Dermatology online journal
-
The cost of prescription medicines has recently been rising faster than other healthcare costs. This is also true for traditionally inexpensive generic medications that have long served as a fundamental healthcare safety net in the USA. These changes increasingly present challenges for individuals to obtain common medications. Owing to rising insurance co-pays, even patients who have prescription medication insurance coverage are beginning to experience challenges in this area. This document was created to help patients and their families consider various strategies and programs that exist in 2015 for reducing their out-of-pocket costs for their prescription medications. We believe that this information can also be helpful to healthcare providers when counseling patients about managing rapidly rising prescription drug costs. An effort has been made to make this document readable to patients and their families as well as to healthcare providers.
-
Dermatol. Online J. · Jun 2015
Case ReportsTender, necrotic plaques of the glans penis due to calciphylaxis.
Calciphylaxis, also known as calcific uremic arteriolopathy, is a rare, but often fatal condition involving vascular calcification that can result in tissue ischemia and cutaneous necrosis. It is most often seen in patients with renal failure among many other occasionally reported etiologies. Below, we present a rare and challenging case of calciphylaxis involving the glans penis and right leg in a man with end stage renal disease on hemodialysis.
-
Dermatol. Online J. · Jun 2015
ReviewNon-tuberculous mycobacterium skin infections after tattooing in healthy individuals: A systematic review of case reports.
In recent years, several case reports and outbreaks reported occurrence of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections within 6 months after receiving a tattoo in healthy individuals. NTM species (e.g., Chelonae, Fortuitum, Hemophillum, and Abscessus) are widespread in the environment and it is often suspected that contamination may occur through unsterile instrumentation or unsterile water used for diluting tattoo ink to dilute color. In reported cases, lesions were mainly restricted to a single color 'gray' part of the tattoo. ⋯ Less than 50% of the case reports tested tattoo ink for acid fast bacilli stains and cultures. Subjects required treatment with either clarithromycin alone or in combination with quinolones for 6 to 9 months. An increase in NTM skin infections in healthy individuals after tattooing indicates the need for sterile standards during tattooing and improved local and regional regulatory oversight.