be effective in achieving symptomatic improvement

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) as an aid for the diagnosis of graft-versus-host disease in two multivisceral organ transplant patients

We herein describe 2 cases of adult multivisceral transplant patients who developed graft-versus-host disease manifesting predominantly as lichenoid skin papules and plaques. The diagnosis was supported by histopathology but ultimately corroborated by the utilization of the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique using X and Y chromosome probes on unstained biopsy slides. In both cases, FISH revealed a high percentage of donor-derived cells as part of the inflammatory infiltrate in the skin biopsy. This report adds to the previous publications showing the utility of FISH in corroborating the diagnosis of graft-versus-host disease in transplant patients with unmatched sex donor

Staphylococcal lipoteichoic acid inhibits delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions via the platelet-activating factor receptor

Staphylococcus aureus infections are known triggers for skin inflammation and can modulate immune responses. The present studies used model systems consisting of platelet-activating factor receptor–positive and –negative (PAF-R–positive and –negative) cells and PAF-R–deficient mice to demonstrate that staphylococcal lipoteichoic acid (LTA), a constituent of Gram-positive bacteria cell walls, acts as a PAF-R agonist. We show that LTA stimulates an immediate intracellular Ca(2+) flux only in PAF-R–positive cells. Intradermal injections of LTA and the PAF-R agonist 1-hexadecyl-2-N-methylcarbamoyl glycerophosphocholine (CPAF) induced cutaneous inflammation in wild-type but not PAF-R–deficient mice. Systemic exposure to LTA or CPAF inhibited delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions to the chemical dinitrofluorobenzene only in PAF-R–expressing mice. The inhibition of DTH reactions was abrogated by the addition of neutralizing antibodies to IL-10. Finally, we measured levels of LTA that were adequate to stimulate PAF-R in vitro on the skin of subjects with infected atopic dermatitis. Based on these studies, we propose that LTA exerts immunomodulatory effects via the PAF-R through production of the Th2 cytokine IL-10. These findings show a novel mechanism by which staphylococcal infections can inhibit Th1 reactions and thus worsen Th2 skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis

Inter- and Intra-Physician Variation in Quantifying Actinic Keratosis Skin Photodamage

We investigated the variations in physician evaluation of skin photodamage based on a published photodamage scale. Of interest is the utility of a 10-level scale ranging from none and mild photodamage to actinic keratosis (AK). The dorsal forearms of 55 adult subjects with various amounts of photodamage were considered. Each forearm was independently evaluated by 15 board-certified dermatologists according to the Global Assessment Severity Scale ranging from 0 (less severe) to 9 (the most progressed stage of skin damage). Dermatologists rated the levels of photodamage based upon the photographs in blinded fashion. Results show substantial disagreement amongst the dermatologists on the severity of photodamage. Our results indicate that ratings could be more consistent if using a scale of less levels (3-levels). Ultimately, clinicians can use this knowledge to provide better interpretation of inter-rater evaluations and provide more reliable assessment and frequent monitoring of high-risk populations

Inter- and Intra-Physician Variation in Quantifying Actinic Keratosis Skin Photodamage

We investigated the variations in physician evaluation of skin photodamage based on a published photodamage scale. Of interest is the utility of a 10-level scale ranging from none and mild photodamage to actinic keratosis (AK). The dorsal forearms of 55 adult subjects with various amounts of photodamage were considered. Each forearm was independently evaluated by 15 board-certified dermatologists according to the Global Assessment Severity Scale ranging from 0 (less severe) to 9 (the most progressed stage of skin damage). Dermatologists rated the levels of photodamage based upon the photographs in blinded fashion. Results show substantial disagreement amongst the dermatologists on the severity of photodamage. Our results indicate that ratings could be more consistent if using a scale of less levels (3-levels). Ultimately, clinicians can use this knowledge to provide better interpretation of inter-rater evaluations and provide more reliable assessment and frequent monitoring of high-risk populations