Erythema Research Articles

From Pathophysiology of Rosacea to Clinical Care

Rosacea, a dermatologic disorder characterized by persistent facial erythema, papules, and pustules, often accompanied by ocular involvement, poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. This review comprehensively explores the clinical presentation, diagnostic criteria, differential diagnosis, and management strategies for rosacea. Emphasizing the multifactorial nature of its pathogenesis, including genetic and immune components, the review underscores the importance of individualized treatment approaches. Specialist referrals, especially for refractory cases, and a diverse range of treatment modalities, from topical medications to laser therapies, contribute to effective management. Regular monitoring and early intervention mitigate complications, ensuring a favorable prognosis. Ongoing research enhances our understanding of rosacea, guiding advancements in its diagnosis and management.

Methotrexate-induced multi-organ chronic toxicity in a rheumatoid arthritis patient: a case report

This case report highlights the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of a 48-year-old female diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who developed toxicity due to prolonged use of methotrexate (MTX) in combination with other immunomodulatory drugs. The patient exhibited erythematous rashes, skin peeling, angular stomatitis, oral candidiasis, symptoms of acute gastroenteritis and pancytopenia. This report discusses the importance of monitoring, managing polypharmacy in patients with chronic diseases, to prevent adverse events and management of drug-induced toxicity in RA patients and improve patient outcomes.

Case Report: Toxic epidermal necrolysis: a rare pediatric case report from Nepal

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a life-threatening cutaneous reaction to various medications like antibiotics and antiepileptics characterized by erythematous rashes, diffuse necrosis, and exfoliation of skin and mucous membranes, with a high mortality rate. Here, we present a case of six years old female child from Nepal who presented with fever and rashes, was diagnosed with measles and treated with cefixime, ibuprofen, and other drugs. Six hours after taking the drugs, the child developed generalized rashes, blisters formation, and peeling of the skin which progressed to cover most of the skin of her body within the next two days. She was then diagnosed with TEN and admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and treated by a multidisciplinary team with antibiotics, systemic steroids, antihistamines, wound care, and other medications. The child's fever subsided and her skin and oral lesions gradually regenerated. She was discharged after twelve days of hospitalization as she improved clinically and symptomatically. TEN is a dermatological emergency that should be diagnosed and treated promptly to minimize the fatal outcome of the disease.

Laryngeal office-based procedures: A safe approach

PurposeLaryngeal surgeries using a flexible nasopharyngoscope equipped with an operative channel has gained popularity, with gradual increase in the variety of interventional office-based procedures, under local anesthesia. The purpose of this study is to analyze the tolerance of such procedures. Materials and methodsRetrospective cohort study. 337 cases were performed during 2 years. We collected the following data: type of pathology, type of procedure and modalities of anesthesia, adverse events. Results19 % of the visits were for the purpose of Biopsy, 65 % for an injection, and Trublue Laser was utilized in 12 % of the procedures. Regarding the pathologies, 27 % were vocal fold paralysis, 18 % leukoplakia or another suspicious lesion, 15 % recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, 13 % neuromuscular disorder, 9 % vocal fold scarring, 7 % vocal cord atrophy and 6 % had an inflammatory presentation. Side effects were documented in 26 visits (7.7 %) and were minor in almost all the encounters: they included strong reflexive cough, deep throat pain, discomfort, gag reflex, anxiety, vagal discomfort, malaise, hypersalivation, nose pain, labile hypertension. More severe side effects were very rare and included septal wound and epistaxis, erythematous rash, dyspnea, and transient dysarthria. 13 procedures were either aborted, or canceled at initial steps, due to inability of the patient to tolerate the procedure and were rescheduled for general anesthesia. 97 % of the cases were released home after 1 h of surveillance. ConclusionOffice-based flexible interventional laryngoscopy under local anesthesia is a safe and well-tolerated procedure, with abundance of various interventions feasible on ambulatory, office-based setup.

Skin rejuvenation effect of the combined PDLLA and non cross-linked hyaluronic acid: A preliminary study.

