Papulopustular rash following Moderna COVID-19 (mRNA-1273) vaccine: A case report

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has affected countries around the world. The introduction of COVID-19 vaccines has proved the most effective arsenal in the fight against the disease. However, with the vaccination of billions of people, data on vaccine-induced adverse reactions are also emerging. We report a 32-year-old woman who manifested papulopustular rash 7 days after receiving Moderna COVID-19 (mRNA-1273) vaccine. The patient responded to a short course of systemic steroids and antihistamines. Awareness regarding the possible adverse events that can be anticipated after the COVID-19 vaccination may help the healthcare professionals to offer prompt and effective care to the affected.

Calamine lotion

Calamine lotion is a shake lotion composed of calamine (zinc oxide/carbonate and ferric oxide), zinc oxide, bentonite, glycerine, sodium citrate, and liquified phenol. It is used widely in dermatology as a soothing agent. It is a preferred topical therapeutic agent for children including infants and is considered safe in pregnancy and lactation.

Immune-enhancing agents in autoimmune skin diseases – A review

Immunosuppressive drugs are the main stay of treatment for autoimmune dermatoses. The main disadvantage of these drugs is the increased susceptibility to life-threatening infections. Hence, in recent years, there has been an enthusiastic search for newer groups of drugs that can reduce this risk. Immune enhancing agents are considered as the key players of future. Immune enhancers function by activating various elements of the immune system and thereby amplifying the immune responses. They can be specific or non-specific in action. The main autoimmune dermatoses where the benefits of these drugs have so far been utilized include alopecia areata, vitiligo, psoriasis, lichen planus, and discoid lupus erythematosus. Immunostimulants are available in both topical and systemic forms. Topical immune- enhancing agents include contact sensitizers (diphenylcyclopropenone, dinitrochlorobenzene, and squaric acid dibutyl ester), anthralin, topical zinc, and interferons. Systemic agents include levamisole, zinc, probiotics, and so on. The exact mechanism of action of some of these drugs and other autoimmune conditions where they can be benefited is not completely understood. Another therapeutic agent that may come up in the future is individualized vaccines. Let us look forward to the days when individualized vaccines work wonders in the management of autoimmune diseases.

Immunotherapy in skin cancers - A narrative review

Immunotherapy, in the context of cancers, involves the use of various drugs to stimulate the immune system to target cancer cells. Immunotherapy is being increasingly used for cutaneous malignancies, especially melanoma. Immunity plays an important part in protection against cancer. One of the factors limiting the effectiveness of host immunity is improper recognition of cancer cells. Sometimes, despite recognizing the cancer cells as abnormal, the immune response, for various reasons might not be strong enough to deal effectively with the cancer cells. Immunotherapy basically tries to address the two points mentioned above by improving the capacity of the immune system to recognize and effectively destroy cancer cells. In skin cancers, immunotherapy is best established for melanomas, but is increasingly being used for non-melanoma skin cancers too. This article reviews some of the general concepts about immunotherapy in cancer and discusses in detail, the available options and future possibilities in the applications of immunotherapy in skin cancer.

Topical and intralesional immunotherapy in cutaneous infections

Immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of extensive and resistant warts. Promising results have extended the role of immunotherapy to other infections such as extensive molluscum contagiosum, recurrent herpes simplex infections, and cutaneous leishmaniasis, which are resistant to standard treatment. This review focuses on topical and intralesional immunotherapy in the management of cutaneous infections.

Frontal swelling – An unusual presentation of sarcoidosis: A case report

Subcutaneous sarcoidosis is a rare, cutaneous expression of systemic sarcoidosis. It is observed as asymptomatic firm, nodules covered by normal-appearing skin, principally on the extremities, which show the typical histopathology appearance of non-caseating granulomas localized to the subcutaneous tissue. It may be associated with the early benign, hilar lymphadenopathy of sarcoidosis or with the later stages of progressive sarcoidosis. Here, we report a case of subcutaneous sarcoidosis, which presented as an asymptomatic, forehead swelling with involvement of skull bone and lung. We report this case since subcutaneous sarcoidosis on the face with involvement of skull bone is a rarity.