Download Dermatology For The General Medical Officer

General Medical Officer (GMO) Manual: Clinical Section
Operational Dermatology
Department of the Navy
Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
Peer Review Status: Internally Peer Reviewed
(1) General
Believe it or not, rare or exotic dermatoses are not the skin conditions that create the greatest difficulty for deployed
military personnel. In fact, only about 20 or so conditions induce the majority of outpatient dermatologic visits and
generate the lion's share of morbidity. Under field conditions, common dermatoses may have unusual clinical
appearances or become more severe than what is encountered in routine "in garrison" or "in port" care.
This chapter of the GMO Manual is not just for Navy providers. The intended audience is the primary care
providers of all U.S. Armed Forces. It is meant to supplement but not replace the commonly available dermatologic
textbooks, online atlases, therapeutic manuals, PDR and CD-ROMs. It does however contain diagnostic and
therapeutic "pearls" that are most useful to military primary care providers in an operational setting.
The chapter is restricted to conditions that are highly prevalent or produce disproportionate morbidity in a deployed
military population.
(2) Prevention and Minimization of Skin Disease
The old adage that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is when applied to dermatologic conditions in
the field. The presence of extremes of head and cold along with fewer opportunities for personal hygiene and
clothing change have been the traditional enemies of deployed military personnel. Military unique dermatology can
be thought of as a battle of the Sailor and Marine versus the hostile environment.
Included below are some prevention tips for hot and cold climates written by the U.S. Army in plain language for
field troops. Some phrases are quoted verbatim in the next few paragraphs. This simple wisdom applies to any
person in any of the Armed Forces. These words are just as true today as when they were written.
(3) Hot and Humid Areas
These tips were published in 1977 by the US Army in a small field manual entitled: FM 8-40 "Management of Skin
Diseases in the Tropics at Unit Level".
(a) Keep the skin clean.
"Cleanliness helps preserve the skin's health. Bathing removes dirt, decreases the number of
microorganisms and lessens body odor. For all these reasons, keeping clean is preferable to remaining
dirty. In addition, showers are great for relaxation, morale and personal comfort."
"If bathing facilities are not handy, they (your personnel) can keep quite clean by washing with cold water
from their helmets. Potable water is preferable for showers, but if not available, nonpotable water is
adequate."
"Soap and water must be used judiciously and properly. Whatever soap is used must be rinsed off
completely. As to the type of soap to use, scientific evidence does not support the notion that germ killing
or deodorant soaps or detergents reduce the incidence of bacterial or fungal infections."
"Soldiers (military personnel) must not shower excessively, such as three showers a day with lots of lather.
Too much soap and water removes the skin's moisteners and protective oils, causes the skin to become dry
and irritated, and thereby reduces the skin's capacity to protect the body."
"Even though cleanliness helps preserve the skin's health, bathing cannot perform miracles in preventing
skin disease. This is true regardless of the brand of soap used or the number of showers taken."
(b) Keep the skin dry.
"Tropical skin diseases would be greatly reduced if another rule of skin hygiene, keeping the skin dry,
could be adhered to."
"The realities of combat and (other) military operations often make this difficult, but there are a few rules to
follow:"
"Remove wet socks and boots as frequently as possible. If dry socks are not available, wring out the wet
ones."
"Rinse mud off boots. Mud on boots prevents (the leather) from drying."
"Pay special attention to the skin fold areas; the armpits, groin, buttocks, and the areas between the toes,
where several common skin diseases can erupt. Dry these areas frequently. In addition, get in the habit of
using talcum (or other nonfragranced) powder. These two practices will promote drying, reduce friction,
and prevent infections."
"Do not starch jungle fatigues (BDUs). Starch clogs the openings in the cloth, blocks sweat from escaping,
and therefore prevents sweat from evaporating and cooling the skin."
"Air the skin as much as conditions permit."
"If underwear is aggravating an existing skin condition, do not wear it."
"In base camp, encourage the wearing of as little clothing as the commander will allow. Under some
conditions, commanders may permit clothing, such as shortened fatigue (BDU) pants, tennis shoes or
shower clogs, at base camp and particularly in the company area. It is the commander's responsibility to
prescribe the uniform, however. The medic (medical personnel) can only recommend a uniform that is
consistent with command policy."
“Unless you are reasonably sure the patient has a fungal or bacterial infection, it is better to soothe the skin
than to “kill the germs”. More damage can be done by “over treatment” than by under treatment. As a
rule, highly inflamed, blistered, or oozing areas require gentle and calmative treatment. The application of
wet soaks (e.g. Burow's solution), removal of restrictive clothing, can encourage the patient to stop
scratching by eliminating the itching.”
(4) Cold Weather Operations
These quotes are from the US Army TC 21-3 (1986) "Soldier's Handbook For Individual Operations and Survival In
Cold-Weather Areas". This 1986 version is easily understood.
(a) Keep it Loose
"All items of the cold-weather uniform are large enough to allow wearing of the appropriate number of
layers (of clothing). Your field jacket may appear too large without all of the layers designed to fit under it.
If the uniform items do not fit loosely, the insulation that keeps you warm (a layer of warm air) will be
greatly reduced."
(b) Keep it dry
"It is important to keep clothing dry, since wet clothing conducts heat away from the body more quickly
than dry clothing. Moisture soaks into clothing from two directions: the inside and the outside. From the
outside you must guard against melting snow; from the inside you must guard against sweating. Brush
snow and frost from clothing before entering any heated shelter or vehicle, and avoid overheating."
(5) The Cold Weather Uniform
"The feet are hard to keep warm and dry, so protect them."..."When you are active, your feet will sweat and....the
moisture will remain in the socks or in the bottom (and leather) of the boots. Drying (the feet), massaging with foot
powder, warming and putting on dry socks will correct this."..."Don't wear socks that are too tight."..."Change your
socks at least twice a day."
Dermatologic Conditions
(6) Miliaria (Prickly Heat)
This common condition is most frequently seen in service members who have been recently put in hot, humid
environments. The trunk is commonly involved. Wearing occlusive clothing and military gear further exacerbates
the effects of the climate. As a result, the patient does not sweat onto the skin. Instead, he or she sweats "into" the
skin.
The most common form seen in the deployed military population is little discrete pink to red itchy papules on the
trunk. Besides being a nuisance, the presence of miliaria reduces the service member's ability to cope with heat
stress.
Removal of the occlusive clothing, thereby allowing the skin to air is effective yet simple. The use of calamine
lotion with 1 % hydrocortisone as a shake lotion is effective for relief of symptoms. The good news is that most
personnel will spontaneously resolve after acclimatization.
(7) Interigo and Irritancy in Body Folds (Crotch Rot, Pit Rot)
Perspiration as well as other skin irritants (e.g. soap residue, petroleum products, sawdust, fiberglass etc) can collect
in body folds and cause an irritant dermatitis. The condition is most commonly seen in patients in whom the body
folds predispose to trap moisture and irritants rather than vent to the air. As you can imagine, service members who
are constitutionally sweaty, who serve in hot, sweaty places, doing hot sweaty things or who are pregnant (figure 1)
are more prone to this condition. In addition, what starts as a
simple case of Interigo may, with time, become secondarily
colonized with Staph and/or Candida.
The best way to prevent interigo is the use of hygienic
measures outlined above. Strongly counsel your patient not
to be overzealous in personal hygiene measures. Recommend
avoiding over the counter (OTC) remedies and harsh soaps.
If it occurs despite these measures, the use of mild topical
corticosteroids (e.g. hydrocortisone or desonide cream)
should be considered.
Figure 1
(8) Acne
All acne treatments require several weeks to work. Your patient will not wake up with a clear face tomorrow, next
week or even next month. Be patient! Patients should not "squeeze their zits" because it may enhance scarring and
will delay resolution of the manipulated lesion. Dietary effects on acne are inconsistent at best. If your patient
repeatedly breaks out a couple of days after eating a certain food, tell him/her to avoid it. However, the complexions
of most patients are not affected by diet.
(a) Comedonal (predominantly blackhead/whitehead acne)

