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A 44-year-old male presented with a 2-month history of erythematous ulcerative papules and plaques on the scalp, face, and bilateral lower legs. He had a 5-year history of well-controlled HIV on antiretroviral therapy and recurrent syphilis infections. His face had violaceous plaques, while bilateral ankles and calves had ulcerative lesions with necrotic centers and purple borders. The morphologies clinically mimicked pyoderma gangrenosum on the lower extremities and cutaneous lymphoma on the face. Biopsy and reactive rapid plasma reagin confirmed a diagnosis of lues maligna, and the patient was successfully treated with penicillin G benzathine., (© 2024 The Author(s). International Journal of Dermatology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of the International Society of Dermatology.)

Molluscum contagiosum is a common skin infection affecting different body areas, including the face. Previous data have shown cases of atypical lesions, notably on the face, and it was thought relevant to further examine differences between facial and non-facial lesions. All cases of children (0-18) diagnosed with molluscum contagiosum from 2013-2022 at the paediatric dermatology clinic of Soroka University Medical Center were retrospectively reviewed, and 615 children were included in the study. Facial lesions tended to be found in younger children (p = 0.018). Non-facial lesions were more erythematous (p < 0.001), itchier (p < 0.001), and showed similar patterns of ulceration (p = 0.078) and purulence (p = 0.779). The average lesion diameter was similar in patients with or without facial lesions (p = 1). Children with facial lesions were treated differently from patients without facial lesions (p < 0.001); however, there were no differences in treatment response. This research challenges assumptions concerning the severity of facial lesions, including eyelid lesions, by revealing that, overall, they exhibit less inflammation than non-facial lesions. Despite the potential for greater psychosocial burdens and impacts on self-esteem associated with lesions on the sensitive facial area, this study provides evidence that they are not inherently more worrisome and can be managed similarly to lesions found elsewhere in the body.

Competing Interests: Competing interests The BMJ has judged that there are no disqualifying financial ties to commercial companies. The authors declare the following other interests: none. Further details of The BMJ policy on financial interests are here: https://www.bmj.com/about-bmj/resources-authors/forms-policies-and-checklists/declaration-competing-interests

Background: Hydroa vacciniforme-like lymphoproliferative disorder (HVLPD) is a rare Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated lymphoma that mainly affects children., Objectives: To examine the similarities and differences in the clinical pathological features, EBV infection status, and gene rearrangements in adults and children patients with HVLPD., Methods: We compared the clinical manifestations, histopathology, immunophenotypical features, EBV infection status, and T-cell receptor gene rearrangements in the adult and children HVLPD groups., Results: Clinical manifestations differed between children and adults groups. The children were characterized by blisters and severe facial swelling, whereas the adults were characterized by mild facial swelling and papules. Mosquito bite was significantly related to morbidity in the children group. Histologically, the number of mast cells in the adult group was greater than in the children group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in EBV infection status or TCR-γ gene rearrangements between 2 groups., Conclusions: There were differences in clinical pathology and prognosis between the 2 groups. A higher mast cell count and T-cell phenotype might be associated with a poor prognosis.

Trichodysplasia spinulosa is a rare disease that occurs in the setting of immunosuppression, associated with tolerogenic therapy used in allograft recipients or patients with hematologic malignancies. Clinically, it is characterized by a centrofacial cutaneous eruption of erythematous papules with a central keratinous spicule, often associated with variable degrees of alopecia. Histologic findings are characteristic, and electron microscopy reveals the presence of trichodysplasia spinulosa associated polyomavirus. We report a 47-year-old woman with idiopathic autoimmune pancytopenia refractory to diverse immunosuppressant regimens, with clinical and pathologic findings compatible with the disease, in whom complementary studies were required to exclude other differential diagnoses.

Orf is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by parapoxvirus. Orf lesions are typically seen on the hand, but they have rarely been reported on the nose. Herein, the authors report a rare patient of an orf lesion on the nose of a 52-year-old man after the Muslim celebration of the feast of the sacrifice. The lesion spontaneously recovered 8 weeks after the initial appearance and showed no evidence of recurrence after 1 year of follow-up. Orf virus infections may occur more often after the celebration of the feast of the sacrifice in Muslim countries.

