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Brooke-Spiegler syndrome (BSS) is an autosomal dominant (AD) inherited syndrome predisposing those affected, to the development of multiple hamartomas/neoplasms derived from skin appendage structures. These tumors include cylindromas, trichoepitheliomas, and spiradenomas. In the setting of BSS, these lesions most often appear as multiple papules or nodules on the head and neck region during adolescence or early adulthood. BSS may be mistaken for the eruption of acne vulgaris [1, 2]. While BSS was initially described as a unique entity, it is now thought to exist as part of a spectrum of AD appendage tumor syndromes allelic for germline mutations within the Cylindromatosis (CYLD) gene. This group includes two other syndromes: familial cylindromatosis (FC) and multiple familial trichoepithelioma (MFT) [2]. As indicated by their name, MFT is characterized by trichoepitheliomas, while FC is characterized by cylindromas [3]. Therefore, MFT and FC represent two ends of a spectrum with BSS falling within the middle [4].

Muir-Torre syndrome (MTS) is a rare, autosomal dominant genodermatosis characterized by sebaceous neoplasms, keratoacanthomas, and visceral malignancies [1, 2]. MTS is a phenotypic subset of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) caused by mutations in mismatch repair genes associated with microsatellite instability [3]. Due to the increased risk in developing visceral malignancies, it is important that the proper diagnosis to be made as early as possible and family members be evaluated for MTS and its associated cancers.

Combination therapy using medications with complementary mechanisms of action is the standard of care in treating acne. We report results of a clinical trial evaluating the use of a fixed-dose tretinoin 0.025%/clindamycin phosphate 1.2% (T/CP) gel in combination with a benzoyl peroxide 6% foaming cloth compared with T/CP alone for facial acne. At week 12, the combination therapy group showed a trend toward greater efficacy compared with T/CP alone. There was a high success rate observed in the study, which may be attributable to the large percentage of adult female acne patients enrolled. Cutaneous adverse events were not statistically different in using combination therapy compared with T/CP alone.

Acne scarring is a commonly encountered yet extremely challenging problem to treat for the dermatologist. As acne scarring can lead to significant psychological distress and low self-esteem, it is of utmost importance to have effective and satisfying treatments in the physician's armamentarium. However, many treatments are unsatisfying, leading to patient disappointment and frustration. Although early treatment of acne lesions and inflammation with isotretinoin is beneficial in preventing acne scarring, many patients still present with troubling noticeable scars. Despite the advances in pharmacology and technology, scar treatment still remains suboptimal and is tainted with several adverse effects. However, some treatments can provide benefits. This review article exhaustively discusses and analyzes the various minimally invasive approaches to the treatment of acne scarring with an emphasis on pharmacologic agents, such as isotretinoin for atrophic acne scars and corticosteroids and chemotherapeutic drugs for hypertrophic scars. Intralesional injections of corticosteroids are efficacious in reducing keloid scar formation in addition to preventing recurrence following surgical excision. In-office and minimally invasive procedural management, including chemical peels, dermabrasion, tissue augmentation, and punch excision is also discussed. Superficial chemical peels are efficacious in treating atrophic scars with relatively few adverse effects and complications. Although dermabrasion is used less often with the advent of laser resurfacing, this technique remains as a viable option for those with atrophic scars. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation can be managed successfully with topical agents such as azelaic acid and hydroquinone. The efficacy of various treatment modalities is highlighted with a focus on choosing the correct modalities for specific scar types.

Combination therapy addressing multiple pathogenic factors should be used to achieve optimal outcomes in treating acne. The following study demonstrated both safety and efficacy of fixed-dose clindamycin phosphate 1.2%/benzoyl peroxide 2.5% in the morning with micronized tretinoin 0.05% gel in the evening. Both products were applied to the skin following the use of a ceramide containing moisturizing lotion.

Several types of systemic therapies exist to treat psoriasis. These include traditional immunosuppressive agents such as cyclosporine and methotrexate. Oral retinoids such as acitretin may also be appropriate in some patients. The scope of this paper, however, will focus on the use of targeted immunologic therapies, know as biologic agents.