Benzoyl Peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide (BOP) products are available in wash, gel, or cream forms. All of these products
will bleach colored fabrics. Use the BOP washes in place of and exclusive of any other facial soaps or
cleansers. They should be used as one would use a liquid soap washing using only fingertips or lightly
with a white washcloth and rinsed thoroughly. The gel or cream BOP preparations should be applied
just before sleep and left on overnight.
Benzoyl peroxide products will induce some drying. If you decide to start a patient on a wash and a
gel/cream together, remember that you may end up inducing quite a bit of irritation (see Facial Dryness
below).

Retinoids: Tretinoin (Retin-A)
Another alternative is the vitamin A derivative tretinoin. Facial irritation and dryness are the usual
limiting factors for this medication. Most of the time this can either be avoided or minimized if some
simple common sense guidelines are followed.
Start using the lower concentration of the appropriate medication. For patients with very greasy
complexions, the 0.01% gel (green label) is appropriate while the 0.025% cream (gray label) is better
tolerated by average complexions. Application should be just before sleep waiting at least 20-30
minutes after washing the face. Significant facial irritation, dryness, and scaling can be practically
guaranteed if this is ignored. Only a "pea sized" amount of Retin-A is needed to cover a face and
forehead. Avoid the skin immediately adjacent to the mouth, nose, and eyes.
A mild amount of irritation will occur and can usually be controlled (see Facial Dryness below).
Another way to minimize irritation is to have your patient use Retin-A every other night for 2 weeks
before advancing to every night treatment.
Retin-A is not a true photosensitizer in the classic sense of the word. It does however make the face
more sensitive to all potential irritants such as sunlight, wind, salt water, fragrances, and/or irritating
vapors.
Retin-A will make acne worse for a several weeks before it begins to improve. If your patient tolerates
the initial therapy, you can advance after 3-4 months to the 0.025% gel or the 0.05% cream as
appropriate.
If your patients complain about excessive irritation from Retin-A, ask them in some detail how they
are using the product. You may be quite surprised to find that they have either never been told how to
correctly use it or just have not followed the directions.
Alternative topical retinoids such as microsphere tretinoin and adapalene gel (Differin®) are niche
products that are not widely used due to their expense. Ensure that your patient has CORRECTLY
used Retin-A before trying these products.
(b) Facial Dryness and Irritation from Acne Therapy
Topical acne therapy will always create some mild dryness and irritation. It is usually easily controlled
with a non-fragranced facial lotions (e.g. Purpose Facial Lotion, Lubriderm etc.) applied once or twice a
day. Some facial drying is acceptable; a lot of dryness and irritation is not acceptable. If severe drying or
irritation occurs, your patient needs to stop the treatment.
(c) Papulopustular Acne (red pimples, pustules, no cysts)
Benzoyl peroxide products are appropriate (as above).
(d) Topical Antibiotics
These must be applied twice a day to be effective. Most of them are compounded in water/alcohol based
solutions (Cleocin-T, T-Stat, Staticin, and Erycette Pads) and will induce some drying. Patients with
complexions that are prone to dryness (or who also have seborrheic dermatitis) should use Cleocin-T
Lotion instead of the water/alcohol products. Patients taking disulfuram (Antabuse) should not use these
water/alcohol products.
(e) Azaleic Acid
A newer product is 20% azeleic acid cream. This is a niche product primarily meant for resistant cases of
simple papulopustular, inflammatory acne. This product is quite expensive and will have only limited use
in a primary care setting.
(f) Oral Antibiotics
These are appropriate for patients with substantial numbers of inflamed acne lesions and a few small cysts.

Tetracycline
Tetracycline is the old standby. Unfortunately, it must be taken 1 hour before eating or 2 hours after
eating... a real inconvenience. Particularly avoid dairy products, iron, and certain antacids. These
interfere with the intestinal absorption of the medication. Start with 250 mg BID advancing to 250 mg
(2) BID if needed. Side effects to consider are mostly G-I upset and candida vaginitis.
Photosensitivity, while reported, is not a frequent problem.
Whether or not the tetracyclines interfere with the action of oral contraceptives is controversial. It
would be prudent to counsel the patient about this issue and broach the possibility of using a
supplemental form of contraception. The patient who has been previously stable on oral
contraceptives should immediately report the new appearance of “spotting” to you. This potential
problem has not been reported with Depo-Provera or Norplant.

Doxycycline
This cousin of tetracycline has the advantage of being able to be taken with food (although not large
amounts of dairy products, or mineral supplements). In fact, taking it on an empty stomach is usually
rewarded by G-I upset. As with all oral antibiotics, vaginal candidiasis is a possibility. The starting
dose is 100 mg per day advancing to 100 mg BID if necessary.
Photosensitivity is a real possibility with this drug. It should be used with caution to those with
significant sunlight exposure. Although it appears to be allowed by the Naval Aerospace Medical
Institute (NAMI) for patients in flight status, a review of the current NAMI, Air Force, or Army flight
medicine "allowable medications" list is highly advised. If in doubt, consult a flight surgeon from the
appropriate service. It is not to be given to those in undersea status or patients in whom large
exposures of ultraviolet light are probable.

Minocycline
This is another first cousin of tetracycline that should be taken with food as above. The side effect
spectrum is the same as other tetracyclines. The risk of photosensitivity is much less than doxycycline.
Headaches and vertigo are a real possibility. The starting dose is 100 mg per day advancing to 100 mg
BID if necessary. It is contraindicated for aviation or undersea personnel in the Navy.

