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Perioral dermatitis is a common inflammatory skin disease presenting as tiny papules or pustules localized around the mouth, nose, or eyes. It is often confused with acne vulgaris, rosacea, and seborrheic dermatitis. The condition's precise etiology remains unknown, though it is often triggered by topical corticosteroids. Oral and topical antibiotics are the mainstays of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest None disclosed.

Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) typically presents with band-like scarring alopecia in the frontal and temporal hairline along with eyebrow loss. Although this type of hair loss is being seen with increased frequency worldwide, the etiology of the condition is unknown. Studies have suggested a potential environmental role with moisturizers and sunscreens being possible triggers. Herein, we present a 42-year-old woman with a biopsy-proven diagnosis of frontal fibrosing alopecia. In addition to the typical pattern, she also had a striking linear patch of hair loss along her central part. This was an area where she regularly applied sunscreen for many years. Although a causative role for sunscreen ingredients in the development of FFA has not been proven, the evidence accumulated thus far, including our suggestive case, substantiates the need for further study. Additionally, increasing awareness of this potential effect leading to appropriate counseling regarding cessation of possible triggers may be critical for the prevention of further hair loss.

Objectives: The aim was to examine the use of antibiotics to treat asthma patients in U.S. emergency departments (EDs). The authors sought to investigate inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions by identifying the frequency and predictors of antibiotics prescribed for asthma exacerbations using data from two sources, the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) and the National Emergency Department Safety Study (NEDSS)., Methods: The authors used data from NHAMCS and NEDSS to identify the proportion of ED visits for asthma exacerbations that resulted in the prescription of an antibiotic. NHAMCS provided national data from 1993 through 2004, while NEDSS provided data from 63 primarily academic EDs from 2003 through 2006. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression modeling were used to identify variables associated with antibiotic administration., Results: Analysis of NHAMCS data revealed that 22% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 20% to 24%) of acute asthma visits resulted in an antibiotic prescription from 1993 through 2004, with no significant change in prescribing frequency over the 12-year period. NEDSS data from 2003 through 2006 showed that 18% (95% CI = 17% to 19%) of acute asthma cases in academic EDs received an antibiotic. Multivariate modeling of NHAMCS data revealed that African American patients (odds ratio [OR] = 0.8; 95% CI = 0.6 to 0.97) and patients in urban EDs (OR = 0.5; 95% CI = 0.4 to 0.7) were less likely to receive antibiotics for asthma exacerbations than white patients and patients in nonurban EDs, respectively. NHAMCS analysis also found that patients in the South were more likely to receive antibiotics than those in the Northeast (OR = 1.4; 95% CI = 1.1 to 1.9). A NEDSS multivariate model found a similar difference, with African Americans (OR = 0.6; 95% CI = 0.4 to 0.8) and Hispanics (OR = 0.6; 95% CI = 0.4 to 0.8) being less likely than whites to receive an antibiotic., Conclusions: ED treatment of acute asthma with unnecessary antibiotics is likely to contribute to bacterial antibiotic resistance. Interventions are needed to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions and to address disparities in asthma care.