Dermatology

A boards-focused walkthrough of eczematous (spongiotic) dermatitis — atopic dermatitis (filaggrin loss-of-function + Th2/IgE), and irritant vs allergic (Type IV) contact dermatitis — emphasizing classic morphology buzzwords, distribution by age, patch-test diagnosis, next-best-step management, and the eczema herpeticum emergency. Includes a comparison table, two vignettes, and the standard ACID hypersensitivity mnemonic.

Board-focused review of psoriasis and the papulosquamous differential (lichen planus, pityriasis rosea, pityriasis rubra pilaris, secondary syphilis): classic morphology, bedside signs, histology/DIF buzzwords, high-yield associations, and the stepwise treatment ladder — anchored by the two exam traps (avoid systemic steroids in plaque psoriasis; rule out syphilis when palms/soles are involved).

A high-yield Step 1/Step 2 CK dermatology lesson on the three major skin cancers, moving from UV-driven pathophysiology through classic morphology, biopsy choice, metastatic risk, and next-best-step management for BCC, SCC, and melanoma. Clinically reviewed: the draft was largely accurate; the only substantive fix corrects the melanoma growth line (radial/horizontal phase is low-risk but not synonymous with in situ), with minor precision edits (thymine-dimer wording, keratoacanthoma as well-differentiated SCC, HMB-45 specificity, BRAF prevalence). No fake mnemonics or invented facts were present. All three Wikimedia Commons images were verified to exist and match their captions.

A high-yield Step 1 comparison of pemphigus vulgaris (anti-desmoglein 3, intraepidermal/suprabasal split, flaccid bullae, Nikolsky positive, "fishnet" DIF) versus bullous pemphigoid (anti-BP180/BP230, subepidermal split, tense bullae, Nikolsky negative, linear IgG+C3 DIF), built around board vignettes, biopsy/immunofluorescence buzzwords, and next-best-step management.

A boards-focused tour of bacterial (impetigo, erysipelas, cellulitis, SSSS, necrotizing fasciitis) and viral (HSV, VZV, molluscum) skin infections, organized by tissue depth and buzzword morphology, with vignettes drilling next-best-step decisions and comparison tables for depth-based bacteria and SSSS vs. TEN.

A boards-focused walkthrough of superficial fungal (dermatophyte, Malassezia, Candida) and parasitic (scabies, cutaneous larva migrans, lice) skin infections, pairing classic vignette buzzwords and KOH/scraping findings with next-best-step management for STEP 1 and STEP 2 CK.

A boards-focused dermatology lesson contrasting acne vulgaris and rosacea from pathophysiology through morphology, diagnosis, and stepwise management, anchored on the comedone-based acne-vs-rosacea discriminator and the isotretinoin workup. Emphasizes NEXT-BEST-STEP decisions tested on STEP 2 CK.

A boards-focused dermatology lesson on severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions, contrasting SJS/TEN (painful mucocutaneous sloughing, granulysin-driven keratinocyte apoptosis) with DRESS (long-latency morbilliform rash with facial edema, eosinophilia, HHV-6 reactivation, and organ injury). Emphasizes classic vignette buzzwords, latency-based discrimination, HLA pharmacogenetics, biopsy/DIF findings, and next-best-step management.