Skin aging is characterized by wrinkles, rough skin texture, pigmentation, facial erythema, and telangiectasia through structural and functional changes in the epidermis and dermis. Recently, injectable poly(D, L-lactic acid), a biodegradable polymer, has been used widely for skin rejuvenation. This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of injectable dermal poly D, L-lactic acid) for skin rejuvenation. A total of 16 patients who desired skin rejuvenation were included. All participants received two or three procedure sessions with a 4 weeks interval between sessions. Clinical and three-dimensional images at baseline, before each procedural session, and follow-up visits were obtained. Therapeutic effects were assessed by evaluating signs of aging skin and overall improvement by dermatologists and patients. Histologic examinations with special stains were performed on the posterior auricular areas of consenting patients at baseline and follow-up visits after injecting poly D L-lactic acid into the postauricular area as in the face. Overall, statistically significant differences were observed in all signs of aging skin, such as fine wrinkles, skin texture, irregular pigmentation, telangiectasia, and facial erythema before and after treatments. Half (50%) of patients responded that there was more than 50% overall improvement. There were no severe adverse events. Histologic examination demonstrated increases in collagen and elastic fibers in the dermis. Results of this preliminary study suggest that injectable dermal poly D, L-lactic acid can significantly affect skin rejuvenation without causing any serious adverse events.

Lebrikizumab-Treated Patients With Atopic Dermatitis Had No Increase in Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events of Facial, Head, and Neck Erythema Compared to Placebo

Lebrikizumab-Treated Patients With Atopic Dermatitis Had No Increase in Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events of Facial, Head, and Neck Erythema Compared to Placebo

PROFILE OF CUTANEOUS ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS IN PATIENTS ATTENDING THE DERMATOLOGY OUTPATIENT DEPARTMENT OF A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL, GANGTOK

Objectives: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the frequency of occurrence of cutaneous adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in patients attending dermatology outpatient department (OPD) and to assess causality and severity of the reported cutaneous ADRs, using different scales. Methods: The study involved descriptive through retrospective review of patient medical records for patients who attended dermatology OPD for a period of 9 months. Patients’ records specifying with cutaneous ADRs were taken for the study. Results: The record of 30 patients reported with cutaneous ADRs with certain exclusions was studied. Higher incidence was found among females with 20–40 years of age. The most common presenting symptom was found to be erythematous rash (33%) and the drug groups involved in reactions were NSAIDS, beta-lactams, antitubercular drugs, and antifungals (16.7% each). The most common drug associated with cutaneous ADRs (CADRs) was itraconazole and aceclofenac (16.7% each). On the Naranjo scale, 86% reactions were labeled as “possible” while others as “doubtful”. All the reactions were labeled as mild on Hartwig’s Severity Assessment Scale. Conclusions: Lack of post-treatment follow-up could be a reason for the difference in the causality result as compared to other studies. The data recorded in this study can be utilized as reference for future studies with large population.

The effects of long-pulsed alexandrite laser therapy on facial redness and skin microbiota compositions in rosacea: Aprospective, multicentre, single-arm clinical trial.

Rosacea is a chronic skin disorder characterised by abnormal neurovasculature and inflammation in the central region of the face. The efficacy of pulsed-dye laser and intense pulsed light treatments for rosacea have been demonstrated in several clinical trials. However, there is currently no research on the efficacy of long-pulsed alexandrite laser (LPAL) therapy alone for rosacea-related facial redness and its effect on skin microbiota. To evaluate the efficacy of LPAL therapy on facial redness in rosacea and assess changes in skin microbiota composition. Subjects with rosacea (n = 21, mean age: 39.2 ± 11.3 years) were recruited from two medical institutions and received monthly LPAL treatments (Clarity II™, Lutronic Corp.) for 3 months. At each visit, clinical photographs were taken, and erythema was measured using a spectrometer. At the initial and final visits, the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and Skin Sensitivity Questionnaire (SSQ) were evaluated. Skin swabs were obtained at the initial and final visit, and facial microbiome composition was analysed using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. After three LPAL treatment sessions, the average facial erythema index, measured using Mexameter® decreased significantly from 360.0 ± 96.7 at baseline to 312.0 ± 94.5 at the final visit (p < .05). The DLQI and SSQ showed significant improvement of symptoms. Skin microbiome diversity and relative abundance were altered significantly, particularly in the genera Clostridium, Lawsonella, Bacteroides, and Lactobacillus. LPAL therapy alone showed favourable efficacy for the treatment of facial redness in rosacea, with some impacts on the skin microbiota composition.

