Dermatology question...

Published

What would be the significance of a unilateral presentation of acne-like lesions? (pimples, etc. on face, trunk, extremities)

Does this mean an underlying neurologic cause (although they don't follow nerve tracts like you'd see in shingles--- they are all simply on the same side of the body)?

Strange, I know, but I can't seem to find anything on The Google ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

What is the admitting dx? Has the patient had this in the past?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It's actually a friend, not a patient. Typical acne/pimple appearance (plus some non-inflammed 'bumps'). Not alot of them, but all on one side of the body. Face, arm, leg, chest.

Weird.

I have no clue.

As far as previous breakouts, not unilateral. She says only occasional breakouts (usually around period) but bilateral.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

She wasn't testing out a moisturizer on one side only, was she? You know, using one half of her body as a control?

Or sleeping on the afftected side of her body and having a reaction to the fabric softener on her fitted sheet, something like that?

Just two far-fetched things I thought of...I just asked a friend who has worked as an esthetician for 15 years and she's never seen or heard of anything like that.

It really is odd.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
She wasn't testing out a moisturizer on one side only, was she? You know, using one half of her body as a control?

Or sleeping on the afftected side of her body and having a reaction to the fabric softener on her fitted sheet, something like that?

Just two far-fetched things I thought of...I just asked a friend who has worked as an esthetician for 15 years and she's never seen or heard of anything like that.

It really is odd.

Yeah it is.

I asked; no new lotions, etc. The sleeping thing doesn't apply either.

As I said, google didn't help (and I loves me my google LOL). I asked about a neuro connection because I did find this:

http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic732.htm

I don't think this is the case here (this describes a congenital condition that should have been apparent before now, I'd think)...

This really has me puzzled.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic294.htm

lists "nevus actiniformis unilateralis" as a related keyword... but i can't find that anywhere else.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just the location and look of lesions is not enough to dx it. When did the lesions start, where did they first appear, do they hurt, burn, etc..,

have the lesions changed, does anything make it worse/better, what has she used on it, any travel or contact with animals, co-morbid conditions, medications, family hx, etc....

This would need a full work up. The best I can advise, is that your friend needs to make an appoitnemtn with a dermatologist.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Just the location and look of lesions is not enough to dx it. When did the lesions start, where did they first appear, do they hurt, burn, etc..,

have the lesions changed, does anything make it worse/better, what has she used on it, any travel or contact with animals, co-morbid conditions, medications, family hx, etc....

This would need a full work up. The best I can advise, is that your friend needs to make an appoitnemtn with a dermatologist.

Yeah, she is going to... I was just really curious about this as it seemed so strange.

She describes it as if they are just acne/pimple like lesions. Just they always appear on one side of the body.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Any word yet on what this is? For some reason I'm really curious...Keep us posted!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

There is only one dermatologist taking new patients in our area; she won't get in for several months.

I'm curious too lol.

Any word yet on what this is? For some reason I'm really curious...Keep us posted!
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion