Bernard A Cohen, MD, is the section editor for Dermcase and professor of pediatrics and dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
Friction-induced blistering on a child’s feet
July 14th 2023You are called to the hospital nursery to evaluate a healthy full-term newborn boy who developed painful flaccid blisters and erosions on the tops of his feet and ankles shortly after birth. His mother had a history of similar recurrent skin lesions that healed with scarring. She also had oral and gastrointestinal tract involvement. What's the diagnosis?
What you need to know about atopic dermatitis
April 12th 2021Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition that affects 15% to 20% of children and 1% to 3% of adults in the United States. The prevalence of atopic dermatitis, which is also known as eczema, is increasing in developing and industrialized countries.
Bruise-like marks on a healthy teenage male’s back
October 9th 2020A 15-year-old male first noticed the marks on his back during a recent vertical growth spurt. On exam there are multiple horizontal violaceous linear striae on his back. He is otherwise healthy and denies any history of back injury or exposure to topical or systemic steroids. What's the diagnosis?
Bully bullae in a toddler spreads across the body
August 17th 2020You are asked to evaluate a healthy 19-month-old boy with a history of recurrent blisters on his arms and legs for over a year that have now spread to his face. The blisters scab over quickly, ulcerate, and heal with post-inflammatory pigmentary changes. What's the diagnosis?
Protuberant blister over newborn’s lumbar spine
January 1st 2018A healthy full-term newborn presented with a prominent sacral dimple within an oval patch. Ultrasound showed no evidence of spinal anomalies, and the child was discharged home. Three days later, the patch became elevated, red, and moist appearing, and she was brought to the emergency department (ED) for further evaluation of the “growing blister.”