Category Archives: Elpern, David J.

Mirror Amputation for Acne Excoriee de Jeunes Filles

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Casual Comments by DJ Elpern Abstract: Many young women habitually pick facial lesions which in reality may be rather minor.  These are some informal thoughts on excoriated acne with a suggestion of a simple behavioral technique called “mirror amputation” that may help some of these persons. Keywords: acne, excoriations, acne excorie de jeunes filles, dermatotillomania, mirror amputation, skinorexic Dermatologists see women with excoriated acne regularly.  The typical patient is a young to middle-aged woman with scattered excoriations on the face.  There is a surprisingly scant literature on this common disorder which has also been called acne excoriee de jeunne filles (AEJF), Dermatotillomania, and Skinorexia. A recent post on AEJF on … Continue reading →

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The Power of Hugs

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The Power of Hugs By Nicholas Kristof NY Times, October 21, 2012 Nicholas Kristof’s “Sunday column looks at the recent research into the importance of early childhood interventions to reduce poverty and social problems. It’s something I’ve been interested in for some time, originally through the work of Dr. Jack Shonkoff at Harvard, and now a new book by Paul Tough beautifully assembles the evidence for what might be called the brain biochemical element of poverty — and the strategies to address it.” The Op-Ed piece is a great summary of some of the points made by Paul Tough in “How Children Succeed,” a book which I, too, found really … Continue reading →

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Thoughts about brachioradial pruritus

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Brachioradial pruritus is a common condition that is not well-recognized by most practitioners. I saw my first patient with brachioradial pruritus (BRP) in 1983 when I practiced dermatology in Hawaii.  She was a middle-aged woman with intractable pruritus over the dorsolateral (brachioradial) aspect of her left arm proximal and distal to the elbow.  I remember her well since an article on the subject had recently appeared in the Archives of Dermatology1.  Her general doctor had told her it was “nerves” and prescribed amytriptylene, which at the time was primarily an antidepressant. BRP is more commonly encountered in tropical and sub-tropical areas, and over the next few years I saw a fair … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Room for Examination

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Reviewed by: Dr. David Elpern I have had an interest in books about medical training for many years and have read a score or so on this topic.  Those that stand out are, William Nolan’s “The Making of a Surgeon1,” Perri Klass’ “A Not Entirely Benign Procedure2” and Fitz Mullan’s “White Coat, Clenched Fist.”  To this exclusive canon, I now add James Channing Shaw’s new book, “Room for Examination: True Tales of a Disillusioned Dermatologist” which chronicles the path from naïf to dermatologist. It is wise, philosophical, honest, poignant, humorous, engagingly written, never self-serving and riveting.  Shaw is Division Head of Dermatology at the Women’s College Hospital, University of Toronto, Canada. … Continue reading →

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Aloha

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The OJCPC-Dermatology is a new concept in medical periodicalss.   We will address all stakeholders in skin disease: patients, their families and caregivers.  We envision a level playing field, not top down from high-control professionals.  Please join us on this journey.  Write an article for us, read our pieces, visit our blogs.  Make Comments. LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

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