Most viral infections encountered in resource-rich countries are relatively trivial and transient with perhaps fever, malaise, myalgia, rash (exanthema) and sometimes mucosal manifestations (enanthema), including oral in some. However, the apparent benignity may be illusory as some viral infections have unexpected consequences - such as the oncogenicity of some herpesviruses and human papillomaviruses. Infections are transmitted from various human or animal vectors, especially by close proximity, and the increasing movements of peoples across the globe, mean that infections hitherto confined largely to the tropics now appear worldwide. Global warming also increases the range of movement of vectors such as mosquitoes. Thus recent decades have seen a most dramatic change with the emergence globally also of new viral infections - notably human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) - and the appearance of some other dangerous and sometimes lethal infections formerly seen mainly in, and reported from, resource-poor areas especially in parts of Asia, Latin America and Africa. This study offers a brief update of the most salient new aspects of the important viral infections, especially those with known orofacial manifestations or other implications for oral health care., (© 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Trichodysplasia spinulosa (TS) is a disfiguring skin disease that occurs most frequently in patients receiving immunosuppressive therapies, and is thus frequently associated with organ transplantation. TS is characterized clinically by folliculocentric papular eruption, keratin spine formation and development of leonine face; and histologically by expansion of the inner root sheath epithelium and high expression of the proliferative marker Ki-67. Recent discovery of the TS-associated polyomavirus (TSPyV) and emerging studies demonstrating the role of TSPyV tumour antigens in cell proliferation pathways have opened a new corridor for research on TS. In this brief review, we summarize the clinical and histological features of TS and evaluate the current options for therapy. Furthermore, we address the viral aetiology of the disease and explore the mechanisms by which TSPyV may influence TS development and progression. As reports of TS continue to rise, clinician recognition of TS, as well as accompanying research on its underlying pathogenesis and therapeutic options, is becoming increasingly important. It is our hope that heightened clinical suspicion for TS will increase rates of diagnosis and will galvanize both molecular and clinical interest in this disease., (© 2015 British Association of Dermatologists.)

Herpes zoster in the prodromal stage may be mistaken for other diseases characterized by pain in the area of prodrome, such as dental pain. We report on a case of trigeminal herpes zoster, which presented as sudden onset headache and acute temporomandibular pain in the prodromal phase.

Herpes zoster of the trigeminal nerve is a disease that often challenges dentists and dental specialists trying to make the proper diagnosis, as many ulcerative and vesiculobullous diseases of the mouth have a similar clinical appearance. We report a clinical case in which a 27-year-old patient sought care for this vesicular lesion. Included are the differential diagnosis and treatment modalities that we used to diagnose the disease. A clinical pathologic conference is provided to highlight the appropriate courses of action in the management of herpes zoster.

Trichodysplasia spinulosa is a rare folliculocentric polyomavirus infection observed in the setting of immunosuppression. We report a 7-year-old boy with pre-B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia who presented with folliculocentric spiny papules on the face. Histologic evaluation revealed hypertrophic bulbs, an expanded inner root sheath, and numerous brightly eosinophilic trichohyalin granules. We present this case to raise awareness of this rare but recognizable entity and to highlight the availability of appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic modalities., (© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: The decline of cell-mediated immunity (CMI) is thought to be related to the risk of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) as well as herpes zoster (HZ). However, the relationship between immunological condition and the incidence of PHN is still unclear., Objective: We conducted a large-scale prospective cohort study to clarify the relationship between immunological factors for varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and the incidence of PHN., Methods: We carried out a cohort study on VZV immunity in a population living on an island cluster, Shozu County in Japan, and examined the people who developed HZ during a follow-up period of 3 years, with a focus on the relationship between cell-mediated and humoral immunity and the incidence of PHN. A total of 12,522 people over the age of 50 were enrolled in this study, and 401 registrants were diagnosed with HZ, including 79 PHN cases. We evaluated anatomical location and severity of skin lesion, acute pain severity, presence or absence of abnormal sensations, CMI assessed by VZV skin test, and VZV-specific antibody titer measured by serological tests., Results: The incidence of PHN was significantly associated with a weak response to the VZV skin test, as well as facial or lumbosacral localization of skin rash, severe skin lesion, severe acute pain, and presence of abnormal sensations, but not related to VZV-specific antibody titer., Conclusion: The incidence of PHN is significantly associated with the decline of VZV-specific CMI, but not related to VZV-specific humoral immunity., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: One-third of Dutch primary school children have cutaneous warts; each year around 20% of them seek medical treatment. However, little is known about the epidemiology of the types of human papillomavirus (HPV) causing these warts., Objectives: To investigate the distribution of cutaneous wart-associated HPV types in three primary school classes by analysing skin swabs taken from warts, and the forehead, hand dorsum and sole of the foot of included children., Methods: Using the hyperkeratotic skin lesion polymerase chain reaction/multiplex genotyping assay, each swab sample was used to genotype for 23 cutaneous wart-associated HPV types., Results: Thirty-one (44%) of the 71 children had a total of 69 warts, with a maximum of six warts per child. In the wart swabs, HPV2, HPV27 and HPV57, members of Alphapapillomavirus species 4, were most frequently detected (27%, 32% and 14%, respectively), whereas HPV1 was only found in two plantar warts. The prevalence of HPV carriage, detected in swabs of clinically normal skin of the forehead, left hand and left sole was 80%, with the most prevalent types being HPV1 (59%), HPV2 (42%), HPV63 (25%) and HPV27 (21%)., Conclusions: Cutaneous wart-associated HPV types were highly prevalent in primary school children, but did not correlate with the HPV types in warts. In contrast to the existing literature, HPV1 was frequently detected on clinically normal skin but was much less frequent in warts., (© 2014 British Association of Dermatologists.)

