J Drugs Dermatol
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A young woman presented to the office with a history of bluish discoloration involving the superior malar region bilaterally. When the bluish discoloration became darker, she would press on her cheeks resulting in excretion of "black sweat" that temporarily lightened her skin color. ⋯ Histologic examination revealed collections of ectopic apocrine glands within mid-reticular dermis. The diagnosis of apocrine chromhidrosis was made, an uncommon cause of chromhidrosis and one in which bilateral facial presentation is rare.
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Isotretinoin therapy for the treatment of severe nodulocystic acne has been used for the last twenty-three years. Its use has been associated with many restrictions to the patient, with some of these based on mythology rather than on scientific evidence. The purpose of the article is to discuss the myths associated with acne treatment with isotretinoin. This article expresses the sole opinion of the author and does not give any guidelines as to the use of isotretinoin.
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Review Case Reports
Thalidomide as elective treatment in persistent erythema multiforme; report of two cases.
Recurrent erythema multiforme is a rare disorder, clinically characterized by symmetrically distributed, erythematous, and bullous skin and mucous lesions, mainly precipitated by a preceding herpes simplex infection. In rare cases, EM presents continuous or persistent relapses, and has been related to an Epstein-Barr virus infection. ⋯ Thalidomide induces immunomodulator, anti-inflammatory, and anti-angiogenic effects, and may be considered as the elective treatment of this rare variety of erythema multiforme. However, in order to avoid neuropathic side effects, patients under thalidomide therapy should be monitored every 6 months with nerve conduction studies while taking the drug.
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Review
Biologic therapy for psoriasis--the first wave: infliximab, etanercept, efalizumab, and alefacept.
Over the last several years, a new generation of therapies for psoriasis has been in development. These biologic therapies target the activity of T lymphocytes and cytokines responsible for the inflammatory nature of this disease. In this review, we present an update on the progress of the four biologic agents in the forefront: infliximab, etanercept, efalizumab, and alefacept. The mechanism of each drug will be reviewed, as well as the most recent efficacy and safety data.