Other Autoimmune Diseases

  Acne is the most frequent skin condition seen by medical professionals. It consists of pimples that appear on the face, back and chest. About 80% of adolescents have some form of acne and about 5% of adults experience acne. In normal skin, oil glands under the skin, known as sebaceous glands, produce an oily substance called sebum.
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  Atopic dermatitis (also known as AD) is a condition that makes your skin red and itchy. It's common in children but can occur at any age. Atopic dermatitis is long-lasting (chronic) and tends to flare periodically. It may be accompanied by asthma or hay fever. Prolonged disease results in thickened, crusty skin and secondary skin infections are common. Treatments include aggressive skin moisturization, topical steroids and non-steroid medications, UV light treatments, and several types of immune-suppressing systemic medications.
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  Chronic Hives (urticaria  ) is of unknown cause in about 50% of people. The other 50% have a variety of possible causes including low-grade infections, allergies, blood disorders, thyroid disorders as well are rarer autoimmune diseases or underlying systemic illnesses. Treatment is first various kinds of antihistamines either alone or in combination as well as medications like plaquenil, colchicine, cyclosporine, dapsone as well as many others. 
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  Granuloma Annulare  is a red papule or round ring-like eruption that is of unknown cause. It may be triggered by some infections but none in particular. Most commonly it starts with red rings on the wrists or ankles. The generalized form can be widespread small red papules or flesh-colored papules. Treatments vary from topical steroids to oral steroids to UV light to a variety of oral medications.
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  Hair Loss/Alopecia – Alopecia Areata (AA)  is an autoimmune disease that typically causes patches of hair loss but can also involve any or all hair-bearing parts of the body. Some cases resolve spontaneous but usually it is treated with steroid topicals, minoxidil (to wake up hair follicles) and steroid injections. More severe cases are sometimes treated with oral steroids, cyclosporin, methotrexate, UV light treatments or other immunosuppressive agents. There is a slight association with thyroid disease. Other forms of Alopecia we treat include sudden, temporary hair loss known as  telogen effluvium (TE)  ; scarring hair loss due to  lichen   planopilaris  (LPP)which is related to lichen planus  ; lupus  and other connective tissue disease-related hair loss and other miscellaneous causes for hair loss. The most common form of alopecia is  male   pattern   balding  (MPB).
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  Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory condition that causes boils and abscesses in fold areas like armpits, groin, buttocks and under the breasts. It is often secondarily infected but the primary process is felt to be an autoimmune reaction that damages hair follicles in sweaty areas of the body. It can cause painful scarring and chronic draining lesions. Treatment is a combination of surgical drainage, intralesional steroid injections, chronic anti-inflammatory and antibiotic medications and good wound care. Smoking and obesity are factors which make it more likely to develop or harder to treat.
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  Lichen Planus (LP) often starts as itchy purplish bumps on wrists and/or ankles but can be widespread. Oral and genital variants of the disease can cause painful ulcers and scarring and these areas have an increased risk for a form of cancer called squamous cell carcinoma developing if untreated. There is an association with chronic hepatitis C infection in up to 10% of LP cases in USA. Another version affecting the hair can cause scarring hair loss and is called lichen planopilaris (see hair loss section).
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  Lichen Sclerosis et Atrophicus  (LSetA) is a scarring, inflammatory skin condition that usually affects the genitalia and can cause damage that interferes with sexual relations and even urination. Extragenital LSetA can occur anywhere on the body but is usually seen in areas of skin friction (buttocks, under breasts, armpits, etc.). Without treatment, scarring, deformity and an increased risk of skin cancer is seen. Treatments include intermittent use of high potency topical steroids, nonsteroid topical preparations, excimer laser, UVA-1 light therapy, oral vitamin A derivatives or even immunosuppressives like methotrexate.
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  Mycosis Fungoides (MF) is a chronic, low grade form of cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL). MF/CTCL is an indolent white blood cell cancer where the atypical T cells home into the skin. It can start with scaly or wrinkly patches (which can be present for many years before diagnosis) and can proceed to plaques, tumors and/or lymph node involvement if untreated or unresponsive. Various topial and systemic treatments options including topical steroids, nitrogen mustard, UV light therapy, vitamin A derivatives and interferons are used depending on the extent of disease and prior responses to treatment. Progressive disease may eventually need chemotherapy. Erythrodermic MF and Sezary syndrome may be treated with extracorporeal photopheresis.
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  Necrobiosis Lipoidica (Diabeticorum)  is an atrophic yellow-red-brown plaque usually on the lower legs but can be elsewhere. It can sometimes ulcerate and be painful. It is associated with diabetes in 70-90% of cases and is thought to be related to microvascular damage. Treatments include topical and intralesional