Erythromycin
This drug is best given on an empty stomach with two glasses of water. However, if G-I upset occurs,
it can be given with a small amount of food, but about 20 percent of the drug will not be absorbed.
Vaginal candidiasis is a possibility. The starting dose is 250 mg BID, advancing to 500 mg BID if
needed.
Beware of multiple drug interactions: theophylline, digoxin, terfenadine, astemizole, loritidine,
coumadin, barbiturates, phenytoin, and carbamazepine. Check the PDR for details.
(g) Other Oral Antibiotics
While many other antibiotics have been used in the treatment of acne, their use is probably best initiated by
a dermatologist.
(h) Other Oral Medications
The use of medications to modify the hormonal milieu of acne is probably best left to the specialist.
(i) Nodulocystic Acne
Use of the medications above should be considered initially. Oral medications should be used at the higher
doses listed above. If the patient does not respond within 2-3 months, a dermatology consult is appropriate.
The use of isotretinoin (Accutane) may be indicated.
The decision to use isotretinoin is not a casual one and should be left to a dermatologist. This medication
has predictable morbidity and teratogenicity as well as requiring monthly follow-up visits and lab testing
(including serum pregnancy testing in women). The risk of teratogenicity in pregnant women is
exceptionally high.
There are also several military-unique considerations to using this medication. In addition to the
predictable dryness and skin fragility, frequent musculoskeletal side effects will further degrade combat
readiness of personnel in a large number of military occupations. The dermatologist is obligated to
coordinate this treatment and follow up with the service member's operational primary care provider.
(9) Boils (Furuncles)
If the lesion is fluctuant, incise and drain it. If not yet fluctuant, hot soaks three times a day are appropriate to "bring
it to a head". Oral antistaphylococcal antibiotics (preferably beta lactams) are indicated for 10 days (e.g.
dicloxacillin 500 mg QID). The majority of these lesions are staphylococcal and as such pose a public health risk in
an operational setting if not aggressively treated. In particular, these patients should not be food handlers until
treatment is complete.
(10) Impetigo
This rapidly spreading, highly contagious condition should be aggressively treated topically and systemically. The
oozing lesions should be dried with Burow's Solution (1 tablet dissolved in 1 pint of water) used as a compress for 5
to 10 minutes, 3 times a day. Topical antibiotic ointments are optional. Systemic anti-staph drugs are your safest
option. Like a furuncle, impetigo is a public health hazard. These patients should not be food handlers until
resolved. If the impetigo is on the central face, examine carefully to see if the lesions represent secondarily infected
herpes simplex.
(11) Herpes Simplex (HSV), oral and genital
If there is a question of diagnosis, do a Tzanck smear (see technique below). While oral or genital HSV is usually
painful, this is not always the case. Be suspicious, especially with penile erosions and ulcers.
Treatment should be individualized. Topical acyclovir ointment is useless. Tea bag soaks are quite helpful to dry
out the blisters. Have the patient make a cup of tea, squeeze out the teabag, and then apply the bag to the lesions
after it has cooled. The residual tannic acid in a tea bag is a surprisingly effective drying agent.
(a) Acyclovir
Oral acyclovir is effective only if given EARLY in the herpetic episode. In addition, it is not useful for the
patient who gets only the occasional mild episode. Acyclovir is helpful for patients with an initial
outbreak. They are frequently systemically ill and in pain.
For patients with recurrent disease, acyclovir should be reserved for those patients whose outbreaks are
frequent, very painful, or have associated systemic findings (fever, painful adenopathy, malaise, etc.) The
dose for treatment of an acute episode is 200 mg five times a day for 5 days. The use of 200 mg TID to
400 mg BID is useful for suppression in patients with frequent recurrences.
(b) Valacyclovir
This drug is a pro-drug of acyclovir. Its mechanism of action is identical to acyclovir. The advantage is
that the medication needs to only be used twice a day instead of five. The dose for recurrent HSV is 500
mg BID for 5 days. The use of 500 mg QD is useful for suppression.
(c) Famcyclovir
The dose is 125 mg BID for 5 days.
(d) Other Considerations
In the case of genital HSV, evaluation for concomitant STD should be strongly considered on an initial
visit. STDs are a chummy group and are frequently transmitted in twos or threes. Look for them!
Although patients are most infectious when they have active lesions, they may continue to shed virus
(albeit at a smaller rate) between outbreaks. As such, barrier contraception (e.g. condoms) is recommended
at all times unless a couple is trying to conceive.
A couple trying to determine "who gave what to whom and when" is engaged in a hopeless and
psychologically destructive task. Either partner may have had a dormant infection for weeks, months or
even years. While serologic testing for antibodies to HSV I and II is available, a positive result is of little
clinical utility because over 90 percent of adults will test positive due to previous exposure to oral or
genital HSV.
Instructions for performing a Tzanck smear







