The 16-year-old is upset by a new outbreak of “acne” and the prom is in 2 weeks. But is it acne? And what’s that bruise?
The 16-year-old presents with complaints about acne and other zits, the latter of which do not respond to her regular topical retinoic acid treatment.
PMH is significant only for comedonal acne that is well controlled with retinoic acid. No family history of note.
Only finding of note are flesh-colored papules on shoulders, neck, and face; some appear to have central indentation/umbilication.
Cluster of flesh-colored papules on the teen's shoulder.
Papules are seen on the side of the neck and face; also seen is a large eliptical bruise.
Close up of papules and bruise on neck.
Note the umbilication among the papules.
A well adolescent female with two types of lesions: Multiple flesh-colored papules with central umbilication andâ¦an oval bruise on her neck.
What is your diagnosis?
Diagnosis: Molluscum contagiosum, for the papules. As for the bruise, it will be discussed later.
Molluscum contagiosum: pox virus family; double-stranded DNA; most commonly seen in children; transmitted via direct skin contact, sexual contact, fomites.
Molluscum contagiosum: Seen in 5-20% of patients with HIV. Incubation is 2-14 days; resolves without treatment in 6-9 months in immunocompetent hosts .
Diagnosis: typically clinical, straightforward; pink, dome-topped papules with central umbilication/punctum; biopsy reveals acanthomas.
Spontaneous resolution, no scarring in immunocompetent hosts; no definitive evidence of efficacy; clinical evidence supports curettage, cryotherapy, topical agents,
Molluscum treatments supported by clinical evidence: cryotherapy, cantharadin, curettage considered first line; also used topical salicylic and retinoic acid; cimetidine.
Molluscum treatments supported by clinical evidence: Intralesional podofiliox.
Note that there are no FDA-approved treatments, topical or intralesional, for molluscum contagiosum.
Treatment: Curettage most effective, cantharadin has side effects, slightly less effective; keratolytic agent irritating, topical imiquimod is effective but costly.
Giant molluscum seen in a 4-year-old with HIV. You must be suspicious of HIV in a child with giant molluscum or extensive skin involvement.
What about the bruise? The
HEEADS psychosocial inventory
can help engage teens in discussion about areas of their social and emotional lives that may have an impact on physical welbeing.
Sixteen-year-old Vickie is upset because her prom is in 2 weeks and she wants to be clear-skinned for the event. Specifically, she has had an outbreak of zits that are different from her typical acne and they do not respond to her topical retinoic acid. What do you think the lesions could be? Does the bruise on her neck offer any clues?   Â