Given the multifactorial and complex contributors to acne development, combination therapy is standard of care. By addressing multiple pathogenic factors, combination therapy provides a quicker and more efficacious treatment outcome than monotherapy. Topical retinoids normalize follicular keratinocyte differentiation and are anti-inflammatory. Their use is limited by the potential for cutaneous irritation. Antimicrobials reduce Propionibacterium acnes colonization on the skin and reduce the bacteria's proinflammatory effects. Topical antibiotics and benzoyl peroxide (BPO) are commonly employed in fixed-dose combination products or two separate medications. BPO has the added benefit of being comedolytic and can minimize the risk for bacterial antibiotic resistance. Like topical retinoids, BPO may cause skin irritation, burning, erythema, and peeling. Managing cutaneous side effects when using multiple products that cause irritation can be a challenge. Careful product selection, dose titration, and patient-directed regimens can help to optimize outcomes. This review presents the latest data on two topical acne products that have demonstrated excellent efficacy and tolerability profiles. In addition, their in vitro profiles suggest the potential for combination use, affording greater dosing flexibility.

In the US, soft tissue fillers are currently administered using sharp, hypodermic needles. The choice in length and gauge of needle is determined by the injector's preferences, as well as the physical properties of the filler itself. While some adverse events are injector-dependent, others may be due to risks inherent to using sharp needles. The use of new, flexible cannulas with blunt tips may potentially both lower these risks and change the techniques by which fillers are administered in the future.

With the rising incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in the US, it is of paramount importance that practitioners understand the complications of DM and how best to manage them. Diabetes affects every organ system and the skin is no exception. There are numerous cutaneous manifestations of DM that have similar etiologies and result from the same pathologic mechanisms as the internal complications of this disease state. In addition, skin manifestations may precede the diagnosis of diabetes. The present article reviews both the common and less common cutaneous manifestations of DM, including presenting lesions, pathogenesis, and management.

In 2010, an expert committee of physicians and researchers in the field of dermatology working together as the Psoriasis Process of Care Consensus Panel developed consensus guidelines for the treatment of psoriasis. As much as possible, the guidelines were evidence based but also included the extensive clinical experience of the dermatologists. Psoriasis is a lifelong disease that requires long-term treatment and 80% of psoriasis patients have mild to moderate disease. Topical therapies play an important role in the treatment of psoriasis, especially in patients with mild to moderate disease. Patients usually start with monotherapy; however, in more severe cases (10% body surface area [BSA], severely impaired quality of life [QOL], or recalcitrant psoriatic lesions), multiple treatment modalities may be used as part of combination, sequential, or rotational therapeutic regimens. Main treatment options include topical steroids, systemic therapies, topical vitamin D treatments such as vitamin D3 ointment, retinoids, phototherapy, and biologic therapies. Other topical therapies include the following steroid-sparing agents: coal tar, anthralin, calcineurin inhibitors, keratolytics, and emollients. Therapeutic considerations also should focus on adherence, improving QOL, and promoting a good patient-physician relationship.

Background Iatrogenic Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) has been reported in patients who use immunosuppressive regimens for the treatment of autoimmune disorders, malignant neoplasms, and organ transplant rejection. However, iatrogenic KS in the setting of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) has been infrequently observed. The conventional treatment strategy for iatrogenic KS has focused on reducing immunosuppression, which carries a poor prognosis owing to a substantial risk for exacerbation of the primary disease. Observations A 49-year-old man developed KS on his wrist after 2 years of long-term immunosuppressive therapy with prednisone, methotrexate, and dapsone for well-controlled PV. Three months after the substitution of methotrexate with sirolimus, the KS gradually resolved. With the patient on a maintenance regimen of sirolimus, in conjunction with low-dose prednisone and dapsone therapy, KS and PV have remained in remission, without further recurrence, during a 24-month follow-up period. Conclusion The present case introduces a novel therapy for this patient population, highlighting the efficacy of sirolimus in treating iatrogenic KS without sacrificing the immunosuppression necessary to maintain control of PV.

