Fungi which can infect skin, hair and nails. About 30 species in three genera are PATHOGENIC to humans (see RINGWORM).
Habitat: Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh from 2,000 to 4,000 m.
Ayurvedic: Hingupatri.Action: Abortifacient, antiimplantation. Being investigated as a potential contraceptive. A related species, F. silphion, was used in ancient Rome as a contraceptive.
The oil extracted from the leaves possesses mycotoxic property against dermatophytes, Trichophyton sp.The ethanolic extract of the aerial parts produced dilation and congestion and hypertrophy in liver in rats.The roots contain sesquiterpenoids. A coumarin, ferujol, isolated from the rhizome, showed abortifacient and anti-implantation activity at a single dose of 0.6 mg/kg in rats by oral administration in a suspension of gum acacia. The essential oil shows antimy- cotic activity.Action: Resin—less strong than asafoetida; used in the same way as asafoetida and galbanum. Used in Middle East for rheumatic affections and backache.... ferula jaeschkeana
Habitat: Native of Mediterranean region; grown in Indian gardens.
English: Indian oleander, White oleander.Ayurvedic: Karavira, Viraka, Ashva- maaraka, Hayamaaraka, Gauripush- pa, Divyapushpa, Shatakumbha, Siddhapushpa (white-flowered var.). Raktapushpa, Raktaprasava, Ravipriya (red-flowered var.)Unani: Kaner Safed, Diflaa, Samm-ul-maar, Khar-zaharah.Siddha/Tamil: Arali, Alari, Aatrulari, Karaviram.Action: Root—resolvent and attenuant. A paste of the root is externally applied to haemorrhoids and ulcerations in leprosy. Paste of the root bark and leaves is used in ringworm and other skin diseases. An oil extracted from the root bark is used in skin diseases of scaly nature. Leaves—cardioactive (digitalis-like effect) and diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, insecticidal. Toxic.
The leaves contain several glyco- sides including glycosides of 8 beta- hydroxy-digitoxigenin. Cardenolide glycosides and pregnanolone glyco- sides have been isolated from roots.The ethanolic extract of the flowers inhibits the growth of dermatophytes.The plant shows antifungal activity against ringworm fungus, Microspo- rum nanum.Dosage: Detoxified leaves—30— 125 mg powder (API, Vol. I); root— 30 mg—125 mg powder (API, Vol. III).... nerium indicumHabitat: Argentine, Arid, Mexican, Peruvian and Australian species have been introduced into India.
English: Mesquite.Folk: Khejaraa, Vilaayati Kikar, Kaabuli Kikar.Action: Gum—inferior to Gum arabic. The dry wood contains 0.9, bark 3.0-8.4, and roots 6-7% tannin.
The leaves contain piperidine alkaloids, juliprosinene, juliflorinine and N-methyljuliforidine. Other alkaloids present in the leaves are juliprosine, isojuliprosine, juliflorine, julifloricine and julifloridine.A mixture of alkaloids containing mainly juliprosine and isojuliprosine showed significant antifungal activity against dermatophytes (comparable to griseofulvin).The alkaloid fraction also showed broad spectrum bactericidal action against both Gram-positive and Gramnegative bacteria (comparable to antibiotics like penicillin, streptomycin, ampicillin, sulphamethoxazole and te- tracycline).Significant activity of juliflorine against fungi and bacteria, and that of julifloricine against bacteria has also been reported.The fruit gave a flavone glycoside, patulitrin which exhibited cytotoxic activity.... prosopis chilensisTinea capitis Usually seen in children in Britain and caused by microsporum species of human or animal (frequently a kitten) origin. Typically, patches of ALOPECIA are seen with broken-o? hair stumps which ?uoresce bright green under an ultraviolet (Wood’s) lamp. In Asia a chronic, scarring alopecia may be caused by a speci?c trichophyton (favus).
Tinea corporis is usually due to trichophyton species and forms ringed (hence ‘ringworm’) patches of redness and scaling on the trunk or limbs.
Tinea pedis (athlete’s foot) is caused by epidermophyton or trichophyton species. Its minor form manifests as itching, scaling or blistering in the lateral toe clefts. More severe forms can be extensive on the sole. Trichophyton rubrum can cause a chronic, dry, scaling in?ammation of the foot, eventually extending into the nails and on to the soles and top of the foot which may persist for years if untreated.
Tinea cruris typically causes a ‘butter?y’ rash on the upper inner thighs in young adult males. It is usually caused by spread from the feet.
Tinea unguium (onychomycosis) Affecting the nails, especially of the toes, T. rubrum is the usual cause and may persist for decades.
Tinea barbae This rash of the face and beard is rare. It may be very in?ammatory and is usually contracted from cattle by farm workers.
