Humberto Gallego, MD

September 14, 2005

Cutaneous manifestations develop in approximately 30% of persons with diabetes. Premature atherosclerosis is a common complication of the disease that can cause peripheral infarction, ulceration, and necrosis.

September 14, 2005

This rare condition affects both men and women. The average age at onset is 53 years. The lesions are deep brownish red to purple papules, nodules, and plaques. Blisters and ulcers also can occur.

September 14, 2005

A 39-year-old man who has sickle cell disease suffers with chronic ankle ulcers typical of the disorder. Ulcerations occur in approximately 50% of persons who are homozygous for sickle cell disease.

September 14, 2005

A 67-year-old woman sought medical treatment for the persistent, large “blackheads” on her face. Examination revealed diffusely thickened and yellowed skin with deep furrows. The periorbital and malar areas were studded with large open comedones.

September 14, 2005

A 16-year-old boy removed a small sliver of wood from the palm of his hand with a pocket knife. However, the fledgling “surgeon” created a small puncture wound during this operation. Over the next month, a small, moist, friable papule grew at the site.

September 14, 2005

During a routine skin cancer screening, yellowed, thickened, leathery skin was noted on the posterior neck of a 73-year-old retired construction worker. Colloquially, this condition is called “sailor's skin” or “farmer's skin” and is seen in persons who have had long-term exposure to the sun. It is known clinically as cutis rhomboidalis nuchae, because the well-defined furrows in the skin resemble an irregular rhomboidal pattern.

September 14, 2005

A 41-year-old man sought treatment of the rough, intensely itchy patch on the dorsum of his left foot and lateral ankle. There were no other similar plaques on his body.

September 14, 2005

A 17-year-old high school athlete was anxious about this new “mole” that appeared on the heel of his right foot. His concern was prompted by the recent diagnosis of melanoma in his aunt.

September 14, 2005

A 63-year-old farmer first noticed multiple rough bumps on his hands and feet at least 20 years before pointing them out to his physician. A diagnosis of arsenical keratoses was made after the patient reported that as a child he had worked on his family's potato farm, where a commonly used pesticide, “Paris Green,” was applied to the plants. The active ingredient in this pesticide was inorganic arsenic.

September 14, 2005

A 40-year-old farmer had been complaining for 3 weeks of a tender, red, itchy, scaling plaque with papulopustules on one knee. A potassium hydroxide examination of the scale revealed fungal hyphae.