Background Imiquimod 5% cream applied twice weekly for 16 weeks is effective for treating actinic keratoses but may be limited by local side effects. Objective We sought to explore the efficacy and safety of a once weekly for 24 weeks dosing regimen using a left versus right side of head design. Results Twenty patients were enrolled; 15 completed and 5 discontinued for reasons unrelated to adverse events. At the posttreatment visit (week 28), 7 (46.7%) of 15 patients had marked improvement or better on the imiquimod side versus one (6.7%) of 15 on the placebo side. The average investigator assessment scale score change was +2.20 for imiquimod compared with –0.27 for placebo ( P = .0002, Wilcoxon signed rank test). Skin reactions were minimal or nonexistent in most patients. Limitations Limitations of the study include a small sample size and a lack of objective measure of local side effects. Conclusion Imiquimod 5% cream applied once weekly for 24 weeks was convenient for patients and resulted in improvement of actinic keratoses with minimal side effects.

To examine the efficacy and safety of MAS063DP (Atopiclair) cream in the management of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in infants and children.One hundred forty-two patients aged 6 months to 12 years were administered MAS063DP (n = 72) or vehicle (n = 70) cream 3 times per day to affected areas and sites prone to develop atopic dermatitis. The primary endpoint for efficacy was the Investigator's Global Assessment at day 22. Secondary endpoints included Investigator's Global Assessment at other time-points, patient's/caregiver's assessment of pruritus, onset, duration of itch relief, Eczema Area and Severity Index, subject's/caregiver's assessment of global response, and need for rescue medication in the event of an atopic dermatitis flare.MAS063DP cream was statistically more effective (P.0001) than vehicle cream for the primary endpoint and all secondary endpoints. Treatment discontinuation as a result of an adverse event occurred in 9.9% of patients using MAS063DP cream and 16% of patients using vehicle cream.MAS063DP cream is effective and safe as monotherapy for the treatment of symptoms of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in infants and children.

The biologic agents are effective drugs to treat psoriasis. They provide physicians with additional options for patients who cannot tolerate traditional therapies or for whom traditional therapies are not sufficient. While these new TNF-alpha inhibitors and anti-T-cell agents have potential complications, they are generally safe with proper monitoring. Both physicians and patients should be aware of the risks involved with each medicine so that the correct drug is chosen to suit each patient.

Background: Long-term systemic retinoid therapy has been associated with skeletal side effects. There have been reports of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) syndrome, calcification of ligaments, and osteoporosis, as well as premature fusion of epiphyses and modeling abnormalities of long bones, occurring in patients on chronic high-dose isotretinoin, etretinate, and acitretin therapy. Low-dose acitretin has been used for many years as monotherapy or in combination with other systemic therapies for psoriasis. Evidence to date suggests that the frequency of symptomatic bony effects is quite low in these patients. Objective: To present the radiologic findings of a patient on long-term, low-dose acitretin and etretinate and to review the literature on the radiologic evidence of skeletal side effects during retinoid therapy. Methods: Case report and literature search. Results: A patient on low-dose acitretin had no significant radiologic abnormalities associated with retinoid use after 9 years of treatment. A review of the literature revealed conflicting reports on the incidence of radiologic abnormalities in patients on retinoid treatment. Conclusion: The evidence to date does not substantiate a clear link between radiologic skeletal abnormalities and long-term, low-dose acitretin or etretinate therapy.

Numerous therapies exist for the treatment of psoriasis. A complete understanding of the benefits and potential risks of all therapeutic options is requisite in selecting an appropriate regimen for each patient. This paper examines the effectiveness of combination therapy with acitretin in treating difficult cases of psoriasis, which may require systemic medication or phototherapy. Combination therapy is often more effective than any single agent, as medications with different mechanisms of action work synergistically. Furthermore, using lower doses of two treatments in combination can minimize the potential side effects from a single agent at a higher dose.

The treatment of acne during pregnancy is a challenge because of the potential teratogenic effects. Medications currently deemed safe during pregnancy are largely unsatisfactory in treating acne. Narrowband (NB) UV-B phototherapy is a safe option for treatment of psoriasis during pregnancy. We report the successful use of NB UV-B for the treatment of acne in a pregnant patient.