Open an intact vesicle at the edge using a
surgical blade. If no intact vesicles, gently
soak off the crust.
Scrape the base of the vesicle (or the
advancing border from an erosion/ulcer after
crust soaked off) and smear on slide. Do not
scrape to the point of bleeding, it makes the
slide difficult to interpret.
Fix the slide using heat or 20 seconds in
absolute alcohol.
Stain using Wright, Wright-Giemsa, Pap,
etc. stains following the lab's standard
operating procedures manual.
Dry the slide using gentle blotting motions
of a paper towel and air movement.
Place 2 small drops of immersion oil on
slide and then mount a cover slip.
Scan under 10-X for presence of
multinucleated giant cells (see figure 2.).
Figure 2
(12) Zoster
The presence of itchy or painful vesicles on an erythematous base in a dermatomal distribution should be considered
Zoster (shingles) until proven otherwise. Use a Tzanck smear (see Herpes Simplex above) to confirm the diagnosis.
Thoracic segments are the most frequently affected.
The branches of the trigeminal nerve are also frequently involved and can be quite painful. The ophthalmic branch
in particular is quite problematic. For patients with cranial nerve V 1 involvement, be sure to ask about eye
symptoms and do examine the eye. Keratoconjunctivitis and/or iridocyclitis are potentially serious complications.
Consult with an ophthalmologist.
Treatment of Zoster is threefold in nature: antiviral medications (if indicated), pain relief, and drying of the vesicles.
Acyclovir 800 mg orally five times a day is helpful only if given with 48 hours of the onset of the rash. The
appropriate doses of valacyclovir and famcyclovir are 1000 mg TID and 500 mg TID respectively.
The pain can be quite severe; prescribe narcotics if required. The use of Burow's solution to compress the vesicles
(see Impetigo above) is soothing and will desiccate the blisters.
While the vesicular fluid of zoster lesions is minimally contagious, this is usually not a problem in
immunocompetent patients. Patients can return to work with active vesicles as long as the involved area is covered
with clothing.
(13) Varicella
This condition is highly contagious and can cause a great deal of morbidity in the active duty age group. Even
though the varicella vaccine is now commonly in use, there are still many service members who are susceptible.
For Chickenpox, treat the active duty age group with acyclovir 800mg 5 times a day for 10 days if the condition is
recognized within 2-3 days of onset of rash. The course of the illness can be somewhat shortened. Unfortunately, it
is unclear whether the serious complications of varicella (e.g. pneumonitis, meningoencephalitis, etc.) can be
prevented with therapy.
(14) Epidermal Inclusion Cysts (Sebaceous Cysts)
If the cyst is inflamed and fluctuant, surgically drain it. Larger amounts of local anaesthetic than expected are
usually required to deaden the skin before incision and drainage.
After irrigation and removal of all visible cyst wall, pack it with iodoform gauze and let it granulate. Premature
closure of the surgical wound is counterproductive...let it drain. Antibiotics are optional because this is not initially
an infectious process. A few weeks later, evaluate the site to see if any cyst remains and consider the feasibility of
elliptical excision.
(15) Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB)
Although this is mostly an administrative problem, it is of importance to the operational primary care provider. The
Department of Defense does not require clean shaven faces merely for the sake of military appearance. Grooming is
important because bearded faces have greater difficulty in obtaining gas tight seals on a gas mask or oxygen
breathing apparatus. The practice of liberally giving "no shave chits" besides being unprofessional may actually
harm your patient in certain operational situations. BUPERS instruction 1000.22 and Marine Corps Order 6310.1B
outline the current program and administrative procedures including the phases of therapy and how to properly use
them.
Although some patients truly must grow short, well-trimmed beards as the only way to control their PFB, the
majority of motivated patients can be helped by simple measures. Most PFB patients are quite motivated, but need
your interest and guidance. Your attention to this frequently misunderstood problem will reap great rewards. You
will be rewarded by the respect of your patients and better clinical results.
First of all, make sure that the patient truly has PFB. Some patients may also have coexistent acne, which is
worsened by the act of shaving. Examine the skin carefully. Treatment of PFB alone in the presence of coexisting
acne is doomed to failure. Both conditions must be approached simultaneously.
Most cases of PFB require a period of no shaving to give the inflamed hairs a change to grow out to let the
inflammation die down. Mild cases may require only 2 weeks of "no shave" whereas more severe cases frequently
need 4 weeks or longer. Impacted hairs can be delicately dislodged during this period by gently massaging them
(barely touching the face) using a circular motion with an extra soft toothbrush.
Once grooming is resumed, remember that the goal is to have some "stubble" remain on the problematic areas. This
is done by "shaving with the grain", whether one is using a PFB razor, electric razor, beard clipper, or removing
with a chemical depilatory. Going "against the grain" defeats the whole strategy of leaving "stubble" because the
hairs would be cut shorter. The act of hair removal is more physically irritating to the skin.
Chemical depilitory products can play a role in some, but not all patients. Several patients prefer to use these
products despite an unpleasant smell during their use. The most widely available of several commercial products is
Magic Shave. The instructions on the container need to be explicitly followed or else an irritant dermatitis will
almost always occur. Even if properly used, many patients develop a mild tightness and chapping of the face and
neck. Be careful.
(16) Verrucae
Everybody dislikes warts. Warts are a challenge for both you as well as your patient. Remember that the family of
wart viruses is a lot smarter than we are. Even after the wart is visibly gone, virus persists in the skin and may recur
later.
Make sure that both you and your patient have realistic expectations for treatment. Your goal is to minimize your
patient's morbidity and encourage the immune system to control the infection. Permanently ridding your patient of
the wart virus is not possible. Overly aggressive therapy is usually only rewarded with extra morbidity and is
frequently not more likely to be successful.
Warts are passed between humans commonly in "communal" settings such as berthing compartments, recreational
facilities, and equipment. Wear shower shoes, T-shirts, and weight lifting gloves to avoid exposure and the spread
of warts to others.
The most common encountered morbidity from warts (especially on the feet) is pain. The pain is not caused by the
wart itself, but rather by the mass effect of having a hard knot within and on top of the skin. Gently paring the wart
with a scalpel blade just barely to the point of pinpoint bleeding is an easy way to debulk it, thereby decreasing the
patient's discomfort as well as preparing the site for other treatment. Control any bleeding by applying Monsell's
solution or 20% Aluminum chloride solution (DrySol).
Common treatments for warts whether chemical, electrical, or surgical are skin destructive in nature.
Chemical salicylic acid wart varnishes (e.g. Duofilm, Occlusal HP, Compound W, etc.) should be applied to the wart
daily, preferably at bedtime. Consider protecting the surrounding normal skin by applying petrolatum. Place two or
three coats on the wart, allowing each coat to dry; then apply a bandaid. Salicylic acid plasters (e.g. Mediplast)
should be cut to fit the wart and then applied at bedtime and overlaid with a bandaid. The next day, the lesion can
be pared or abraded with an Emory board or pumice stone. Stop treatment if there is substantial pain, irritation, or
ulceration.
Trichloroacetic acid solution (TCA) can be used similar to the salicylic acid preparations, but has a larger potential
for tissue destruction. Use it with respect.
Liquid nitrogen, if applied optimally, will induce a small blister allowing the wart to peel away from the underlying
dermis. Freeze the wart quickly to the point of turning it white with a 1 mm zone of normal skin. A good method to
minimize the damage to surrounding normal skin is to apply an appropriately sized otoscope speculum and spray the
nitrogen through the open end. Let the wart thaw slowly, then repeat the freeze.
After freezing, the lesion will follow this sequence over the next few days: pink, red, purple, brown, and then
maybe even black. A blister will likely form and should be approached as any other blister. Once the vesicle has
opened and dried, pare off any remainder and see if any lesion remains. Repeat treatment should be considered
every 1-2 weeks or so if any lesion remains.
Electrosurgery should be used only if you have had some training in its use. It can generate a fair degree of postoperative morbidity. Areas over joints, near the nails, or over the bony prominences are particularly difficult to
treat.
Chemical vesicants such as cantharidin are quite destructive and are not recommended as initial therapy.
(17) Condyloma
Like other warts, subtypes of human papilloma virus also cause these lesions. Like other warts, the infection is a
lifelong one. Sexually transmitted diseases such as condylomata love company. Make sure that your patient does
not have other STDs. Evaluation for other STDs (e.g. syphilis, urethritis, and HIV) should be considered on the
initial visit.
Once a patient has had condylomata, the skin always sheds virus to some degree. As such, barrier contraception
(e.g. condoms) is recommended unless a couple is actually trying to conceive. The question of who gave the virus
to whom is not a useful one. The virus may have been shed asymptomatically by either partner for quite some time
before lesions develop.
The goal is to make your patient free of visible warts for as long as possible. Eradication of the virus from the skin
is impossible. Destructive modalities delivered with precision such as liquid nitrogen, Trichloroacetic acid,
electrosurgery, and podophyllin are helpful.
Podophyllin resin in tincture of benzoin has long been a mainstay of therapy. Apply it to external lesions (do not
apply to vaginal or cervical warts in women or use during pregnancy) and wash off with soap and water after 4 - 6
hours. Re-evaluate your patient 1 week after treatment to determine whether additional therapy is necessary.
