Cutis
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Herpetic whitlow is a painful cutaneous infection that most commonly affects the distal phalanx of the fingers and occasionally the toes. It is caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 or 2. ⋯ In children, most cases can be attributed to autoinoculation of HSV-1, while in adolescents and adults, herpetic whitlow tends to be caused by autoinoculation of HSV-2. Herpetic whitlow may have a prodrome of burning, pruritus, and/or tingling of the affected finger or the entire limb, followed by erythema, pain, and vesicle formation.
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Tinea capitis (TC) is a common fungal infection of the scalp, hair follicles, and hair shafts that can affect any age group but is particularly common in schoolchildren. The prevalence of TC has risen in the past 2 decades. Griseofulvin, the gold standard of therapy, does not cure about 20% of patients with TC, which has led to recent clinical trials on alternative agents for TC. This article reviews the pertinent new advances in the understanding of the disease and its therapy.
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Many medications are available for the management of acne. The armamentarium includes topical retinoids (ie, adapalene, tazarotene, tretinoin), antimicrobial and antibacterial agents (ie, benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, erythromycin, sulfacetamide with or without sulfur), oral antibiotics (ie, doxycycline, minocycline, tetracycline), hormonal agents (ie, oral contraceptives, spironolactone), and systemic retinoids (ie, isotretinoin). ⋯ The product's excipients, glycerin and dimethicone, minimize treatment-related irritation, thereby increasing patient compliance. Clindamycin-benzoyl peroxide may be well-tolerated when applied with topical retinoids, creating a more targeted and complete treatment strategy.
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Review Case Reports
Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation: evolving combination treatment strategies.
Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is a common acquired excess of pigment in the epidermal and/or dermal layers of the skin. Lesions persist for extended periods if untreated, thus therapy is warranted. ⋯ Recently, several fixed-dose combination products were introduced to the armamentarium: HQ 4%-retinol 0.15% in a microsponge formulation; HQ 4%-retinol 0.3%; mequinol 2%-tretinoin (RA) 0.01%; and fluocinolone acetonide (FA) 0.01%, HQ 4%, and RA 0.05%. Recent findings have suggested that mequinol 2%-RA 0.01% solution is a promising alternative for the treatment of PIH.
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Acne vulgaris is one of the most common disorders encountered by dermatologists in the clinical setting. Although it is well recognized that the back and chest may be affected in many patients, little data exist regarding the prevalence, grading, and treatment of truncal acne vulgaris. Results of clinical studies suggest that as with facial acne vulgaris, combination therapy is optimal. This article discusses clinical challenges related to the management of truncal acne vulgaris, a system for rating disease severity, and recommendations regarding the use of topical and systemic therapies.