Costa, Lorena M.C.

Context: Athletes are a unique group of patients whose activities, particularly in high-contact sports such as wrestling and football, place them at high risk of developing skin conditions. The correct diagnosis of sports dermatoses requires familiarity with their clinical characteristics. It is critical that primary care physicians recognize the most common skin disorders to provide prompt treatment and prevent transmission. Evidence Acquisition: The Mayo Clinic library obtained articles from 2012 onward related to dermatologic conditions in athletes. Study Design: Review article. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Results: Dermatologic diseases in athletes are often infectious and contagious due to close-contact sports environments. Sports-related dermatoses include bacterial infections, such as impetigo, ecthyma, folliculitis, abscesses, furuncles, carbuncles, erysipelas, and cellulitis; fungal infections, such as tinea and intertrigo; viral infections, such as herpes, verrucae, and molluscum contagiosum; and noninfectious conditions, such as acne, blisters, and contact dermatitis. Conclusion: This article aims to address the manifestations of the most common cutaneous diseases in athletes on the first primary care visit. It discusses the appropriate tests and most recent evidence-based treatments for each ailment. It also addresses return-to-play recommendations related to the guidelines and regulations of selected sports organizations in the United States. Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy (SORT): C.

AbstractPemphigus herpetiformis (PH), a rare type of pemphigus, is characterized by immunologic findings consistent with pemphigus but with a unique clinical and pathologic presentation. PH was first described as resembling dermatitis herpetiformis clinically, but because of its variable presentation, it can also resemble linear immunoglobulin A bullous dermatosis and bullous pemphigoid. We reviewed reported cases to analyze the most frequent clinical, pathologic, and immunologic characteristics and to propose corresponding diagnostic criteria. Through a comprehensive review of Medline and PubMed databases, 96 publications and 158 cases were identified. After reviewing the reported characteristics of PH, we suggest the following diagnostic criteria: Clinical: 1) pruritic herpetiform intact blisters with/without erosions; and/or 2) pruritic annular or urticarial erythematous plaques with/without erosions; Pathologic: 1) intraepidermal eosinophils or neutrophils, or both; and/or 2) intraepidermal split with/without acantholysis; Immunologic: 1) direct immunofluorescence showing immunoglobulin G with/without C3 intercellular deposits; and/or 2) indirect immunofluorescence showing immunoglobulin G to epithelial cell surface; and/or 3) detection of serum autoantibodies against desmogleins (1,3) or desmocollins (1,2,3), or both. Diagnosis requires one clinical, one pathologic, and one immunologic feature. We also report three new cases diagnosed at our institution to demonstrate the applicability of the suggested criteria.