Treatment Tinea of the toe clefts and groin will usually respond to an antifungal cream containing terbina?ne or an azole. Tinea capitis, barbae, extensive tinea corporis and all nail infections require oral treatment with terbina?ne or itraconazole (a triazole antifungal agent taken orally and used for candidiasis of the mouth, throat and vulgovaginal area as well as for ringworm) which have largely superseded the earlier treatment with the antiobiotic griseofulvin. (See FUNGAL AND YEAST INFECTIONS.)... ringworm
Others appear under their appropriate alphabetical headings: ACNE; ALBINISM; ALOPECIA; ALOPECIA AREATA; APHTHOUS ULCER; BASAL CELL CARCINOMA; BOILS (FURUNCULOSIS); BOWEN’S DISEASE; CALLOSITIES; CANDIDA; CHEILOSIS; CHEIRAPOMPHOLYX; DANDRUFF; DERMATOFIBROMA; DERMATOMYOSITIS; DERMATOPHYTES; DERMOGRAPHISM; ECTHYMA; ERYSIPELAS; ERYTHEMA; ERYTHRASMA; ERYTHRODERMA; ESCHAR; EXANTHEM; FUNGAL AND YEAST INFECTIONS; HAND, FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE; HERPES GENITALIS; HERPES SIMPLEX; HERPES ZOSTER; IMPETIGO; INTERTRIGO; KELOID; KERATOSIS; LARVA MIGRANS; LICHEN; LUPUS; MADURA FOOT; MELANOMA; MILIARIA; MOLLUSCUM CONTAGIOSUM; MOLE; MYCOSIS FUNGOIDES; NAEVUS; ORF; PEDICULOSIS; PEMPHIGUS; PHOTOCHEMOTHERAPY; PHOTODERMATOSES; PITYRIASIS; PORPHYRIAS; PRURITUS; PSORIASIS; RINGWORM; ROSACEA; SARCOIDOSIS; SCABIES; SCLERODERMA; URTICARIA; VITILIGO; WARTS; XANTHOMATA.
Skin cancer Primary cancer is common and chronic exposure to ultraviolet light is the most important cause. BASAL CELL CARCINOMA is the most common form; squamous cell carcinoma is less common and presents as a growing, usually painless nodule which may ulcerate. Squamous cancer may spread to regional lymph glands and metastasise, unlike basal cell cancer. Occupational exposure to chemical carcinogens may cause squamous carcinoma – for example, cancer from pitch warts or the scrotal carcinoma of chimney sweeps exposed to coal dust in earlier centuries. Squamous carcinoma of the lip is associated with clay-pipe smoking.
Cancer may arise from the population of melanocytes of the skin (see MELANOCYTE; MELANOMA).
Apart from these three most frequent forms of skin cancer, various forms of cancer can arise from cells of the dermis, of which LYMPHOMA is the most important (see also MYCOSIS FUNGOIDES).
Lastly, secondary deposits from internal cancer, particularly from the breast, may metastasise to the skin.
Dermatitis and eczema These are broadly synonymous, and the terms are frequently interchangeable. Eczema is a pattern of in?ammation with many potential causes. Dermatitis is commonly used to suggest an eczema caused by external factors; it is a common pattern of in?ammation of the skin characterised by redness and swelling, vesiculation (see VESICLE), and scaling with intense itching and often exudation (weeping). Fissuring, thickening (licheni?cation – see LICHEN) and secondary bacterial infection may follow. Dermatitis can affect any part of the body. It may be genetically detemined or due to other ‘internal’ factors, such as venous HYPERTENSION in a leg, or stress. Often it is ‘external’ in origin – due to strong irritants or chemical allergens. (See also ALLERGY; ALLERGEN.) ATOPIC DERMATITIS is genetic in origin and usually begins in infancy. It may persist for years, and ASTHMA, allergic RHINITIS and conjunctivitis (see under EYE, DISORDERS OF) – ‘hay fever’ – may be associated. Atopic children tend to have multiple allergies, especially to inhaled allergens such as house-dust mite, cat and dog dander and pollens. Allergy to foods is less common but potentially more dangerous, especially if to nuts, when it can cause acute URTICARIA or even ANAPHYLAXIS. Atopic subjects are particularly prone to persistent and multiple verrucae (see WARTS) and mollusca (see MOLLUSCUM CONTAGIOSUM) and to severe HERPES SIMPLEX infections. (See also ATOPY.)
EXFOLIATE DERMATITIS (PITYRIASIS RUBRA)
Generalised exfoliation and scaling of the skin, commonly with ERYTHEMA. Drugs may cause it, or the disorder may be linked with other skin diseases such as benign dermatoses and lupus erythematosus (see under LUPUS). SUMMER POMPHOLYX is an acute vesicular eczema of the palms and soles recurring every summer. Inhaled allergens are a frequent cause. VENOUS (STASIS) DERMATITIS begins on a lower calf, often in association with PURPURA, swelling and sometimes ulceration. Chronic venous hypertension in the leg, consequent on valvular incompetence in the deep leg veins owing to previous deep vein thrombosis (see VEINS, DISEASES OF), is the usual cause. NEURODERMATITIS A pattern of well-de?ned plaques of licheni?ed eczema particularly seen on the neck, ulnar forearms or sides of the calves in subjects under emotional stress. IRRITANT CONTACT DERMATITIS Most often seen in an industrial setting (occupational dermatitis), it is due to damage by strong chemicals such as cutting oils, cement, detergents and solvents. In almost all cases the hands are most severely affected. ALLERGIC CONTACT DERMATITIS, in contrast, can affect any part of the body depending on the cause – for example, the face (cosmetics), hands (plants, occupational allergens) or soles (rubber boots). Particularly common allergens include metals (nickel and chromate), rubber addititives, and adhesives (epoxy resins).
Treatment Avoidance of irritants and contact allergens, liberal use of EMOLLIENTS, and topical application of corticosteroid creams and ointments (see CORTICOSTEROIDS) are central.... skin, diseases of
The most common type of tinea infection is tinea pedis (athlete’s foot). Tinea corporis causes itchy, usually circular, patches on the body. Tinea cruris (jock itch) produces a reddened, itchy area spreading from the genitals over the inside of the thighs. Tinea capitis causes round, itchy, patches of hair loss on the scalp; it occurs mainly in children. Ringworm of the nails (tinea unguium) is often accompanied by scaling of the soles or palms. The nails become thick and turn white or yellow.
Most types are diagnosed by appearance and by culturing the organisms in a laboratory.
Treatment is usually with either topical or oral antifungal drugs.... tinea
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