A new form of podophyllin (Condylox) is commercially available and should only be considered for emotionally
mature, dexterous, and reliable patients. The active ingredient is podofilox, a purified and standardized form of
podophyllin toxin suitable for self-application by a patient.
Podofilox is meant only for external condylomata and should not be used on mucous membrane lesions or during
pregnancy in females. Follow the PDR recommendations carefully because over treatment will result in
considerable irritation. This should be applied only to lesional skin. This medication is also quite expensive. It is
not meant for everyone.
Other pharmacologic means to treat condylomata include biologic response modifiers such as topical imiquimod
cream (Aldara) and intralesional interferon. These modalities are very costly and are only considered appropriate
for treatment when prescribed by Dermatologists.
(18) Molluscum Contagiosum
A DNA containing pox virus causes these lesions. When seen in the active duty population, they are frequently
sexually transmitted. As such, they are usually found on or near the genitalia, inner thighs, and waistline areas.
Clinically the lesions are asymptomatic 1-5 mm umbilicated milky
papules (figure 3).
Treatment is best accomplished with destructive modalities such as liquid
nitrogen, light curettage, or light electrodessication. The precise pinpoint
application of salicylic acid wart varnish (protecting the normal skin with
petrolatum) covered by a band aid is an alternative. Vesicant agents, such
as cantharidin, are best avoided by primary care providers unless they are
quite experienced in the technique.
(19) Eczema and Contact Dermatitis
(a) Administrative Notes
Hand eczema (endogenous and exogenous), atopic dermatitis,
and other forms of eczema are the second most costly form of
dermatologic, occupationally aggravated, or induced "illness" in
the civilian world and DoD. In particular, endogenous hand
eczema and atopic dermatitis are notoriously unpredictable. For
this and other reasons these conditions are disqualifying for entry
into the United States Armed Forces. If present in a currently
serving member, these conditions are considered to be
disqualifying for aviation,
submarine, and Special
Forces duty as well as other
specialized military duty.
Why is this so? The
actuarial data of many
decades gives us the
answer. Even if a patient's
eczema has been minimally
active (or even totally
quiescent) this is not an
accurate predictor of future
severity. Military
dermatologists (like our
civilian occupational
dermatology colleagues)
routinely encounter many
patients whose "minimal"
eczema ultimately flared
badly in the military or
special occupational
environment.
Figure 4
Figure 3
Figure 5
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate such a case of Atopic Dermatitis in a Navy Mess Management Specialist. His
eczema flared very badly during Operation Desert Shield/Storm, ultimately impetiginized and was the
source of an outbreak of Staph food poisoning.
Figure 6 illustrates a case of a man with known Dyshidrotic Eczema of the hands who was granted a
medical waiver for enlistment. His hands flared very badly during his training as a jet engine mechanic.
He was ultimately medically separated from the Navy.
This group of skin diseases causes a great deal of morbidity, lost productivity and administrative burden to
the military. Waivers for entry in a
patient with known endogenous eczema or
hand dermatitis should be rarely granted,
only after thoughtful deliberation. Please
remember this fact if you are doing entry
physicals or special duty qualification
exams.
Figure 6
(b) Treatment
The treatment of eczema can be likened to
be a three legged footstool. If you remove
one or more of the legs, the footstool will
not stand. The same is true for eczema
therapy. The three legs of this therapeutic
footstool are lubrication, medication, and
control of the skin's environment.
Lubrication of dry eczematous dermatitis can be done with a wide variety of emollients, the simpler the
better. Frequent use of bland products such as Eucerin, Aquaphor, or Vaseline is preferable to the more
expensive fragrance containing and chemically complex products. Fragranced products, while "elegant",
are potential irritants and/or allergens and should be avoided on irritated skin of any kind, but especially in
patients with eczema.
The medication leg of the footstool usually involves topical steroids. The advice here is similar; keep it
simple. Topical steroids are available in a variety of potencies and vehicles. In general, do not use medium
potency or higher products on the face or genitals. Gels or aerosolized steroid sprays are appropriate for
moist and weepy dermatitis. Creams and ointments are effective on drier more chronic lesions. While
topical steroid "allergies" do occur, the reactions to topical steroid medications more likely represent a
sensitivity to a preservative, fragrance, or other ingredient in the vehicle.
Medication of acute or "wet" eczema (e.g. poison ivy or flare of atopic or dyshidrotic eczema of the hands)
has additional considerations. Burow's Solution compresses (see Impetigo) can dry out a wet oozing
eczema within a few days. Decrease the bacterial colonization of the eczema with a few days of
antistaphyloccal antibiotic therapy.
Systemic steroids are reserved for cases of substantial morbidity or widespread involvement. If required,
use 1 mg/kg of prednisone in a tapering dose over a 2-3 week period while initiating topical therapy.
Shorter courses or lower doses frequently result in "rebound" of the dermatitis. Otherwise healthy active
duty personnel tolerate brief courses of prednisone very well. If a patient has reached this point of severity,
dermatology consult is highly advised.
The last leg of the footstool is environmental control. This simply means to decrease the skin's exposure to
any identified offending substance, harsh bath soaps, occupationally related chemicals and the like.
Most cases of hand eczema are irritant or endogenous (i.e. a form of atopic dermatitis) rather than allergic.
The proper use of protective gear (e.g. work gloves), minimizing repeated wet/dry exposures of the
involved area etc will allow the skin to heal faster.
Here is a diagnostic "pearl" concerning eczematous dermatitis on the foot. If vesicles are present,
especially on the plantar surface, do a KOH (potassium hydroxide) prep on the roof of a vesicle. If
positive, the therapeutic strategy involves antifungal therapy. Eczematous dermatitis exclusively on the
dorsum of the foot is usually not fungal.
(20) Psoriasis
(a) Administrative Aspects
Like atopic dermatitis and endogenous hand eczema, psoriasis and its variants are listed as disqualifying for
entry and the pursuit of certain special duty in the Armed Forces of the United States. The reasons are the
same as eczema; the notorious unpredictability of the condition. A case of clinically banal psoriasis can
sometimes explode into disease of a debilitating nature in the military environment. Waivers should be
very judiciously granted for this condition only after consultation with a military dermatologist.
The "three legged stool" of medication, lubrication, and environmental control applies equally well to the
treatment of psoriasis (see Eczema above). The novice primary care practitioner inappropriately neglects
lubrication in favor of potent topical steroids. Psoriasis perpetuates itself on dry cracked skin. Moisturize,
moisturize, and moisturize! Topical steroids are not a substitute for emollients.
Scalp lesions are best approached with sulfur/salicylic acid, zinc pyrithione, or coal tar based medicated
shampoos. The key to success here is sufficient contact time. The shampoo must have several minutes in
place on the scalp before rinsing. There are a large number of generic and proprietary products on the
market: Tarsum, T-Gel, Pentrax, Sebulex, Sebutone, and other dandriff shampoo brands to name but a few.
Ketoconazole shampoo is also useful, but is best saved for situations where conventional shampoos do not
help. This product is very expensive and should be used judiciously.
Topical steroid lotions (e.g. betamethasone valearate 0.1%) applied after shampoo are a nice way to deliver
medication to lesions within and near hair bearing surfaces such as the scalp and eyebrows.
Do not use systemic steroids to control psoriasis. An impressive "rebound" usually occurs which can be
very difficult to treat.
(21) Seborrheic Dermatitis
Scalp lesions (i.e., dandruff) are treated the same as psoriasis (see Psoriasis above). The areas of greasy scale with
background erythema on the central face, forehead, retroauricular, genitalia, and periumbilical locations should be
treated with a low potency steroid cream or ointment (e.g., hydrocortisone 1% or desonide 0.05%).
(22) Scabies
The itching and rash associated with scabies is not due the infestation per se but are the consequence of the body's
immune response to the presence of the mite and its waste products. Consider the diagnosis of scabies in any a
patient with a smoldering itchy rash with itchy papules on the genitalia, web spaces, or wrists.
Some patients will have few if any symptoms with their
infestation. While a positive scabies scrape preparation
taken from a typical "burrow" is diagnostic, it is
frequently negative, even in a "classic" case (figure 7).
While conceptually simple, the treatment of scabies is
sometimes difficult to execute properly in practice. Do
not use Kwell shampoo to treat scabies...it won't work.
Use Kwell cream/lotion or Elimite cream at bedtime
exactly as written in the PDR.
Figure 7
Thirty to sixty grams of the cream or 60-120 ml of lotion
should cover the whole body. Be sure to treat from the neck all the way to the toes being sure to get every crack and
crevice in between. Be sure to apply the medication to the web spaces, underneath the fingernails, and the genitalia.
Do not wash the hands or fingers before going to sleep.
Retreat the patient the following evening. The itching usually takes a few days to subside. All scabies medications
are somewhat irritating and drying to the skin. Use bland emollients or if necessary medium potency topical steroids
after the second application is rinsed off to control residual irritation and dryness.
All clothing, underwear and nightclothes, linen and towels used in the past 2 weeks by the patient require washing in
hot water or dry cleaning. All household and/or sexual contacts should be treated. Aboard ship or in a barracks or
any other very "close living" situation, persons nearby should be checked carefully for evidence of infestation. If in
doubt, treat the patient.
Instructions for performing a Scabies Prep