Relationship Between Dermoscopic Capillary-Related Features of the Auricle and Earlobe and Rosacea Subtype and Disease Severity: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Clinical manifestations of rosacea include transient or persistent facial erythema, telangiectasia, papules, and pustules. The existing assessment tools primarily evaluate the facial area to assess the severity of rosacea. However, in addition to the face, telangiectasia, erythema, and flushing can occur in the ear. Here, we investigated the correlation between the dermoscopic characteristics of capillaries in the earlobe and auricle and the types and severity of rosacea. Experienced dermatologists evaluated the clinical type, medical history, severity, and distribution pattern of facial erythema. The clinical severity of rosacea was assessed using the standard grading system (SGS), clinician's erythema assessment (CEA), and investigator's global assessment (IGA). Relationships of the clinical types and severity with the dermoscopic characteristics of capillaries in the earlobe and auricle were further analyzed. In total, 145 patients with rosacea were enrolled in this study. We found that SGS, CEA, and IGA correlated well with the dermoscopic features of capillaries in the earlobe (R = 0.357, 0.357, and 0.314, respectively) (p < 0.001) and auricle (R = 0.423, 0.443, and 0.374, respectively) (p < 0.001). However, there was no significant correlation between the features and types of rosacea. The dermoscopic characteristics of capillaries in the earlobe and auricle can be used as indicators of the clinical severity of rosacea, regardless of the clinical subtype.

Comparative Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Two Microneedling Therapies for Acne Scar Treatment

Microneedling is a minimally invasive procedure based on collagen induction therapy and helps reduce the appearance of acne scars. The aim of the present study is to evaluate and compare skin firmness, elasticity, and improvement of skin texture and reduction of facial erythema after sessions of microneedling procedure performed by using two different devices, i.e., the manual microneedle roller and automated microneedle stamp. A randomized comparative clinical study was conducted. Research subjects in one group were applied with the manual microneedle roller, and those in the other group were applied with the automated microneedle stamp. They were subjected to four months of treatment (4 sessions with a microneedling procedure at 28-day intervals). Skin firmness and elasticity were performed by Cutometry measurement. Subjects were photographed for skin texture and erythema evaluation. It was observed that the microneedling procedure using both devices - microneedle roller and stamp- significantly improved skin firmness and elasticity. The treatment also promoted reductions in the intensity of scar and erythema, respectively. The devices promoted similar beneficial results without significant differences between them. The present study demonstrates that both the manual microneedle roller and automated microneedle stamp comparably resulted in an improvement of skin firmness, elasticity, reduction of facial scar, and erythema.

Obsession to fairness and topical steroid induced acne: A situation analysis of patients presenting in dermatology clinic at a private hospital in Karachi.

To determine the frequency of acne and other relevant side effects as well as the pattern of topical steroid and fairness cream use among patients presenting with steroid and fairness cream use at dermatology OPD in a tertiary care private hospital in Karachi. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from April, 2020 to December, 2020 in a private tertiary care hospital in Karachi. In total, 226 patients with a positive history of topical steroids and/or fairness creams use in the past six months were included in the study. Information was collected about sociodemographic characteristics; topical corticosteroid uses while clinical examination of facial skin was performed by a dermatologist. Data were analyzed using SPSS version-19. The median age of study participants was 26 years with an interquartile range of 10 years. This frequency of corticosteroid induced acne was highest i.e., 83.6% (n=189) followed facial erythema and telangiectasia i.e., 50.9% (n=115) 47.8% (n=108) respectively. The estimated median duration of using topical steroids or fairness creams or both was six months with an IQR of four months. The study found statistically significant differences in the reasons of using topical corticosteroids or fairness creams on the face on the basis of differences in the level of education and marital status. In Karachi, both, men and women are equally obsessed with fair skin tone and use topical steroids and fairness cream. The use of corticosteroid or fairness cream-induced facial acne is alarmingly high among patients presenting in a dermatology clinic in Karachi.

Reactivation of Herpes Simplex Virus Following Sphenopalatine Ganglion Nerve Block: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

A 36-year-old woman with no significant past medical history underwent a sphenopalatine ganglion block for treatment of a month-long migraine headache refractory to conservative treatment protocols. The headache resolved initially, but 1 day following the procedure, the headache recurred. The patient also developed an erythematous and edematous rash which cultures confirmed to be herpes simplex virus (HSV). Following several unsuccessful treatment modalities, the patient received valacyclovir, which resulted in resolution of her headache. Underlying HSV-1 infection may cause intractable migraine headache and nerve blocks may potentiate reactivation of latent HSV infection that caused the skin lesion in this case.

Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis induced by isoniazid and pyrazinamide in a child

An 8-year-old female with cervical lymph node tuberculosis, received rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol. Two weeks later, she developed a fever and a generalized erythematous rash covered with pustules. Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis diagnosis was confirmed by a skin biopsy. Antitubercular therapy was discontinued. Drug causality was found using oral provocation tests and patch tests. Cutaneous adverse drug reactions to first-line antituberculosis drugs are common. However, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis is rare. It is a severe form of cutaneous drug reaction, primarily associated with beta-lactam antibiotics, and clinically characterized by non-follicular pustules on erythematous skin.

An eight-year old girl with fever and rash: What is the possible diagnosis?

In this clinical challenge, we describe the case of a previously healthy 8-year-old girl who presented to a primary care clinic with fever, reduced oral intake and malaise on day 3 of her illness. Clinical examination revealed that she was tachypnoeic and tachycardic. An erythematous rash was found across the bridge of her nose and cheeks, and several painless ulcers were noted in the oral cavity. Blood investigation showed thrombocytopenia, while urinalysis revealed microscopic haematuria and proteinuria. Useful initial diagnostic imaging studies were discussed, including bedside ultrasound in the ambulatory care setting. It is imperative that primary care providers be vigilant when encountering cases like this.

Cutaneous adverse effects of antiepileptic drugs

Antiepileptic drugs (AED) are widely used in therapy. They are mainly indicated in the treatment of epilepsy and some psychiatric pathologies as well as for their analgesic action. Their cutaneous adverse effects (CAE) are common, often mild but sometimes serious. The aim of this work was to study the epidemiological and clinical features of CAE occurring in adults and elderly patients (aged over 20 years-old) and to identify the most implicated AED. We conducted a descriptive retrospective study over a period of five years from January 2017 to December 2022 about CAE of AED in adults and elderly patients notified to The National Center Chalbi Belkahia of Pharmacovigilance (Tunis,Tunisia). All cases were analyzed according to the updates French methods of imputability. We collected 71 cases of patients aged over 20 years old who presented CAE to AED. The age ranged from 20 to 79 years (mean age=44.8 years). The sex ratio F/M was 0.7. AED were indicated for neurological pathology in 70.5% of cases, for psychiatric pathology in 15.9% of cases and for their analgesic action in 12.9% of cases. Epilepsy was the first indication (51.1% of cases). The most notified CAE in our study were drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS syndrome; 34% of cases), maculopapular exanthema (MPE; 26% of cases), erythematous rash (8% of cases) and photosensitivity in 5% of cases. Severe cutaneous adverse reactions were accounted for 37% of all CAE. The most implicated AED were carbamazepine (52%), phenobarbital (24%) and lamotrigine (18%). However, further study with a larger number of patients and in collaboration with prescribing physicians are needed to better clarify features of CAE associated with AED intake and specify the risk factors, specific to our Tunisian population.

P30 An unusual infective cause of inflammatory arthritis

P30 An unusual infective cause of inflammatory arthritis

Don't we overestimate drug allergies in children?

On average about 10% of parents report hypersensitivity to at least 1 drug in their children. After diagnosis process a few of these reactions are being confirmed as drug hypersensitivity reactions. The aim of the study was to assess the real-life prevalence of drug hypersensitivity in children based on drug provocation tests. The authors included 113 children, aged 4-18 years, referred to Pediatrics and Allergy Clinic in Łódź, Poland, due to incidence of adverse reaction during treatment. Medical history regarding allergies to drugs was taken in accordance to the form developed by the United States Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System. Skin prick tests, intradermal test and drug provocation test were performed in all patients. In all 113 patients suspected of drug allergy, after all diagnostic procedures, the authors proved IgE-mediated allergy to β-lactams, nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs, local anesthetics in 19 patients (16.8%). Previous history of allergy was a risk factor for drug allergy in studied patients (p = 0.001). The most frequent symptoms of allergy were urticaria and erythematous papular rash. Drug allergy is a difficult problem in the practice of a doctor and is difficult to diagnose, especially in the pediatric population. It seems that too often isolated symptoms reported during infection or disease are taken as a symptom of drug allergy, and not as a symptom resulting from the course of the disease. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(5):632-42.

