Whether a vesicobullous disease is intraepidermal or subepidermal is often difficult to determine from the clinical examination. The Tzanck preparation can provide clues that aid in the diagnosis of a number of diseases. It is particularly helpful in…
A healthy 10-year-old boy presented with a widespread, nonpruritic, pustular rash of 3 days' duration. He reported having no fever, chills, or other systemic symptoms. Physical examination revealed perifollicular pustules concentrated in the swimsuit…
BACKGROUND: The treatment of palmar and plantar warts is difficult and often frustrating. The need for multiple destructive treatments and recurrences after apparent cure are common. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine if…
BACKGROUND: Despite anecdotal evidence of a possibility of decreased effectiveness of oral contraceptives (OCs) with some antibiotics, it is not known whether antibiotic use in dermatologic practices engenders any increased risk of accidental…
Inadvertent drug substitution occurred in several instances in our practices due to the combination of the physician's illegible handwriting on prescriptions and the pharmacist's misinterpretation of subtle clues, which might have prevented the…
BACKGROUND: The explosion of medical knowledge, the influence of communications technology, and the pressures for health care reform challenge dermatologists to learn efficiently and teach effectively. OBSERVATIONS: The vast body of material on…
As we approach the 21st century, specialty training programs in dermatology are feeling increasing pressures that have begun to erode clinical teaching. Full-time faculty members are being asked to spend more time in patient care to support an…
The ethical foundation on which my medical practice is based was recently shaken by an episode involving the intrusion of managed care into my practice. With the patient's informed consent, I prescribed a medication that I knew would not work.