Find a non-excoriated lesion. The best places to look are in the web spaces of the fingers,
on the wrist or heel of the hand.
Clean the area with an alcohol prep pad to get rid of clothing fibers, dirt and other debris
that makes interpretation more difficult.
Apply a drop of mineral oil to a scalpel blade or curette.
Superficially scrape the lesion with the intent of removing only the stratum corneum.
Place the specimen on a microscope slide. Add another drop of immersion oil and add a
cover slip. Lower the microscope substage condenser as far down as it will go.
Review the specimen looking for feces, eggs and mites.


(23) Lice (head or crab)
Like scabies, the presence of one patient with lice should prompt the search for other cases involving personnel who
are billeted nearby. Look around, you might be surprised what you discover. The washing of involved clothing in
water greater than 50 degrees celsius will kill the lice and any nits.
Use Kwell, Nix or Rid shampoos, or similar products. Adequate pre-cleaning followed by adequate medication
contact time is the key. The hair should be routinely shampooed clean and toweled dry (i.e. moist but not dripping
wet) before the application of the pediculocide shampoo.
The pediculocide shampoo should be directly applied from the bottle onto the affected areas and worked into lather
without the addition of water. Kwell shampoo should have at least 4-5 minutes and other products about 10 minutes
of contact time before rinsing off with water.
Retreat one week later. Treatment failure is not
due to resistant lice. The pediculocides available
today do not kill nits as well as they kill live lice.
Treatment failure is most frequently due to
reinfestation or inadequate contact time.
If treating the scalp, be sure to treat behind the ears
and the base of the neck. It is very easy to
inadequately treat patients with long hair. Longer
haired patients should use a plastic shower cap to
insure coverage. Avoid the eyes.
Nits can be removed with a nit comb or picked off
with tweezers (see figure 8). Rinsing the hair with
a 2:1 dilution of table vinegar before combing will
help loosen the nits. Combs and brushes should be
soaked in the pediculocide shampoo for about an
hour or heated to about 65 degrees Celsius for 5-10
minutes.
The treatment of crab lice should not just involve the pubic hair. It should also cover the hairy skin from the
umbilicus down to mid thigh. In particularly hairy individuals, check the axilla and chest for involvement.
Lice on the eyelashes can be treated by thickly applying Vaseline 2-3 times a day for a week. This treatment
smothers the lice. Ammoniated Mercury ointment 0.1% applied to the lids is also quite effective. The nits can then
be mechanically removed.
(24) Fungal Infections
(a) Tinea Pedis and Cruris
Not all that is red, itchy, and scaly on the feet or groin
is fungal. Be sure to consider other causes such as
contact dermatitis, eczema, and bacteria. Take a KOH
preparation from the scaly advancing border of a groin
rash or from scaling on the feet adjacent to (but not
within) an area of maceration, or the roof of a vesicle
on the foot to confirm the diagnosis. Branching hyphae
should be visible (figure 9).
Fungus lives where it is wet, warm, and dark. The
groin and foot are ideal locations for growing fungus.
Control of the milieu is important to controlling tinea.
Potent medications are not a substitute for simple
preventative measures to make the fungus less
welcome.
Figure 9
Web spaces and groins should be thoroughly dried after gently showering, followed by applying simple
antifungal powders containing tolnaftate or miconazole. Shoes should fit well and socks should be
frequently changed. If possible, two sets of routine footwear should be maintained; one for odd days, one
for even days. In this fashion, the shoes will dry out on the "off day". Sweating of the feet can be treated
with antiperspirants such as aluminum chloride solution (e.g. DrySol, Xerac AC, or Certain Dri) applied at
bedtime. Boxer shorts are preferable to briefs... especially if wearing BDUs.
If tinea develops, remember to use the preventive steps outlined previously in addition to the treatment
plan. These actions will make the treatment much more effective, provide more rapid relief, and allow for
better results over the long run.
Wet, very macerated tinea of the web spaces is best
treated with antifungal lotions such as miconazole or
clotrimazole after astringent compresses with Burow's
solution (see Impetigo above) or dilute vinegar. These
areas are frequently overgrown with a potpourri of
gram negative bacteria (figure 10). The concurrent use
of a drug such as oral ciprofloxacin accelerates
recovery.
Figure 10
Typical web space tinea is treated with a cream or
solution vehicle antifungal drug. Miconazole or
clotrimazole are effective. Nizoral, Spectazole, Naftin,
or Lamasil cream is also effective but quite a bit more
expensive. At least 3 weeks of treatment are required.
Chronic, hyperkeratotic, cracked and peeling "moccasin foot" tinea is treated with keratolytics such as
Whitfield's ointment, 10% salicylic acid in petrolatum or 12% ammonium lactate lotion (Lachydrin).
Antifungal creams are also effective but are quite a bit more expensive. Localized vesicular plantar tinea
can be treated with cream. Extensive vesicular tinea of the feet requires the addition of astringent soaks
(see above) and strong consideration of oral antifungal therapy (see below).
Not all itchy perineums and groins are caused by tinea. Strongly consider the diagnosis of Candida if
"satellite pustules" and extensive maceration are present, especially in females. The differential diagnosis
frequently includes contact dermatitis (occupational and non-occupational), seborrheic dermatitis, and
psoriasis. Take a history and look for diagnostic hints. Remember, in temperate climates Tinea and
Candida rarely involve the scrotum.
Contact dermatitis as an overlay to another diagnosis on the genital and crural skin occurs more often than
is appreciated. Patients with itchy groins are desperate to stop the itch and will try anything topical;
topical benzocaine, deodorants, rubbing alcohol, strong antibacterial soaps, and Ben Gay to name a few.
Insist that all applications be ceased except the ones that you prescribe. Wet and weepy groins need
astringent solution compresses and ventilation to facilitate drying.
If the diagnosis is tinea cruris, begin with twice a day antifungal cream once if the area is not weeping.
Treat for at least 3 weeks. Remember that nystatin powder, cream or lotion, while effective for Candida,
will not work against the dermatophyte fungi which cause tinea. If the tinea is very macerated, strongly
consider using oral antifungal therapy (see below) as well as astringent solution compresses.
The diagnosis of Tinea of the nails (tinea unguium) needs to be confirmed before you even consider
treatment. Not all distorted nails are due to fungal infection. If you are not sure of the diagnosis, refer to
dermatology.
Tinea unguium is not worth treating and will only rarely be permanently cured. While a period of
remission can usually be achieved, the fungus usually returns within 1-2 years. It is frequently associated
with tinea pedis in middle aged or older males who have some immunologic anergy to the organism
(Trichophyton rubrum).
Topical treatment alone will not work. The use of oral therapy (e.g. griseofulvin, itraconazole, terbenifine)
therapy is frequently ineffective, expensive, and risks some side effects and drug interactions (especially
itraconazole). Because this condition is prone to recurrence carefully advise the patient about the various
treatment regimens and the realistic potential for an unsatisfactory result.
(b) Tinea Capitis
Tinea capitis is classically thought to be a pediatric
condition. However, it does occur in the active
duty age group, especially black males. The most
common cause of tinea capitis in the 1990s is
Trichophyton tonsurans.
Trichophyton tonsurans infection of the scalp can
produce a variable clinical picture. Asymptomatic
scaly patches containing tiny black dots with
minimal hair loss frequently confused with
Alopecia Areata is the most frequent presentation
(figure 11) although large, boggy inflamed plaques
sometimes occur (figure 12). A Wood's light is of
no use to diagnose Trichophyton tonsurans because
this organism does not fluoresce.
Figure 11
Potassium hydroxide scrapings from the scalp should not be taken from the scale. Instead, they should
include the broken fragments of hair or the tiny black dots. Use the tip of an 18-g needle. A curette will
function. Be sure to let the preparation digest for several minutes (after gently heating) before viewing.
I
n
s
t
e
a
d
Figure 12
o
f
l
Figure 13
o
o
k
ing for branching hyphae, look for tiny athrospores (sometimes in chains) within and outside of the hair
shaft fragments (figure 13).
Therapy of tinea capitis involves systemic antifungals (see below). Topical therapy alone is inadequate, it
will not adequately penetrate the hair follicles. The use of an antifungal shampoo such as Selsun, Nizoral,
or Head and Shoulders is good adjunctive therapy and will make your patient much less infectious to
his/her shipmates. Griseofulvin is still the drug of choice. Oral treatment for at least 10 weeks is
necessary.
(c) Oral Antifungal Therapy
The use of oral antifungal therapy is frequently misunderstood by the primary care provider. For now,
griseofulvin is the drug of choice although this may change in the next year or two. The newer generation
of oral antifungals is quite costly and is frequently unavailable to deployed units.