A man developed with multiple warts on his hands and the inner canthus of his left eye. We applied local hyperthermia on a single target lesion on his hand at a surface temperature of 44 °C for 30 minutes on Days 1, 2, 3, 17, and 18. All the lesions treated with or without heat cleared 8 weeks after the last treatment. Treatment of a target lesion resolved all other untreated lesions, a fact suggestive that local hyperthermia could induce activation of specific immunity against human papillomavirus on the lesional skin, which lead to resolution of all the warts., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Facial verrucae vulgares are benign, but disfiguring skin manifestations of human papilloma virus infection. They are found as verrucae planae juveniles in young adults, but also as common warts in immunocompromised or atopic patients., Objective: To find an alternative, non-surgical treatment for a young man with atopic dermatitis and facial warts, who had not responded to 5-FU ointment, waterfiltered infrared A (wIRA) irradiation and topical retinoids., Methods: Topical treatment with a sinecatechins 10% ointment (Veregen(TM) ) as approved for genital warts thrice daily for 3 weeks in a 34-year-old man with atopic dermatitis, Results: Complete remission of all facial warts was achieved within 20 days. Few side-effects were observed (initially some light skin irritation only)., Conclusion: In this case, topical sinecatechins proved to be a well-tolerated and effective alternative to treat recalcitrant facial warts without surgery., (© 2013 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

Background: Trichodysplasia spinulosa (TS) is a rare, striking, folliculocentric papular eruption seen exclusively in immunosuppressed patients. The eruption can be disfiguring, associated with leonine faces and alopecia. TS is caused by a polyomavirus, identified as trichodysplasia spinulosa polyomavirus (TSPyV). Few reports exist in the literature, and support for treatment options is sparse., Method and Results: We report a patient with TS with underlying lupus nephropathy and renal transplant-associated immunosuppression. Diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy and pathognomonic histologic findings in the context of her extensive, spiculated monomorphous papules. With a biopsy-confirmed diagnosis, oral valganciclovir was prescribed, and the patient showed marked skin texture improvement and hair regrowth., Conclusion: The continued reporting of cases of TS will improve clinical identification of this condition and provide better information regarding treatment and long-term consequences.

Viral infections affecting the face may cause significant morbidity, cosmetic disfigurement, and psychological distress. The success of therapy needs whole and correct evaluation of the clinical signs and symptoms. Some viruses such as Papillomaviridae, Herpesviridae, and Polyomaviridae primarily infect the facial skin, whereas others affect the face infrequently, as in parapox virus infections. Sometimes, involvement of the face can be a part of more generalized eruption and systemic symptoms in viral infections caused by Todaviridae, Flaviviridae, Arenaviridiae, and Flaviviridae. Clinical diagnosis can be challenging in various viral diseases when they occur in nonendemic geographic areas. The objective of this review was to concentrate on epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of the viral illnesses with facial skin involvement., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Trichodysplasia spinulosa is a rare polyomavirus-associated cutaneous eruption occurring in the setting of immunosuppression. Clinically it is characterised by multiple centrofacial folliculocentric papules with spinous protuberances. The histopathology is distinct and treatment with antiviral agents appears to be the most effective., (© 2013 The Authors Australasian Journal of Dermatology © 2013 The Australasian College of Dermatologists.)

Facial flat wart, caused by human papilloma virus type 3 and less often, type 10, 27, and 41, often brings many cosmetic problems to children and young adults. Considering the disturbing cosmetic problem, the treatment of facial flat wart is always frustrating and often unsuccessful, although there are many treatment modalities. Considering the possible serious side effects of 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT), we designed step-up therapy of ALA-PDT on different clinical phases of facial flat wart. As a new protocol of ALA-PDT, we found the step-up therapy of ALA-PDT could also receive excellent effects with the lower side effects. Meanwhile, the tolerance of patients to ALA-PDT could improve with subsequent treatment sessions and escalating doses of ALA-PDT., (© 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Osteonecrosis following herpes zoster infection is a rare but severe complication, and clinicians' awareness is important for early detection and management of this condition. A case of herpes zoster of the left maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve is reported in a young female having no concurrent predisposing factors, with accompanying rare complications of alveolar bone necrosis and rapid tooth exfoliation. Acyclovir was used to manage the case effectively. The previously reported similar cases in the literature have been reviewed and the pathophysiology of tooth exfoliation and osteonecrosis by varicella zoster viruses is discussed.

The following report describes a previously healthy 2-year-old girl with herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO). The child presented with a painless vesicular skin eruption covering the left forehead. There was only a history of household exposure to varicella zoster virus (VZV) and the child had not been vaccinated against VZV. PCR assays on vesicular fluid identified VZV DNA. Treatment with acyclovir was started early in the clinical course. In addition, the girl was treated with locally administered ophthalmological acyclovir ointment. Besides some dermal excoriations, a complete resolution of the HZO was achieved without sequelae.

Warts are benign epithelial proliferations of the skin and mucosa caused by infection with human papilloma viruses (HPV). Plane warts are mainly caused by HPV-3 and HPV-10. There is no single treatment that is absolutely effective, and different types of treatment may be combined. One must take into account the possibility of spontaneous regression, and so the therapeutic approach should not be too aggressive. Two case reports are presented of two immunocompetent patients with multiple plane warts successfully treated with low-dose systemic isotretinoin.