Carla Dibenedetto, PA-C

A 34-year-old woman presented with a blistering, intensely pruritic rash that had erupted 3 days earlier. Multiple papular lesions were densely clustered on areas of exposed skin. Excoriations were present, but there was no evidence of bacterial infection.

For 6 years, a 32-year-old man had a recurring rash on his back, shoulders, and chest. He stated that the rash appears in the spring, itches, and enlarges into ringlike areas. Previously, when treated with cephalexin, the rash had cleared within several weeks. Antifungal medication (econazole cream and oral terbinafine) had failed to resolve the rash.

A 62-year-old woman sought medicalevaluation for persistent swellingof her lower lip and right cheek. Thecondition had been present for 8 to9 months. A 6-month course of oralprednisone prescribed by anotherpractitioner had no effect. The patienthad no history of chronic diseaseand no pain, paralysis, ulcerations,scaling, or dental or tongue problems.