Griseofulvin
Griseofulvin is a reasonably safe and effective drug in healthy patients if properly used. Not all
griseofulvin preparations are the same. The bioavailability and doses of micro-size and ultra microsize forms of griseofulvin are quite different. Follow the PDR recommendations for dosing. One
exception however, is the need to use the "upper end" of the dosing scales for tinea capitis.
Gastrointestinal side effects and headache are the most frequent problems with griseofulvin. These
problems can usually be avoided if the drug is given with a meal, especially with some lipid. A piece
of toast with margarine or oil and vinegar on a salad will provide sufficient fat. Bacon and eggs are
not necessary. Phototoxicity is unusual but reported.
Unlike antibacterial agents, griseofulvin works quite slowly. The deposition of the drug in newly
keratinizing epithelium allows it to work. This takes time so be patient. Pretreatment liver function
tests repeated every month or two combined with a good follow up monthly will prevent significant
hepatotoxicity. Be aware of the interactions with coumadin and do not prescribe for patients with
porphyria.

Ketoconazole
This oral form of this medication is of limited use for treating tinea. This is best reserved for selected
patients with candida or tinea versicolor.

Itraconazole (Sporanox)
This drug is very expensive. The use of "pulse" therapy for the treatment of the nails (tinea unguium)
is equally effective as daily therapy in most patients. Use 200 mg twice a day (with food) for 7
consecutive days per month repeated for 3 or 4 months. Liver function tests are usually not needed for
healthy patients using this "pulse" regimen. The list of drug-drug interactions is very long for this
medication. Check the PDR for details.

Tebenafine (Lamasil)
This medication is also very expensive. However, it does not have the long list of drug interactions as
itraconazole. The dose is 250 mg daily for 3-4 months. Follow the PDR concerning patient
monitoring.
Instructions for performing a KOH preparation