Clinical presentation of human monkeypox virus infection during the 2022 outbreak: descriptive case series from a large italian Research Hospital

BackgroundIn May 2022, a new case of Monkeypox Virus (MPX) was reported in a non-endemic area, the United Kingdom, and since then, the number of confirmed cases in Europe has been increasing until WHO, on May 10 2023, declared that MPOX is no longer a public health emergency of international concern. We aimed to describe the clinical and microbiological characteristics of sixteen patients with a confirmed diagnosis of MPX followed by a single Italian clinical centre, the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, between May 20 and August 30.Materials and methodsA prospective observational study has been conducted, collecting microbiological samples during the time of the infection, as well as epidemiological and clinical data of the patients. All patients provided written informed consent.ResultsDuring clinical practice, 16 individuals presenting with consistent symptoms tested positive for MPX on a polymerase chain reaction. All patients were men having sex with men (MSM). The most frequent clinical presentation was a vesicular erythematous cutaneous rash, mainly distributed on the genital and perianal area, but also regarding limbs, face, neck, chest and back in some of the patients. Systemic symptoms, such as fever or lymphadenopathy, involved eight patients. The symptom most frequently reported by patients was pruritus in the area of the vesicles. Thirteen patients also reported pain. Nine patients were HIV-1 coinfected, but no significant differences have been observed compared to other cohort patients. The median time between the onset of symptoms and the healing was 19.5 days (IQR 14.0–20.3).ConclusionsOur cohort of patients presented a mild manifestation of the disease with no complications and no need for antiviral therapy nor hospitalization. This population seems different from the ones reported in the literature during the previous outbreaks in endemic areas in epidemiological data and clinical manifestations but also from a cohort of patients described in the literature from the 2022 outbreak, suggesting the importance for healthcare workers to keep in mind the possibility of an MPX infection in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with consistent symptoms, even in non-endemic areas, to ensure efficient isolation of the patient for infection control purposes and effective management of the infection preventing the development of MPOX-related complications.

Cutaneous larva migrans in the northeastern US.

Cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) is a dermo-epidermal parasitic infection with a disproportionate incidence in developing countries, particularly in, and near tropical areas. It is characterized by erythematous, twisting, and linear plaques that can migrate to adjacent skin. Herein, we present an otherwise healthy 45-year-old woman who acquired a pruritic, erythematous, and serpiginous rash localized to her right medial ankle during a trip to New England. Oral ivermectin, the preferred first-line treatment for cutaneous larva migrans, was administered in combination with triamcinolone. This was followed by removal of the papular area via punch biopsy; treatment was successful with a one-week recovery. Although cutaneous larva migrans has traditionally been considered a tropical disease, clinicians should be cognizant of its expanding geographic spread.

Current practices and perceived effectiveness of polynucleotides for treatment of facial erythema by cosmetic physicians.

Polynucleotides (PN) are increasingly used for the treatment of facial erythema in the Republic of Korea. However, there are limited pre-clinical and clinical data on the efficacy of polynucleotides for facial erythema. In this study, we investigated the current practice and perceived effectiveness of polynucleotide treatment for facial erythema among cosmetic physicians. By conducting a survey among clinicians who use PN in clinical practice, we explored the current practices and assessed the perceived effectiveness of polynucleotides in treating facial erythema. A total of 557 physicians who used polynucleotides for facial erythema participated in the survey. Polynucleotides were used by 84.4%, 66.4%, and 47.4% of physicians for facial erythema caused by inflammatory facial dermatosis, repeated laser/microneedle radiofrequency, and steroid overuse, respectively. Among those users, 88.1%, 90%, and 83.7% respectively in those same categories answered that polynucleotides were "highly effective" or "effective." Furthermore, they agreed that polynucleotides have the following properties: wound healing/regeneration (95.8%), protection of skin barrier (92.2%), hydration (90.5%), vascular stabilization (81.0%), and anti-inflammation (79.5%). Our findings showed that cosmetic physicians in the Republic of Korea have used PN as a part of combination treatment for facial erythema resulting from inflammatory facial dermatosis and repeated laser/ microneedle radiofrequency, rather than from steroid overuse. Also, most clinicians agreed that PN was effective for treatment of facial erythema. Given the lack of pre-clinical and clinical trial evidence, the empirical responses of practicing physicians provide useful information to guide clinical practice and further research.