Introduction “Psychodermatology” refers to any aspect of dermatology in which psychological factors play a significant role. At least a third of patients seen in dermatology practices require consideration of associated emotional and psychosocial factors for effective management of their skin…
Introduction Pruritus can be defined as an unpleasant sensation that elicits a desire to scratch. The presumed biologic purpose of pruritus is to provoke scratching to remove a parasite or other harmful pruritogen. Pruritus is the most common skin-related symptom.…
Key features ▪ Two subsets of pruritoceptive C neurons that respond to histamine versus cowhage and then activate distinct spinothalamic tract neurons ▪ Peripheral itch mediators include histamine, proteases, and interleukin-31, while central itch mediators include opioids, gastrin-releasing peptide, and…
Key features ▪ The major purpose of the immune system is protection against harmful organisms. This is achieved by a rapid “primitive” reaction, called the innate immune response, and a more highly developed specific reaction, called the adaptive immune response…
Introduction Advances in molecular biology are rapidly changing our understanding of skin biology and disease. Increased knowledge is being translated into new molecular diagnostic tests that are transforming the clinical practice of dermatology. Molecular analyses are currently being employed to…
Introduction Development of the human embryo is a complex process involving highly orchestrated cell movements, proliferation, death, and differentiation. This chapter focuses on key events and regulatory mechanisms that result in skin morphogenesis, maintenance, and regeneration. The spectrum of cutaneous…
Key features ▪ The relationship between function and structure of the skin is best demonstrated by presenting diseases that illustrate how skin can fail. Thus, disease reveals function, and function illustrates structure ▪ The most obvious function of skin is…
Introduction to Clinical Dermatology The skin represents the largest organ of the human body. The average adult has 1.75 m 2 (18.5 ft 2 ) of skin that contains a variety of complex adnexal structures, including hair follicles, nails, glands and specialized…
Key Points Systemic medications used for dermatologic conditions are associated with risks. The choice of systemic medication requires assessment of the disease severity and the performance of a risk–risk analysis balancing the risk of the disease with the risks of…
Key Points Prevent harm: Be aware of high-risk drugs and always consider a drug reaction as part of a differential diagnosis. Monitoring: Monitor for systemic involvement. Diagnosis: Determine the morphology of the eruption and decide if it is simple or…