Find an area of scaling or vesiculation on an advancing border of erythema.
Cleanse the area with an alcohol prep pad and allow to dry.
Gently scrape the scale onto a microscope slide. Flakes about 1 mm are ideal. If the
lesion is vesicular, gently tease the roof of the vesicle off using a scalpel blade and mount
it on a slide.
 Place a small amount of 10-20% KOH solution on the slide. Do not be overly generous or
the prep will be messy and leak.
 Gently heat the slide, do not boil.
 Wait 5-10 minutes and allow it to cool.
 Lower the substage condenser as far down as it will go on the microscope. Review the
(d) Tinea preparation
Versicolor for branching hyphae (figure 9).
The diagnosis of this condition is relatively easy in most instances. The presence of a confetti-like
discoloration on the upper chest and back is the most frequent presentation. This condition is caused by the
overgrowth of a normal follicular inhabitant, the yeast Pityrosporum orbiculare. Patients who are
constitutionally sweaty, work in hot sweaty places, doing hot sweaty things, wearing hot sweaty clothing
are the most likely to develop the problem.
Although the diagnosis is usually clinically obvious, a KOH taken
from a scaly macule will frequently show the classic "spaghetti and
meatballs" pattern of pseudohyphae and spores (figure 14).
The goal is to control of the yeast overgrowth on the skin. It can't be
eradicated because it is part of the body's normal flora. Selenium
sulfide suspension (Selsun) applied to the skin, rinsed after 5-10
minutes for 7-14 days initially then reduced to twice a week will
usually suffice. Zinc pyrithione shampoos (e.g. Head and Shoulders)
should be used similarly to Selsun. Ketoconazole shampoo is also
effective but is relatively expensive. Antifungal creams and lotions
(e.g. miconazole, etc.) while effective, are awkward (and expensive)
to use over larger areas of the trunk.
Oral ketoconazole should not be used as mono-therapy. This is a
common mistake among novice primary care providers. Although it
Figure 14
is very effective in severe cases, it frequently creates complacency in
both the physician and patient. It is not a long term solution and it
should be used, if at all, as a "starter" therapy and topical therapy
should be used for further treatment. It is merely an optional adjunct to the topical antifungal therapy
above. Although the literature supports a variety of regiments, one preferred treatment is 200 mg daily for
7 days, taken on an empty stomach.
(25) Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)
Figure 15
All dermatologic handbooks adequately describe this entity. BCC
must be considered in the differential diagnosis of any persistent,
bleeding, crusted papule on the head, neck, and other sun exposed
areas (figure 15). While these carcinomas are slow growing and hardly
ever metastasize, they are relentlessly destructive if inadequately
treated.
Urgent referral involving medevac from a deployment is not needed in
the majority of cases. The passage of several weeks will not usually
change the patient's prognosis or type of therapy. However, you still
need to approach these lesions carefully. Not all basal cell carcinomas
are the same. Treatment may vary with histologic subtype, anatomic
location, and other aspects of the clinical situation. Communicate with
your consultant dermatologist.
(26) Melanoma
The early diagnosis and treatment of a melanoma is just as effective at saving
a life as the proper resuscitation of a trauma victim. A suspicious pigmented
lesion needs to be promptly evaluated. The delay of even a few weeks can
make a difference in the clinical outcome.
Figure 16
Remember the basics of melanoma recognition. Irregularities of border,
coloration, topography and a history of enlargement or spontaneous bleeding
of a pigmented lesion are cause for evaluation (figure 16).
A lesion that is seriously suspected of melanoma is best excised down to the
deep subcutaneous fat in toto. If this is not practical, a narrow, but long
incisional biopsy should be taken through the worst appearing portion of the
lesion.
Incisional biopsies can be difficult to interpret if the laboratory does not
correctly process them. These samples should be "embedded whole and
sectioned longitudinally" by the laboratory. Be sure to prominently add these
instructions in bold red letters to the pathology request.
The definitive surgical treatment and prognosis of melanoma largely depends
on the depth (Breslow Level) of the tumor. In-situ melanomas and
superficially invasive melanomas (less than 0.76 mm deep) have a very good prognosis. Therefore, early diagnosis
is very important. Suspicious lesions should be either promptly biopsied or referred to a dermatologist for
evaluation.
(27) Actinic Keratosis
These common pre-malignant lesions are usually seen as rough reddish brown
macules on the sun exposed areas of the face, head, neck, scalp, upper
chest/back, and extensor forearms (figure 17). The current wisdom is that a
small but finite number of these lesions progress to squamous cell carcinoma
of the skin. Multiple actinic keratoses represent the fertile fields upon which
skin cancers may ultimately grow.
Actinic keratoses can be easily treated with liquid nitrogen. However, most
military primary care providers do not have this available when deployed. If
this skin lesion recurs despite treatment, a biopsy or referral to a dermatologist
Figure 17
is recommended.
(28) Pityriasis Rosea
This benign but frequently annoying eruption is most commonly seen in the active duty age group. This condition is
frequently in the primary care setting. A serologic test for syphilis or RPR (rapid plasma reagin) is absolutely
mandatory to exclude the diagnosis of secondary syphilis.
A truncal or proximal extremity slightly red, scaly 2-6 cm "herald patch" is not always seen or appreciated. The
generalized eruption begins a few days to a couple of weeks later. Sometimes there is an antecedent history of a flu
like illness. The individual lesions are 1-2 cm macules or patches, ovoid and have a peripheral "collarette" of scale.
The "fir tree" pattern of distribution on the trunk is characteristic in fair skinned patients. In darker skin, the lesions
may be more papular and concentrated on the skin of the infra axillary, upper medial thigh, and waistline. The
presence of palm or sole lesions is quite unusual and should prompt the search for another diagnosis.
The eruption usually lasts 6-8 weeks. Many cases are asymptomatic or produce little morbidity. Patients frequently
require only reassurance. The majority of these patients can be returned to full duty.
Some medications produce a pityriasis-like drug eruption. The most relevant drugs used by the active duty
population are captopril, barbiturates, and metronidazole.
Treatment with topical antipruritic lotions, emollients, and conventional oral antihistamines should be considered in
pityriasis rosea patients with substantial pruritus.
(29) Urticaria and Angioedema
A detailed discussion is beyond the scope of this chapter. Urticaria (hives) can be conceptualized as being massive
acute migratory dermal edema, usually extremely itchy. Angioedema on the other hand involves the deeper dermis
and the subcutaneous fat frequently in the eyelids, lips, hands, and feet.
Acute urticaria and angioedema is seen in patients with anaphylaxis, serum sickness or as a reaction to arthropod
bites, medications, infections, vaccinations, and foods. Urticaria that persists beyond 6 weeks has been defined as
chronic urticaria. This discussion is limited to typical acute urticaria or angioedema, which does not involve
vascular instability, dyspnea, or other systemic manifestations.
(a) Etiologies to consider in the active duty age group

Medications - beta lactams (especially penicillins), sulfa, NSAIDs, opiates, radio contrast dye,
douches, and OTC cold preparations (to name only a few).

Infections - for acute urticaria in the active duty age group consider: incubating hepatitis,
mononucleosis, influenza, viral gastroenteritis, viral URI, atypical pneumonia, UTI, strep throat, dental
manipulation, vaginitis, otitis, inflammatory tinea, scabies, and intestinal parasites.

Immunizations - influenza, hepatitis A or B, gamma globulin, typhoid, anthrax, etc.

Foods - peanuts, strawberries, seafood, nuts, berries, bananas, grapes, tomatoes, cheese, eggs, and food
coloring (to name a few).
(b) Treatment

Epinephrine - use 0.3-0.5 mg IM (if skin involvement is very severe or if lips, eyelids, larynx,
bronchospasm and/or hypotension occurs)

Antihistamines - diphenhydramine 50 mg IM or orally; the effects are not immediate. Follow up
with regular oral use of hydroxyzine 10-50 mg or diphenhydramine 25 -100 mg QID. Remember these
drugs are sedating. Alternatively, the non-sedating antihistamine loratidine (Claritin) 10 mg QD,
certrizine (Zyrtec) 5 or 10 mg QD or fexofenidine (Allegra) 60 mg BID may be used for maintenance.
The key to proper antihistamine therapy in urticaria is to use the medication "round the clock" rather
than only if wheals reappear. Make sure that you effectively counsel your patients about this. Many
cases of urticaria have been inappropriately labeled as failing antihistamine therapy as a result.
Be alert that some non-sedating drugs can still sedate certain patients. If special military duty is
involved, be sure to check with a flight surgeon or undersea medical officer.

Topical Corticosteroids - not effective.

Systemic steroids – these have a very delayed onset of action and are not first line drugs for a typical
case of acute urticaria or angioedema. Consider prescribing this medication only if antihistamines
taken during the entire day do not suppress the eruption.
In most cases a couple of weeks of round the clock therapy are all that is needed. If the urticaria is
recurrent, severe or uncontrollable, then the patient should be referred to a dermatologist or allergist
for evaluation.
Do not be surprised if the evaluation by the specialist is negative. It is almost the uniform experience of
dermatologists that a "smoking gun" is the exception rather than the rule. This is difficult for patients (and
concerned supervisors and commanders) to understand and accept. Nonetheless, it is a fact.
Written and revised by CAPT Dennis A. Vidmar, MC, USN, Department of Military and Emergency Medicine,
and Department of Dermatology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD (1999).