Dermatology Online Journal

TNF-a inhibitors, which include adalimumab, infliximab, etanercept, certolizumab, and golimumab, and IL-12/23 inhibitor, ustekinumab, have been widely used as a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for the treatment of psoriasis. Outside of psoriasis, high levels of TNF-a had also been found in several skin diseases including hidradenitis suppurativa. IL-12 and IL-23 play important role in the pathogenesis of SLE, alopecia areata, and vitiligo. This paper reviews the off-label uses of TNF-a inhibitors and IL-12/23 inhibitors in skin disorders.

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a highly reactive by-product of paper production in the form of an odorless, colorless liquid that has been studied since the 1860s. Initially it was utilized as a solvent, but more recently it is being investigated for therapeutic applications. Owing to its versatility, the use of DMSO has been proposed in many different medical fields for a variety of applications, with possibly the widest use being in the field of dermatology. The clinical interest in the use of DMSO for dermatology conditions stems from this solution's efficacy as a vehicle to deliver pharmacological agents across the stratum corneum and its ability to penetrate biological membranes. Currently there is only one FDA approval for the use of DMSO, and it is not in the dermatologic field but rather for interstitial cystitis. Outside of the FDA scope of usage, DMSO is used frequently to treat osteoarthritis in humans and animals, as well as other chronic pain conditions. This suggests the possible utility of DMSO being applicable to other inflammatory conditions such as pruritus. Further research is necessary to explore the promising utilization opportunities of DMSO in dermatology.

Delusional Infestation (DI), represents one of the most difficult patient encounters that dermatology practitioners may experience. It is common for DI patients to doctor shop. Thus, dermatologists are one of several disciplines that may encounter DI patients in their practices. Others include veterinarians, epidemiologists, emergency departments, mental health practitioners, and entomologists. In this article, entomologist, Dr. Gale E. Ridge, with extensive DI experience, was interviewed to find out what an entomologist's perspective has been and what we, the dermatology providers, can learn from that. This is followed by a discussion by the dermatology experts on how the experience of entomologists compares to our experience and what we can learn from them.

TP63-related disorders comprise a group of six overlapping autosomal dominant (AD) syndromes caused by heterozygous pathogenic variants in the tumor protein p63 gene (TP63). The present report describes the identification of heterozygous de novo pathogenic variants in the DNA binding domain (DBD) of the TP63 gene in two patients diagnosed with Ectodermal dysplasia-Ectrodactyly-Cleft lip/palate syndrome three (EEC3) and Ankyloblepharon-Ectodermal defects-Cleft lip/palate syndrome (AEC), respectively. The report discusses the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of these patients and provides a brief review of the TP63-related disorder literature.

Acquired digital fibrokeratoma is a benign fibrous tumor usually located on the toes and fingers. A 63-year-old man with an acquired giant plantar fibrokeratoma is described. He presented with an asymptomatic exophytic nodule of ten years duration; there is no history of trauma to the site. It measured 15x10x5mm and was located on the plantar foot proximal to the third toe. Excisional biopsy established the diagnosis of fibrokeratoma. Giant acquired fibrokeratoma,has been described in 16 patients including ours: three women and 13 men. They are located on either the upper extremity (one man) or the lower extremity (15 individuals). Acquired plantar fibrokeratoma is rare. Including our patient, it has been reported in 11 patients: one woman and ten men. The woman was 13 years of age and the men ranged from 15 to 77-years-old. Plantar acquired fibrokeratomas are located on either the plantar aspect of the toes, the sole of the foot, or the heel. An excisional biopsy provided adequate treatment without subsequent recurrence of both giant and plantar fibrokeratomas.

Metastases to the face are rare. We report on a patient with a history of renal cell carcinoma who presented with a 1.2cm violaceous papule on his lower lip. Although clinically thought to be a pyogenic granuloma, biopsy revealed metastatic renal cell carcinoma recurring after 7 years of latency.

Sporotrichosis is caused by the thermodimorphic fungi of the genus Sporothrix. It is the most common cutaneous mycosis in Latin America, but it is considered uncommon in pregnancy. We report a pregnant woman with with an exuberant ulcerated plaque that proved to be localized sporotrichosis. Therapy choice is a difficult decision in this group of patients. In this case, there was complete resolution of the infection after delivery, without any therapeutic intervention.

Infantile myofibromatosis is a rare myofibroblastic proliferative disorder characterized by firm, skin-colored to red-purple cutaneous and subcutaneous nodules; these are the most prevalent fibrous tumors observed in infancy. A premature male infant presented at birth with multiple subcutaneous firm skin-colored nodules measuring about 1-2cm each. Full body MRI and excisional biopsy of the right chest nodule confirmed the diagnosis. We review the case of infantile myofibromatosis and discuss its highly heterogeneous presentation and clinical course, as well as histopathology, genetic testing, and approaches to management.

Vaccine development for COVID-19 has progressed expeditiously. To date, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the Moderna/mRNA-1273, Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2), and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen (JNJ-78436735) vaccines for use in the United States. Immediate side effects have included myalgia fatigue, chills, fever, and headache. We report an elderly patient with a history of lung cancer and no prior history of autoimmune disease who developed cutaneous lupus erythematosus two ½ months after the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

The University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, is recruiting for two academic dermatologists in the Clinical X series or Health Sciences Clinical Professor (HSCP) series at the Assistant/Associate/Full Professor level based on experience and qualifications. These positions are for general medical dermatologists.Expectations of the Clinical X series is to engage in teaching, research, service and clinical work, while expectations of the faculty in the HSCP series are primarily clinical and include teaching, service and scholarly and/or creative activity. The appointments may be made up to 100%.